Date: 07/27/95 12:32:16 PM Subject: Urban Legends As there are a bunch of new people entering the world of the AMS BBS, here is a short list of the most common urban legends posted to the BBS. Anyone have others? For those of you interested in ULs, may I suggest the Internet newsgroup alt.legends.urban (as well as other related groups), the book "The Disappearing Hitchhiker," and Cecil Adam's Straight Dope Syndicated column and series of books. Craig Shergold -------------- The story goes that there is a sick boy named Craig Shergold. He requests that people send him something (usually greeting cards) so that he can get in the Book of Records for the person receiving the most cards. This story has been around for many years (I, personally, saw this make the rounds 8 or so years ago). It is commonly believed by urban legend dubunkers that Craig existed (he was Brittish), was sick, and did make such a request. But that was years ago. The details since are not so clear. Some say that Craig's parents have requested that the cards stop since they've received way too many. Others say that Craig has since recovered or since died. The point is that this is NOT a new story. If there is a Craig, he is certainly no longer a little boy. The $500 Cookie --------------- There are many variations of this story. The most common is that a woman was eating at a Neimann-Marcus cafe and had a rather tasty cookie for dessert. She asked the waitress for how much the recipe would cost. "That'll be 5," is the reply. Turns out, it's $500. Now, the woman being angry for having her credit card charged, is sending the recipe to everyone. Copies of the recipe and stuck in mailboxes, sent via E-Mail, posted to BBSs and the Internet, etc. A similar story has also been told about Mrs. Field's cookies and a Red Velvet cake at the Waldorf Astoria. William Poundstone has articles about these later two in his books "Big Secrets" and "Bigger Secrets." He provides some evidence that these two stories are fabrications. The Neimann Mercus version has been denied by the store and has been believed (again, for many years) a totally urban legend (read this as "lie"). Internet newsgroups related to cooking frequently get copies of the recipe, often with the full story. The FAQ (frequently asked questions) for these groups clearly state the story is a lie and should not be posted. I, personally, have not tried the recipe. However, many source find it tasty (perhaps this, too, is an urban legend). There are a number of variations of the recipe. The Vacationers Camera ---------------------- Basically, a couple goes on vacation and find their hotel robbed. Their camera is left and they discover, after developing the film, pictures of the burglers using personal items (usually a toothbrush) in disgusting ways. C'mon, this one sounds way too silly to be true. Of course, that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The No-Lights Gang ------------------ You're driving alone at night and see a car coming towards you without any lights. You blink your headlights to warn them, only to find that it's a gang and killing you is their initiation. OK, this could have happened. And it could still happen. But the original story has been firmly denied by police departments in the areas mentioned in the stories. Sure, a copy-cat could do this, but check your sources before scaring people out of their wits. Jeff ==== MY COMMENTS === Gee Jeff, I really thought the $500 cookie was TRUE! But then, most "legends" have some basis in fact, but then get embellished and exaggerated. Don't believe ANYTHING you read on the Internet! It is turning in to the biggest electronic rumor mill in history! As for the Vacationer's Camera- I believe that one also. I guess you never saw the stories on various TV news magazine shows about... the people who left their video camera on while they were at work and found the burgular on the tape when they got home... or the video tape of the nanny whacking the child with the wooden spoon... or the gang who broke into the JCPenney (or some dept store in the mall), turned on the video camera to film themselves while they smashed everything, and forgot to take the video tape with them when they fled the store... So I guess what you are also implying is... even though I have issued a DISCLAIMER about the MAIL SCAM message, if it gets propagated throughout the Internet as the author intended, then the DAMI company could continue to receive harrassing mail and phone calls from now till DOOMSDAY, because the INternet message will never die! It will sit out there like a virus, sporadically getting copied and forwarded, until it goes around the world and back like the Internet chain-letter... BTW Doomsday is defined as midnight on Feb 29, 2000 when the Date algorithms on all the world's computers will go haywire. Or 5/5/2000 as another well known theory suggests... ===== Subject: Rather expensive cookie recipe: FREE!!!! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- My daughter & I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because our family are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus Cookie". It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and they said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not." Well, I said, would you let me buy the recipe? With a cute smile, she said, "Yes." I asked how much, and she responded, "Two fifty." I said with approval, just add it to my tab. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus and it was $285.00. I looked again and I remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe - $250.00." Boy, was I upset!! I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them the waitress said it was "two fifty," and I did not realize she meant $250.00 for a cookie recipe. I asked them to take back the recipe and reduce my bill and they said they were sorry, but all the recipes were this expensive so not just everyone could duplicate any of their bakery recipes....the bill would stand. I waited, thinking of how I could get even or even try and get any of my money back. I just said, "Okay, you folks got my $250.00 and now I'm going to have $250.00 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover had a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus for nothing. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "I'm sorry but this is the only way I feel I can get even," and I will. So, here it is, and please pass it to someone else or run a few copies....I paid for it; now you can have it for free. (Recipe may be halved.): 2 cups butter 4 cups flower 2 tsp. soda 2 cups sugar 5 cups blended oatmeal** 24 oz. chocolate chips 2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated) 4 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 3 cups chopped nuts 2 tsp. vanilla (your choice) Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies. ** measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Have fun!!! This is not a joke --- this is a true story.. ********************************************************** That's it. Please, pass it along to everyone you know, single people, mailing lists, etc..... Jeff Jolley, dubbed "Champion of Democracy" by Utah's Governor