Those with sociology or anthropology backgrounds: would you say that urban legends are the

[raccoon]

modern equivalent of folk tales in days gone by?

[RKP5637]

1. True IMO n/t

[safeinOhio]

2. I've always thought that

the Tea Party was a cargo cult.

[daleanime]

4. Nice!

[chervilant]

3. I have a suspicion that this is a

rhetorical question, as most of us can see the elements common to both. More relevant, to me, is the question, "Are we still--at a macro-level--prone to magical thinking and superstition? " We cling (sometimes desperately) to our religious mythologies. I cannot help but suspect that we're still explaining "natural phenomena" with mystical constructs.

[raccoon]

7. You asked, "Are we still--at a macro-level--prone to magical thinking and superstition? " IMO, yes

definitely. Look at all the people who believe in creationism, flying saucers, etc.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. It depends.

Some folk tales were said with the intention of teaching a moral to the story. Urban legends just try to scare the crap out of you.

[dembotoz]

6. would agree

[raccoon]

8. Not all of them are scary, though. But the scary ones are sure memorable! nt

[Tikki]

9. There is supposed to be a bit of truth in every legend...

..or the truth is someone has a big imagination and is capable of radiating a whopper of a story, or both.

Tikki

[Coyotl]

10. No.

[FarCenter]

11. More like rumors of decades past; traditional folk tales have more literary merit