Existing Urban Legends category

[+QuesterMark 2]

The concept of an "urban legend" as known in the USA appears to be impossible to explain to folks who have something other than English as their first language, and difficult to many other people.

 

Of the submissions to the Urban Legends category almost none that are submitted are actually urban legends and a large number of the waymarks that have gotten approved one way or the other over the years aren't urban legends either.

 

I asked the officers what they thought about trying to adapt the category to handle the legends that are generally submitted and got no response at all.

 

So now I'm throwing it out to the forums. Reply with some suggestions to rework the category to handle "normal" legends as well as urban legends.

 

Here's the category for convenience: https://www.Waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=ff570b23-a81a-46e5-b2a5-48f9096a6605&gid=6

[+elyob 61]

I can see your concerns.  While hoping that the waymarkers won't take offense, can you list some examples that (in your opinion) should not have been approved but will be fine for the new requirements that we have yet to

draft?

Edited November 3 by elyob

[+Alfouine 52]

I had few waymarks declined in this category because there were not urban legends. According to me it was urban legend, but a legend of more than thousand years. 

When we read the wikipedia page, they say that urban legend existed in primitive and traditionnal society, and that can exist nowadays.

So why decline medieval times urban legend ?

The last waymark legend declined in this category are Urban legends, except if you only want modern urban legend, but it's a non sence, urban legend exists since the world exists

[+elyob 61]

15 minutes ago, Alfouine said:

I had few waymarks declined in this category because there were not urban legends. According to me it was urban legend, but a legend of more than thousand years. 

When we read the wikipedia page, they say that urban legend existed in primitive and traditionnal society, and that can exist nowadays.

So why decline medieval times urban legend ?

The last waymark legend declined in this category are Urban legends, except if you only want modern urban legend, but it's a non sence, urban legend exists since the world exists

 

That is the difference of meaning QuesterMark is trying to explain. 

 

That is not how urban legends are understood in North America.  Urban legends are contemporary and modern.  The term "urban legends" only dates back to the 1960s.

[+elyob 61]

What about a very simple revision, remove the word "urban" from the category descriptions?

[+Loonwatcher 7]

Interesting proposal David.  So if we drop "Urban" and simply keep "Legends and Superstitions", although we expand the category, I think this would add even mor confusion.  ie: I consider Maurice Richard a hockey legend by his own right, or the same with Wild Bill Hickok - now we could discuss legend vs hero!  Urban legends are what they are: fictional stories often rooted in local history and popular culture.

[+elyob 61]

23 hours ago, Loonwatcher said:

Interesting proposal David.  So if we drop "Urban" and simply keep "Legends and Superstitions", although we expand the category, I think this would add even mor confusion.  ie: I consider Maurice Richard a hockey legend by his own right, or the same with Wild Bill Hickok - now we could discuss legend vs hero!  Urban legends are what they are: fictional stories often rooted in local history and popular culture.

 

Agreed.

[+Loonwatcher 7]

So if we reworded to "Legendary Stories and Superstitions"? How would that be perceived?

[+Alfouine 52]

As an excellent idea