Question

What effect has the Internet had on the spread of urban legends?

Answer 1

Answer:   Urban myths have been around about as long as mankind has been able to communicate. When the first caveman told the second caveman a "true" story who in turn told a third who told a fourth and so on until the story achieved a widespread belief, the urban myth was born. This primitive beginning bears implications on the impact that folklore has had on our human race. From the Native Americans of the New World to the lore of Beowulf and perhaps even organized religions, the methods and content of these myths has affected us in most profound ways. Now as technology advances into the "Information Revolution" the Urban myth has changed again. The past has always altered the structure, spreadablility and intent behind the myths, but never to the effect of the Internet. Is this new technology really such a great phenomenon? How has it changed these stories meanings and layout? How have stories transferred and transformed from pre-internet to post-internet adaptations? And what are the implications to the answers? Urban myths are a powerful and important piece of our past and future. From observing the changes in the myth as they pass from a more oral tradition to a new digital database, social effects and implications can be discovered with a little insight.

When that first caveman told the second caveman his story our species was at the dawn of creation. What were these exchanges like and how have they progressed to the present day? The first and enduring medium for exchange of myths was oral storytelling. Writing wasnt invented for several hundred thousands years so the oral tradition dominated as one story was passed down to offspring as clearly as any inheritance. An Elder would tell the story to the children who in their time would tell it to the younger generation and the cycle would continue. This type of transfer is particularly enthralling because as the speaker, the storyteller may add his or her own little turn or addition to the story to fit their image of the myth. Because of this capability, the stories evolve and the myths spread unevenly and quickly by word of mouth, developing their own personalities amongst each community, as the myths grow more concrete in their form. The social implications of oral storytelling are great. When a story is told in this format it takes on a different persona because it involves an actual living being telling the story. Physical presence is a powerful thing especially concerning the use of body language as well as spoken language in a students narrative. This adds much to the myth that very few other forms of communication can. Another important fact concerning physical presence is the necessity of social interaction when stories are passed by mouth. Peoples impressions of these myths are different thus their expressions and focus are different when the stories are passed on.

As literacy became more widespread, urban myths changed in several ways. First of all it was possible to make a record of the stories that

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