# Has SNOPES ever gotten an urban legend wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174 "2006-01-09T17:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/1 "2006-01-09T17:16:41Z")
Like say a false legend is true and vice-versa? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/2 "2006-01-09T17:25:06Z")
IIRC, this one: "In response to a question from host Bob Eubanks about the “most unusual place you’ve ever made whoopee,” a female Newlywed Game contestant responded, “That would be up the butt, Bob.” [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm) was originally deemed false, but now it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/3 "2006-01-09T20:21:56Z")
I was only opening this thread to reference the Eubanks entry. However, there are times where I feel like the site operators are editorializing a bit in their answers. Usually, it is in a yellow light indicator, which is probably ok. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/4 "2006-01-09T20:24:41Z")
The site INTENTIONALLY posted a false legend once and pretended it was true. The lesson: Just because you’re reading Snopes doesn’t mean you should shut off your bullshit detector. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/5 "2006-01-09T20:30:06Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > The site INTENTIONALLY posted a false legend once and pretended it was true. The lesson: Just because you’re reading Snopes doesn’t mean you should shut off your bullshit detector. Arrr, thank goodness [that](http://snopes.com/lost/sixpence.htm) no longer be a problem! ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/6 "2006-01-09T20:32:56Z")
So… does that mean the pirate entry in **Snooooopy** ’s link is false? Because I have a really hard time believing it’s true. Then again, why in the hell would Snopes post something as true when it’s not? Doesn’t that undermine the site’s whole purpose for existing? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/7 "2006-01-09T20:36:53Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > So… does that mean the pirate entry in **Snooooopy** ’s link is false? Because I have a really hard time believing it’s true. Then again, why in the hell would Snopes post something as true when it’s not? Doesn’t that undermine the site’s whole purpose for existing? take a look at the ‘additional information’ links at the bottom of the writeup. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/8 "2006-01-09T20:39:03Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > Doesn’t that undermine the site’s whole purpose for existing? What undermines the site’s purpose is when people start linking to it saying ‘it’s true’, rather than ‘Snopes says it’s true’ ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/9 "2006-01-09T20:39:36Z")
[The section the ‘sixpence’ story is from.](http://snopes.com/lost/bearflag.asp) [The ‘more information’ link on every article in that section.](http://snopes.com/lost/false.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/10 "2006-01-09T20:45:53Z")
> [@](#): > > take a look at the ‘additional information’ links at the bottom of the writeup. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/11 "2006-01-09T20:47:08Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > So… does that mean the pirate entry in **Snooooopy** ’s link is false? Because I have a really hard time believing it’s true. Then again, why in the hell would Snopes post something as true when it’s not? Doesn’t that undermine the site’s whole purpose for existing? What I was referring to was the legend Snopes posted alleging that Kentucky Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC because the state of Kentucky tried to slap a tax on any business with the word “Kentucky” in the title. In reality, there was no such tax, and KFC changed its name because: 1) It wished to explore the possibility of expanding its menu beyond chicken; 2) It thought that eliminating the word “fried” would be a good idea; and 3) There was a trend toward shorter names, like IHOP. If memory serves, there was a subtle link to a page explaining that they pretended this false legend was true so that people wouldn’t get in the habit of swallowing anything Snopes fed them without a second thought. I was a little irritated – I bought the legend as true and even repeated it on a couple of occasions – but I can see Snopes’ point. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/12 "2006-01-09T21:05:10Z")
As I recall, when the [Fly Boy](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/insects/flyboy.asp) story was first reported in the news, Snopes listed it as True. They later conceded it may be a hoax, and it’s still listed as Undetermined. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/13 "2006-01-09T21:16:18Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > IIRC, this one: "In response to a question from host Bob Eubanks about the “most unusual place you’ve ever made whoopee,” a female Newlywed Game contestant responded, “That would be up the butt, Bob.” > [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm) > > was originally deemed false, but now it’s true. I was active on their message board when the video finally surfaced. There were a lot of triumphant _I Told You So_’s, but ironically, the people who were so certain they’d seen it and reported clear and distinct memories of it had the details wrong. That clarity was given as the evidence that it must be true, and then when the video turned up and showed that the clarity they reported was false, they dismissed what was previously given as a compelling reason to believe as now beside the point. The lesson to take from this the very same video evidence that ultimately proved Snopes’ conclusion was wrong also demonstrated that their skepticism was well founded. The difference between the actual video and reports of it were striking, making it impossible to distinguish real sightings from constructed memories. Now of course I expect that those people who insisted they’d really seen it all along have reconstructed their memories to be more in line with the actual video. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/14 "2006-01-09T21:22:24Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > a female Newlywed Game contestant responded, “That would be up the butt, Bob.” > [http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm) > > was originally deemed false, but now it’s true. Well, not quite accurate. The contestant actually said, “Is it in the ass?” ---
**Author:** ![mkl12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/15 "2006-01-09T21:28:57Z")
[The Repository of Lost Legends](http://snopes.com/lost/) - TRoLL - is SNOPES’ collection of made up stories. Both the KFC and the sixpence story are from there, along with several others. The explanation has already been posted, I’m just providing the direct link. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/16 "2006-01-09T21:56:02Z")
> [@Johnny Angel](#): > > I was active on their message board when the video finally surfaced. There were a lot of triumphant _I Told You So_’s, but ironically, the people who were so certain they’d seen it and reported clear and distinct memories of it had the details wrong. That clarity was given as the evidence that it must be true, and then when the video turned up and showed that the clarity they reported was false, they dismissed what was previously given as a compelling reason to believe as now beside the point. > > The lesson to take from this the very same video evidence that ultimately proved Snopes’ conclusion was wrong also demonstrated that their skepticism was well founded. The difference between the actual video and reports of it were striking, making it impossible to distinguish real sightings from constructed memories. > > Now of course I expect that those people who insisted they’d really seen it all along have reconstructed their memories to be more in line with the actual video. Really, after seeing the actual vid, and comparing it to peoples memories- for all intents and purposes it WAS a “UL”. It seems clear to me that very few saw the actual scene, and those few that did had their memories changed by hearing the UL. Now, yes, I have little doubt that the UL was “based on a true incident” as although the _details_ are considerable different, the basic story is the same. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/17 "2006-01-10T00:34:01Z")
[This one](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/fillings.htm) about Lucille Ball claiming to pick up radio transmission is labeled “Undetermined” but I’m about 90% sure I’ve seen footage of her saying it on TV, which makes it true. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/18 "2006-01-10T00:39:10Z")
I don’t know if this counts, but they intentionally have at least one erroneous post, the [Mr. Ed was really a zebra](http://www.snopes.com/lost/mistered.asp?version=color#toggle) thread. I’ve read an explanation for this one- something like “just a reminder to not believe everything you read on the web”, but it has convinced some people that zebras and horses look the same in black and white. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/19 "2006-01-10T00:42:40Z")
[Here’s](http://www.snopes.com/lost/false.htm) the explanation page along with links to their other hoaxes. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174/20 "2006-01-10T00:47:14Z")
> [@mkl12](#): > > [The Repository of Lost Legends](http://snopes.com/lost/) - TRoLL - is SNOPES’ collection of made up stories. Both the KFC and the sixpence story are from there, along with several others. The explanation has already been posted, I’m just providing the direct link. And uh, yeah… there’s that one too. :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-snopes-ever-gotten-an-urban-legend-wrong/339174.md?page=2)