Lib writes:
I think I’m safe in saying that no one here thinks you are a moron. Some of us think you may be mistaken, I believe that David B thinks you are mistaken. That is very far from being a moron. I myself reserve judgement until we can learn more from Edlyn and perhaps nail this down. I’m sure others are convinced it will come to naught, but I’m the guy who is still trying to get his wife to demonstrate psi to him.
No one who hears an urban legend and believes it thinks there is a controversy. As for the ‘Nobody ever told me this story’ bit, please read my own anecdote below.
This is precisely why it is not remarkable, at least to me. If an idea is a ‘meme’ in the Richard Dawkins sense, it is likely to infect many without their knowledge of the truth of the idea. The pervasiveness of this UL is what may have led you to subconsciously construct this.
And Now, a hijack
Personal constructed memory story:
When I was a youngster, 7-10 years of age or so, I drove my middle brother (my age + 8 years) nuts with a song I had invented, the lyrics of which were “Down on the farm, better get on your boots and join us…” (repeat ad nauseum). I was sure I had invented it, and my brother assured me that I was correct, and that I needed professional help. “No one could possibly have recorded such a lame song, you are such a moron.” Or something like that.
Flash forward to college, and I am collecting the works of a band called Camel, somewhat popular in the 70’s. I found an LP of their Breathless album and brought it home. I noticed on the jacket that one of the songs was called ‘Down on the Farm’. I mentioned this to my brother, and jokingly suggested that maybe that was where I had gotten that annoying song from all those many years ago. His response: “If they recorded that song, I’ll no longer like them.” You see, he was a fan as well, and without his enthusiasm I would never have heard of them.
After dinner, we played the album, and it was in fact the same lyrics and even melody in the chorus as what I had repeated so irritatingly in years past.
My lesson
From this, I learned that I could manufacture memories. You see, before I listened to the album I would have said “No one played me that song, I must have made it up myself.” I was wrong. My best guess is that my oldest brother (my age + 11 years) had it playing on his radio one evening, as he did not have the album. You know how kids are.
So Lib, when you say “No one told me the story, I was unaware of the UL, I must have witnessed the show,” I have a certain sense of deja vu.
Of course, I have no idea what has gone on in your past. Perhaps no one did tell you the story, perhaps you did witness the event as you say. But, I think you should be open to the possibility that you have constructed the memory.
That way, when you find the video tape you can lord it over us the way I waved the album cover around in front of my brother’s face while the offending song was playing on my stereo. Plus, you’ll get the $10000, or at least the chance to humiliate a game show host.
