The Truth About Some Unusual Urban Legends

Thanks to the internet, urban legends have proliferated in recent years. Also thanks to the internet, urban legend databases and archives have debunked some of the most pernicious. But there are some legends that are based in truth - here are some of the best stories you can repeat to your friends with confidence.

Urban Legend #1
When filling out the form to request a vanity license plate, a man wrote "NO PLATE" in the alternate box. His original choice was not available, so he received a plate that actually read NO PLATE - as a result, he received thousands of parking tickets for people who didn't have a license plate.

This happened in 1979 to a man named Robert Barbour. When he realized what was happening, he notified the DMV, who requested that police use the notation "NONE" instead of "NO PLATE." This solved the problem for a while, until some officers started using "MISSING." Naturally, there was someone out there with a license plate that read "MISSING..."

Urban Legend #2
Some brands of toothpaste sold in dollar and discount stores may be dangerous, and are not approved by the FDA.

NBC did an exposé on this topic. Before you buy toothpaste at a discount store, check the back of the packaging to see where it comes from. Health standards are very different in some countries; one toothpaste from Africa contains ten times the recommended amount of fluoride and could be dangerous if swallowed. Stick with American and Canadian products.

Urban Legend #3
A Las Vegas brothel offered free "services" to returning soldiers in 2003.

The Moonlite Bunny Ranch really ran this promotion, as well as a 50% discount in the following 50 days for anyone who'd missed out on the freebie. But it wasn't the first: in 1991, servicemen in the Persian Gulf were offered a similar deal by the owner of the Mustang Ranch, the first legal brothel in the United States. It's estimated that 100 out of 150 eligible servicemen took advantage.

Urban Legend #4
Some companies lure you into agreeing to receive telemarketing calls by offering you free products, coupons, or other benefits. The "Do Not Call" registry won't protect you.

Registering your number on the Do Not Call list will prevent you from receiving unsolicited calls. However, many companies will offer you free products or coupons, either in an online ad, phone call, print ad, or email. They will obtain your phone number, and at some point, you will unwittingly agree to receive future marketing calls from this company. Make sure to always read the fine print, and remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Urban Legend #5
A couple's wedding video turned out to be a recording of a neighbor having intimate relations with his dog.

In 1994, British papers reported that a man was convicted of bestiality after he loaned his neighbors a camera, from which he had forgotten to delete the offending video. He claimed the video showed only simulated sex acts, but apparently the jury didn't buy it.

Urban Legend #6
Shortly after winning the lottery, a 73-year-old man was hit by a truck and died.

After winning $73,450, Indiana native Carl Atwood was hit by a truck. He was wearing dark clothing at night and the driver didn't see him; he died in the hospital. Since he stood to win even more money in an ongoing sweepstakes promotion, his family had to choose someone to take his place.

Urban Legend #7
People have been killed because they were talking on a corded phone during a lightning storm.

Bearing in mind that lightning strikes are extremely unlikely to begin with, holding a phone with a cord that connects it to the wall can result in serious injuries, or even death. Lightning is more likely to strike tall objects, such as telephone poles, and the charge can travel all the way to your handset. Use phones with caution during thunderstorms. If possible, use a cell phone or cordless phone to greatly lessen your risks of being hurt.

Urban Legend #8
A man in prison in the 1930s killed himself with playing cards.

Tired of waiting on death row in San Quentin, William Kogut fashioned a crude pipe bomb using playing cards as the ammunition. At this time, red playing cards were printed with a fairly volatile ink - when heated, the shreds of paper propelled themselves into Kogut's skull with great force. He left a note telling people not to blame anyone for his death, since he had taken care of everything himself.

Urban Legend #9
The youngest mother on record was five years old.

Lina Medina's remarkable story deserves better coverage than what I can give here. Suffice it to say that, somehow, she became pregnant at age five and gave birth to a healthy boy via C-section. She displayed advanced physical maturation, and had even begun menstruating at eight months. Follow the link above to find out more about this medical miracle.

Now you know.

Now you know what stories to repeat with confidence, and you will never again embarrass yourself by telling your friends that the f-word means "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," or that Richard Gere had a gerbil surgically removed from his rectum.