Urban myth/legend
What, there are rural equivalents?

Urban does not mean modern. If you mean modern, or contemporary, then bloody well say so.

Or just call the fucking things old wives' tales, or folk tales. People will still know what you mean.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:04, 11 replies)

say 'turban legend'
and see if anyone notices.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:05, closed)

1001 Arabian Nights

( flake has nothing against your right leg, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:06, closed)

and then relate the story
in an offensive 'Paki' accent reminiscent of 70s TV racist joke-fest The Comedians.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:09, closed)

It's only offensive if you manage to sound exactly like a speedboat.

( disasterprone "Pyjamas caused the Holocaust", Mon 12 Apr 2010, 13:28, closed)

HA!

( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 13:49, closed)

*In what might be my most boring post on B3ta*
Folklorists and their ilk, get quite annoyed by the term as well. Papers refer to them as contemporary mythology / legend" or modern folktale.
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:09, closed)

Not British tabloids, they don't
They're headline stories. Especially if immigrants have been wanking in your Big Mac.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:18, closed)

Ah, I meant academic-type published-in-a-journal papers
And as fot the Big mac I thought the "special sauce" was standard?
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:21, closed)

On the other hand
I think there is a difference between the typical 'urban legend' stories related to modern life, usually in an urban setting with a thoroughly non-mystical explanation, and stories emanating from a rural or country setting, in which folklore and magical or mystical explanations are more usual. For me the difference is that urban legends play upon our fear of corrupt or deviant society, whereas folk legends play upon more ancient fears of uncontrolled or misunderstood nature.
(Smale is stuffed, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 11:37, closed)

Eh?
. . . and if you're going to use contemporary please remember it's comparative and so needs to be contemporary with something.

( pause for applause )
(The Jannie, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 14:10, closed)

^This
I always get fucked off with "stunning contemporary apartments"
Contemporary with what you retard?

A "contemporary" Shakespeare play would be one performed in Elizabethan costume.
(thefuckestuppest cheapened this, on, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:38, closed)