What is the most effective way to start an urban myth?
Paul Martin, Sydney, Australia • Tell my friend Louise. The more improbable and outlandish it is the quicker she will see to it that everyone knows. David Kernick, Nantwich uk • Urban myths nearly always have the ‘source’or ‘point of reference’ as being a ‘FOAF’ (Friend of a friend). Therefore start your myth by saying that the incident happened to a friend of a friend…… Julian McCarthy, Kingston -upon- Thames • It should be weird and uncheckable. For instance, a friend of mine started a rumour that Kate Bush was the writer of a Doctor Who story from the early 70s, citing coincidences such as the credited (but unknown) author’s name having the initials KB. This story is still doing the rounds in Doctor Who fandom after ten years. Rob Lines, Bristol UK • Tell a friend of a friend. Andrew Scanlan , Brighton UK • I know a bloke who tried once, but apparently he got caught out because there’s a listening device in every video player sold in this country, and MI5 used one of these to li
