REALL News - Vol 03 No 04 - 1995

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 3 Issue 4, published in April 1995, features an article titled "Legends in Their Own Time" by David Bloomberg, who is also identified as the REALL Chairman. The issue is characterized by its focus on debunking popular myths and urban legends, promoting a skeptical approach to unsubstantiated claims.

Legends in Their Own Time

David Bloomberg's article delves into the nature and spread of urban legends, defining them as stories told as true accounts but which are actually pieces of modern folklore. He notes that many of these legends involve paranormal elements, citing "The Vanishing Hitchhiker" as a prime example. This legend typically involves a man picking up a female hitchhiker who disappears, only for him to later learn she died tragically years earlier on the same night, with her jacket found on her grave.

Bloomberg contrasts the fascination with urban legends with the importance of skepticism, stating, "I don't abandon my skepticism outside the realm of the paranormal." He provides examples of legends, such as albino alligators in New York City sewers, a child with brain cancer seeking postcards for the Guinness Book of World Records, and a sinking library at Northwestern University. He also discusses a legend about a car achieving 100 miles per gallon that was allegedly recalled, with the owner paid off to remain silent.

Sources of Information and Expertise

The article identifies Jan Harold Brunvand, a professor of English and folklore at the University of Utah, as a leading authority on urban legends. Brunvand has written several books on the subject, collecting stories from various sources, including newspaper columns and computer mail. He has also tracked the emergence of new legends, such as one about gangs targeting people who flash their headlights at cars without lights. Brunvand also discusses legends from other countries.

Case Study: "Blue Star Acid"

Bloomberg recounts his personal involvement in debunking the "Blue Star Acid" legend, which was reported by Springfield's Channel 20. This legend claimed that drug peddlers were using lick-and-stick tattoos laced with LSD, often in the form of stars or cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse or Bart Simpson. Sheriff Neil Williamson of Sangamon County was quoted as believing the legend. Although "blotter acid" did exist in the '60s and '70s, Bloomberg clarifies that it was rarely given to children, and no such LSD-laced tattoos have been proven to exist. REALL intervened by sending Channel 20 information from an L.A. Times article that identified the story as an urban legend. Despite REALL's efforts, Channel 20's response was a brief thank you, and no public retraction was observed.

Case Study: Craig Shergold

Another legend discussed is that of Craig Shergold, who was reportedly dying of brain cancer and wanted to set a Guinness World Record for receiving the most postcards. Bloomberg explains that this story was once true when Shergold was seven, but he is now 15, holds the record, his tumor was benign, and the family has publicly requested that people stop sending cards. The Guinness people do not endorse attempts to break the record, and the Make A Wish Foundation is also mentioned as being involved in the legend.

The Challenge of Debunking

Bloomberg laments that "these stories spread far faster than they can be debunked." He notes that even after his intervention with the "Blue Star Acid" story, it died down but was not officially retracted by Channel 20. He emphasizes that people continue to spread these legends, either believing they are doing a good deed or because they saw it reported as news. He encourages skeptics to continue their efforts to stop these stories when possible, citing REALL's commitment to providing information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the article is the critical examination of popular beliefs and the importance of skepticism in discerning truth from folklore. The editorial stance of The REALL News, as represented by David Bloomberg, is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the debunking of misinformation, particularly when it is presented as fact by media outlets or spreads through public channels. The magazine aims to educate its readers about the mechanisms of legend transmission and the importance of verifying information.