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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not point out story is an urban legend?

286 replies

StingLikeA · 21/03/2026 22:54

I was in a group earlier of parents of DC's friends at a party. We were chatting away and one of them told an urban legend story (stealing a penguin from the zoo if that's relevant). I just went 'oh really ha ha' and moved the subject on as it felt really awkward.

Would you have politely pointed out that the story was a crock of shit to avoid them repeating it again? AIBU to have ignored it and presumably let them keep on telling it?

Has anyone else been told one of these face to face?

OP posts:
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9
VividPinkTraybake · 21/03/2026 23:56

StingLikeA · 21/03/2026 23:09

I think it was a friend or their sister or something? So not them directly (I guess it never is!). I did really cringe for them which is why I'm wondering if I should have saved them from repeating it to someone else!

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Why on earth do you care? Urban legends are jsut part of an oral tradition
Normal people don't belive them but just appreciate rhe story. As they say it's the way that you tell them

VividPinkTraybake · 21/03/2026 23:54

CarbGoading · 21/03/2026 23:01

They were telling it as if they did it? Oooh that's cringey! I might have said something like 'oh wow that story is famous, I've read it all over the internet' or 'why is it always poor penguins getting stolen' if I wanted to make a point that I'd spotted their BS, but if not I would just make a mental note that this was a bullshitter and to take other things they say with a pinch of salt

Why? What possible benefit would that have on your life?

Katflapkit · 21/03/2026 23:54

I am 60 now but when I was at school the big urban legend was the couple at the cinema eating KFC in the dark and the young women saying 'This chicken tastes weird'
When the lights went up and she checked the box. It was a rat.

BikeShmike · 21/03/2026 23:49

Dellow · 21/03/2026 23:29

This did actually happen . Amazon zoo ( forget the exact name) on the Isle of Wight. It was very well publicised at the time:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4547722.stm

The baby penguin was never returned and almost certainly died 😥

echt · 21/03/2026 23:31

StingLikeA · 21/03/2026 23:09

I think it was a friend or their sister or something? So not them directly (I guess it never is!). I did really cringe for them which is why I'm wondering if I should have saved them from repeating it to someone else!

Show quote history

One of the characteristics of the urban legend is that it always happens to the friend of a friend, aka FOAF: "The Choking Doberman" by Jan Harold Brunvand. It's a really good read.

I once debunked an urban legend for a friend who spoke to me about the rumour mill at the school where they taught, circulating the story that Mickey Mouse-stamped LSD tabs were being sold at the school gates. I didn't tell them in the spirit of "you credulous numpty".

Dellow · 21/03/2026 23:29

This did actually happen . Amazon zoo ( forget the exact name) on the Isle of Wight. It was very well publicised at the time:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4547722.stm

PollyBell · 21/03/2026 23:11

It is a story but you seem overinvested in it why?

Restlessdreams1994 · 21/03/2026 23:10

I would let it go. Who really cares?

Original poster
StingLikeA · 21/03/2026 23:09

CarbGoading · 21/03/2026 23:01

They were telling it as if they did it? Oooh that's cringey! I might have said something like 'oh wow that story is famous, I've read it all over the internet' or 'why is it always poor penguins getting stolen' if I wanted to make a point that I'd spotted their BS, but if not I would just make a mental note that this was a bullshitter and to take other things they say with a pinch of salt

I think it was a friend or their sister or something? So not them directly (I guess it never is!). I did really cringe for them which is why I'm wondering if I should have saved them from repeating it to someone else!

OP posts:
CarbGoading · 21/03/2026 23:01

They were telling it as if they did it? Oooh that's cringey! I might have said something like 'oh wow that story is famous, I've read it all over the internet' or 'why is it always poor penguins getting stolen' if I wanted to make a point that I'd spotted their BS, but if not I would just make a mental note that this was a bullshitter and to take other things they say with a pinch of salt

Itsmetheflamingo · 21/03/2026 22:55

I just let them be on with it. Seems like it would behumiliating them to point it out