In 1994, the Las Vegas police reported a disturbing series
of crimes along the Vegas strip. The first victim in this wave
was an Ohio man in town for a sales convention. At the bar in
his hotel, the man happened to strike up a conversation with
an attractive young woman. According to the man, the two hit
it off, sharing several drinks over the course of a couple
hours. At some point, the man blacked out, and when he came
to, he found himself lying in a hotel bathtub, covered in ice.
There was a phone resting on the floor beside the tub, with an
attached note that said, "Call 911 or you will die." He called
an ambulance and was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors
informed him that he had undergone massive surgery. One of his
kidneys had been removed, apparently by a gang selling human
organs on the black market. Following this occurrence, many
similar crimes were reported, leading Las Vegas police to
issue warnings to travelers visiting the city.
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There's a good chance that you've heard this story, or some
variation of it. News of the Vegas "organ harvesters" has been
passed on by thousands and thousands of people over the course
of 10 years. It has been relayed by word of mouth, e-mail and
even printed fliers. But there is absolutely no evidence that
any such thing ever occurred, in Las Vegas or anywhere else.
This fictional story is a quintessential urban legend,
an incredible tale passed from one person to another as truth.
In this article, we'll look at urban legends to see what
they are, where they come from and why they spread so quickly.
We'll also explore some ideas regarding the social
significance of urban legends, as well as take a look at how
the stories have changed over the years.
Here are some interesting links:
