[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

The basic elements of an urban legend invariably are that it never happened to the person recounting it, only to "a friend," "a relative" or, most frequently, "A friend of a friend." And that the friend or relative is of some assumedly admirable occupation--a priest, an airline pilot, a cop, a college professor, a judge. Nobody ever quotes a hooker, bartender, drug dealer, care salesman, magazine writer...