Urban fable

My new term...urban fable. It’s those stories we tell that contain examples of lessons learned. They are based loosely on fact, a case study or research paper that has been told so many times and shortened to a brief tale, modified slightly by each storyteller with creative descriptions to maximize impact. In the end, the lesson is clearer, the story is memorable, and the original facts are a little more blurred. But I think it’s ok, because the intent of providing a clear example and teaching a lesson has been accomplished, as long as it’s understood that in the telling of the story, the detailed facts have been lost along the way.