Perhaps some purpose?

I think I have beginner's excitement seeing as this is my second post within 10 or so minutes. Anyway . . . I'm one of those wierd people who love urban legends and really odd news and stuff like "The Darwin Awards." It got me thinking, though . . . Why do people love to read about other people doing outrageously horrible things to themselves or others? Why do people love to be scared? Why are monkeys and chickens the funniest animals?

I can't answer these questions . . . but I do know that those sorts of things are very entertaining.

Also, being a U.S. expatriate living in Australia I was slightly surprised to see how far urban legends (I thought were uniquely American) have spread. Oh, don't get me wrong . . . every country has their unique set, but American legends have spread like wild fire. Perhaps it falls into the Coke-McDonalds-Levis cancer that has spread everywhere. I'll stop there before I become too political.