Hosts investigate the origins of the infamous poop story, discussing its uncertainties, variations as an urban legend, and the blurred line between gossip and urban legends. They also share their personal experiences, the theft and remake of their film, and the beauty of storytelling.
The podcast delves into the various versions of the urban legend known as 'the poop story' and how it has been shared and modified over several decades and in different countries.
The unexpected viral success of the 'poop story' reveals the disappointment that comes with realizing a story believed to be unique is actually an urban legend, challenging the sense of exclusivity and personal connection.
Urban legends, like the 'poop story,' captivate audiences through their relatability, cautionary themes, and ability to spark engaging discussions, showcasing the enduring nature of storytelling in human culture.
Deep dives
The Poop Story: An Urban Legend That Circulated for Years
The podcast episode explores the origin and widespread dissemination of an urban legend known as 'the poop story.' The story involves a woman going on a date, having trouble with a clogged toilet, and attempting to remove the poop with a plastic bag. The podcast delves into the various versions of the story from different countries and over several decades, showcasing how the tale has been shared and modified. While the podcast team was unable to find the original protagonist, they discovered the story's adaptation in a short film titled 'Sure Lock: A True Poop Story.' Despite its urban legend status, the story continues to captivate and entertain with its cautionary tale theme.
The Viral Success and Disappointment of the Poop Story
The podcast episode reveals the unexpected viral success of the 'poop story.' Originally intended as a comedy film for a website launch, the story garnered millions of views and even won a comedic award. However, as the story spread, others claimed to have heard similar versions, revealing the story to be an urban legend. The podcast explores the disappointment that arises when realizing a story believed to be unique is actually widely known. This realization challenges the sense of exclusivity and personal connection that comes with sharing a tale. Despite the disappointment, the story's enduring popularity demonstrates its ability to captivate and entertain.
The Power of Urban Legends in Storytelling
The podcast episode delves into the power of urban legends in storytelling. Urban legends, like the 'poop story,' spread widely and undergo variations as they are passed from person to person. They captivate audiences through their relatability, cautionary themes, and ability to spark engaging discussions. Urban legends tap into the human practice of sharing stories, creating connections, and prompting moral ponderings. The ubiquity of urban legends demonstrates their universal appeal and showcases the enduring nature of storytelling in human culture.
Dissecting the Longevity of the 'Poop Story' Urban Legend
The podcast episode examines the longevity of the 'poop story' urban legend. Sharing stories and urban legends is a human practice that spans cultures and time, as evidenced by the widespread nature of the 'poop story.' The episode discusses the role of proximity, personal connections, and shared experiences in perpetuating urban legends. It also reveals the creative variations introduced in different retellings and the impact of popular media on their dissemination. Despite the numerous iterations and the realization that the story may not be rooted in a single event, the 'poop story' continues to entertain and intrigue audiences.
The Disappointment of Discovering the Universality of Urban Legends
The podcast episode explores the feeling of disappointment that arises when realizing the universality of urban legends. Hearing the 'poop story' from multiple sources and learning about its widespread existence challenges the notion of uniqueness and personal attachment to a particular tale. The episode discusses the desire to possess a story that feels exclusive, as well as the loss of feeling connected to the story's origins. Despite the disappointment, the enjoyment of urban legends lies in the act of storytelling and the engagement and discussions they inspire.
Alex and Jae spent the last month trying to find the source of a tale we first heard back in season two. Is the poop story gossip? An urban legend? Guerilla marketing perpetrated on us all by Big Toilet? All of the above?
You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.
Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/
Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs). Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira) is our associate producer. Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor.