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ostension

By David Emery, About.com

Definition: Instance of an urban legend being unwittingly acted out in real life. (To knowingly act out an urban legend is called "pseudo-ostension.")
Examples: Despite the widespread belief that evildoers tamper with children's candy on Halloween, actual instances of this are rare and classified by folklorists as cases of ostension.
David Emery
Guide since 1997

David Emery
Urban Legends Guide

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