mskala

There is a certain story that I think is an old traditional one told by many different authors, but probably the most famous version is called "The Green Ribbon" and appears in the book In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz. In that version it's about a girl named Jenny who always wears a green ribbon around her neck and refuses to remove it or to tell anyone what it's for. At the end of the story her husband finds out, in a spectacular way. For some reason it's a very memorable story - lots of people remember it from when they were children even if they don't remember what book it was in, and it comes around frequently in the "What was that book?" community in the other place.

Here's the thing: I first heard that story when I was a young child, and I thought it was hilariously funny at the time, and I still do. It didn't occur to me to react to it as anything other than a joke. But a lot of people I've talked to claim to have taken it seriously as a frightening tale and to have been terrified by it as youngsters. So the question is, which reaction did you have?

Poll #1058 The Green Ribbon

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

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When you were a child, was this story...

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Funny
0 (0.0%)

Scary
1 (20.0%)

Both
0 (0.0%)

I didn't read/hear it as a child
3 (60.0%)

Other (explain in comments)
1 (20.0%)

Now that you're an adult, is this story...

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