Gnome-napping vs crop circles

[RamblingOnwards]

I was watching 'Amelie' the other night, and was suddenly struck by the similarities between gnome-napping and crop circles.

Both try to imply the existence of something otherworldly. Both are well-established (first documented cases are 1980 and 1678, respectively), and occur all over the world. Both require a great deal of time and effort but very little skill to accomplish. People 'caught' at either are usually bored prank-pulling students, but in most cases for both, the originator is never determined.

But when it comes to gnome-napping, no one sincerely suggests that the gnomes did in fact themselves decide to take a holiday.

What makes the difference?

[edited for spelling]

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

What is gnome-napping?

~~ Paul

[RamblingOnwards]

Originally posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
What is gnome-napping?

~~ Paul

Oh, sorry.

It's taking a garden gnome from a random garden before you leave on your travels, and sending back photographs of the gnome and letters or postcards 'from the gnome' to the owner from each place you visit.

Alternatives include the gnome liberation league, gnome meetings and gnome suicide attempts.

assorted web sites:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/staff/toby/writing/Skeptic/pd72.html
http://members.aol.com/gnomeweb/gnomehome.htm
http://www.gnomar.com
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0130/p14s01-lihc.html

[Nigel]

The more I learn about people and what they do, the less they surprise me.

[Hexxenhammer]

My brother and his friends stole a garden gnome and put in the middle of a street surrounded by orange road cones. Then listened to the cops laugh their heads off when they found it on their scanner.

[gnome]

Ahh, those were the days.

The conclusion is staring you in the face, folks...

We gnomes wandered off on holiday to make crop circles.

[Thomas]

Originally posted by gnome
Ahh, those were the days.

The conclusion is staring you in the face, folks...

We gnomes wandered off on holiday to make crop circles.
Then you shouldn't go to Denmark during your holidays, here we have The Gnome Execution Organisation, beside all the liberation leagues. This organisation doesn't just kidnap you guys, they will also execute you in a malicious manner - to set you forever free.
I know two guys from this organisation, and you don't wanna mess with them!

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
My brother and his friends stole a garden gnome and put in the middle of a street surrounded by orange road cones. Then listened to the cops laugh their heads off when they found it on their scanner.
The cops in your area have gnome scanners? Wow! Seems there have been major technological advances since I was a cop. We just had that new-fangled radar.:D

[Thomas]

Originally posted by Mr. Skinny

The cops in your area have gnome scanners? Wow! Seems there have been major technological advances since I was a cop. We just had that new-fangled radar.:D
When were you a cop? In the 50'ies? Today they are delivered with integrated GPS modules, it's the new style :p

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by Thomas

When were you a cop? In the 50'ies? Today they are delivered with integrated GPS modules, it's the new style :p
Early 80's Thomas. I guess the gnome problem has exploded since then.

Looks like I need to go take the Police Academy refresher course entitled "Gnomes - Detection, Surveillance, Control, and Arrest Methods"