Talk:Barber's pole/Archives/2013

Reliability of sources
The explanation as to the origin can be found all over the internet but I consider it pretty much folk legend which is not supported by reliable sources. It is mainly legend repeated over and over and which has acquired variations of its own in the process like any other legend. I have not been able to find any contemporary sources supporting the supposed origin. All are recent repetitions unsupported except by reference to similar unsupported cites. No cites of anything before the 19th century. The link cited here in support (sensationalcolor.com) is just a blog of someone who says she "read it in a small town newspaper". Hardly a reliable source. Unfortunately legends repeated often enough take on a life of their own and are difficult to set straight. IMHO this is one such case. I am very skeptical until such time as reliable sources are found and cited. GS3 (talk) 22:02, 1 January 2013 (UTC)