On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:10:23 -0400, Kenneth
> wrote:

>On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:25:25 -0700, Mark Thorson
> wrote:
>
>>> Urban legend??!! Oh my God, do you mean McFerrin walks around
>>> with random strangers thinking he killed himself already?
>>
>>It's a famous story, hence it's an urban legend.
>
>Howdy,
>
>So "urban" means "famous?"
>
>But seriously, if it is a "famous story" why is it not
>simply a "legend."
>
>What's "urban" about it?
>
>(It is odd how the phrase "urban legend" passed into the
>language. I know that there was a book by that title "Urban
>Legends" years ago, but many of the legends in the book were
>not "urban" at all. I thought at the time that the title
>might better have been "Modern Legends.")
>
>All the best,

*snopes* actually has a reun-down of the term:

Urban legends are best described as cautionary or moralistic tales
passed along by those who believe (or claim) the incidents befell
either folks they know personally or acquaintances of friends or
family members.

Whereas the setting of more traditional legends places them in the
realm of long ago, urban legends are set against the backdrop of
contemporary times — the stories take place in shopping malls and coed
dormitories and feature such up-to-date bogeymen as terrorists, AIDS,
and inner-city gangs. Though some of these tales go back a century or
more, their details are continually being updated to keep them current
with the times; the horse and buggy of bygone days becomes the BMW of
today.

<http://www.snopes.com/info/ul-def.asp>

jan brunvand, who wrote the book of which you speak and a couple
sequels, emphasized that the tales were usually first told by a
'friend of a friend' (f.o.a.f., or 'my brother-in-law's boss, etc.)
who was the victim or present when the occurrence happened.

sometimes there's an element of the story (like the pill that changes
water to gasoline) being 'suppressed' by the big-money boys and
mainstream media.

but you're right, the term has been stretched somewhat since jan wrote
his book (which is pretty entertaining).

your pal,
blake


your pal,
blake
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