"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> 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).

Wow, musta cost you a fortune to hire a typist to transcribe an entire
webpage for you. Next time how about having her summarize it in a few of her
own words and just post a link. No use having the poor lady look pompous.