On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:48:29 -0400, Kenneth
> wrote:

>On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:21:10 -0400, blake murphy
> wrote:
>
>>>SNIP<<
>>
>>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
>>** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
>
>Hi Blake,
>
>So, based upon Snopes, (or otherwise), might you have a
>thought about my question, that is, why Brunvand chose to
>call these tales "Urban" legends?
>
>Urban means "from, or of the _city_" and there is nothing
>"urban" whatever about the topic of the books.
>

most of the tales take place in urban settings, not trolls under
bridges and woodcutters run amok.

your pal,
blake
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **