I've looked up several definiions of "obituary", and none of them says anything about a need for it to be respectful. The definitions are all along the lines of "a notice of someone's death, usually including a short biography."

Wikipedia's definition is: "An obituary is an attempt to give an account of the texture and significance of the life of someone who has recently died." We have been discussing both the (uneven) texture and the significance (for good or ill) of Kennedy's life here; what's amiss? What's discourteous about discussing both the good and the bad parts of the deceased's life? (It's not like he's going to read it, and those who do read it should be prepared to acknowledge that a person does not suddenly become perfect when he or she dies.)

Treating the deceased with so-called "respect" by glossing over or completely ignoring the more sordid details of their lives is part-and-parcel of a eulogy or a tribute, not an obituary. So, if an "obituary thread" on Mudcat is a thread wherein only high-flying things may be said, then it is misnamed. There should be a separate prefix called "Trib" or "Eulogy" for such a thread.

Or, if it is some sort of unwritten Mudcat policy that Obit threads are equivalent to eulogies, and that posters should not mention anything less than stellar about the past of the passed, then I think that that policy should be made official, spelled out and posted in the FAQ. (It should be noted that, according to the current FAQ's "Mudcatiquette" section, Joe says he stays away from giving guidelines on etiquette.)

Otherwise, let Mudcatters say what they think about a person who is the subject of a thread, be he alive or dead. Post your own RIPs and your own eulogies if you wish, but please don't begrudge the rest of us our opinions as to how much or how little "respect" to give.