BS: What Constitutes An Obit?

Subject: BS: Is this an obit?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 06:44 PM

Some dude died......

In the Newspaper I work for we have two basic clasifications of items printed when someone dies. Obituraries and Death Notices. No offence but I think people misuse the Obit tag here in Mudcat. To just tell us someone is dead does not constitute an Obituary. Obits tend to have some biographical info, and btw are paid for by the family or funeral home when they run in a newspaper! Advertisements for the deceased.

The third possible classification would be a news story, like the demise of Don Imus.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 06:55 PM

A)So what?

B) Very often, obits around here have links, etc., to biographical information (eventually, if not in the original post), so it still counts.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: M.Ted
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:07 PM

I tried to cut and paste the Don Ho Obit from the Honolulu paper, and it wouldn't work--Rapaire had the same problem I did, and only got the first few lines. Maybe someone has got it by now--between us all, we usually get something into the link sooner or later--

You, guest Nick, are more than welcome to paste a link, copy, or, and especially welcome, your own thoughts feelings, and experiences related to the deceased.

Even when there isn't a lot of info, the obit threads are often the first place I hear about celeb deaths--

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:25 PM

We call 'em all "OBIT" 'cause that's the only appropriate prefix Max has given us to work with. Want a prefix that says "Death Notice"? Send Max a check for enough money and he'll have Jeff make one for ya.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:57 PM

And, I know that we did not pay for the Obits for our parents in local newspapers.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 09:18 PM

Well we were going to call that classification "Dead Fuckers." The problem there was that would include a lot of water already under the bridge, so to speak. So we tried "Recently Dead Fuckers" but that was a bust as well since just how recent was often questioned. WE then just went to the simple "Obit" tag because although we're ignorant mohunkers who don't know the difference between that and a "Death Notice" at least we had some idea of the thread topic.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 10:00 PM

The threads are often started before any info has been gathered, just to let folks know and to express surprise, grief, shock, etc.. The "Obit" material usually comes along before an hour has passed.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Mickey191
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 11:02 PM

I've always read the daily obits even though those listed are strangers. Don't know why-but I do. More and more of our brave men & women who served in WWII listing where they served and the countless medals they earned are being listed. Their bravery touches my heart.

Then we have the ones which are peculiar. Some are so flowery they give a smile. (Bad Mickey) Here's one:

Surrounded by her loving family and her favorite pussy cat,Morris at exactly 2:38 pm the soul of Mary Jones passed into the loving arms of her heavenly Father, leaving all her wordly troubles behind. She was a good soul who enjoyed her canasta club,her bingo friends, the sewing bee......(Was the cat on the bed?)

Then you have this weird one which might have been libelous:   
Joe Black has had his last libation, the bottles are all empty & his friends will need another pal to pay for their rounds. Joe was a hell-raiser & had his share of trouble with the law......(Couldn't believe they printed it.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 11:08 PM

PEDANT ALERT!

Geeze GUEST, Nick - you having a slow day or what?

This isn't your newspaper here, and we all know what it means, so what the hell!!!

I'm with everybody else here. As for you Spaw, you gave me my first good chuckle of the day. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 11:48 PM

Spaw is on a roll tonight...go read his songs for his cats up in the music section!

Sorcha, we've never had to pay for any obits until my dad's which I thought was a lot of bullshit. Newspapers know they sell, partly, because folks want to read the obits; now ya have to pay twice if you want to read anything meaningful about the deceased.

Mickey, I was collecting ones about mostly old women out here in the Rocky Mountains, esp. the ones who were still a kind of pioneer in the early part of the 20th century. I was going to put them all in a book. I would put a couple in here, but I cannot find the file folder, tonight.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 11:53 PM

Well, I know I would pitch a hissie fit if I were told I had to pay for an Obit. A novena, or some such, sure. An Anniversary death notice (On this day in 2001 our beloved Mother etc etc etc), OK. But a current Obit? No way!

PS..the Hearts and Flowers ones usually make me gag. Entered into rest with her loving Lord..bleeeccccchhhh.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:02 AM

A lot of newspapers charge, and charge a lot, for obits. Maybe Nick and his paper feel that our obits are competition.

Subject: POEM ADD: A Cowboy's Prayer - Badger Clark
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:06 AM

Ya know what, Sorcha? I was so ill about the time my dad died, I had forgotten that we, his kids, did not do the obit, his wife did. We did pay for the following to be printed, along with a "Memoriam" from all of us, which we were fine with paying for:

A Cowboy's Prayer

   Oh, Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.
   I love creation better as it stood
   That day you finished it so long ago.
   And looked upon your work and called it good.
   I know that others might find You in the light
   That's sifted down through tinted window panes,
   And yet I seem to feel You near tonight.

   Let me be easy on the man that's down;
   Let me be square and generous with all.
   I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town,
   But never let them say I'm mean or small!
   Make me as big and open as the plains,
   As honest as the hoss between my knees,
   Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
   Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!

   I thank you, Lord, that I am placed so well,
   That you made my freedom so complete;
   That I'm no slave to whistle, clock, or bell,
   Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.
   Just let me live my life as I've begun
   And give me work that is open to the sky;
   Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
   And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.

   Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget.
   You know about the reasons that are hid.
   You understand the things that gall and fret;
   You know me better than my mother did.
   Just keep an eye on all that's done and said
   And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside,
   And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead
   That stretches upward toward the Great Divide.

   Badger Clark "

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:07 AM

IMO, that is just plain stupid and taking yet more advantage of the bereaved. Sorry, but an Obit is a news item.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Peace
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:25 AM

The creator of this passed away on April, 7.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Mickey191
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 01:04 AM

Kat, I'm sorry to hear your Dad passed. I guess I was not on the internet then. If I'd known you had interest in some of these obits I'd have saved them. I like the poem very much.

Let me be easy on the man that's down;
Let me be square and generous with all.

Good thoughts for us all.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 05:49 AM

Whose Don Imus?

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: skipy
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 06:03 AM

I check the obits & death notices every night to mnake sure I'm not in them!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: JennyO
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 06:56 AM

My family used to call all the birth, marriage and death notices in the newspaper "hatches, matches and dispatches".

I get up each morning and dust off my wits
And pick up the paper and read the "Obits",
If my name is still missing I know I'm not dead,
So I have a good breakfast and go back to bed.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 07:48 AM

In our paper, even in our extraordinarily community-minded mountain/rural culture, only "public figures" get free obits, and a front-page mention in either the news or the features section usually accompanies that because it is considered "news."

So I agree that it's rotten to have to pay for an obit in a paper, but I don't think it's ALL about profit off people's grief. I don't think it's a good time for newspapers in general, with competition from "free" internet news and "cheap" cable TV news. And look at the demographics-- the papers have a lot more obits to run these days. They ARE in biz to make, not lose, money. Somebody has to do the work of composing and posting the copy, and someone has to pay for that space. The paper has to pay the printer for the press run, and someone has to pay the salaries of the people who run THAT. Logically, it sh/could all be paid for by ads from funeral homes and other related businesses, but it doesn't turn out that way.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes An Obit?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:28 AM

I suppose you are right, Susan, but if the family writes the obit I don't think they should have to pay.

Mickey, thank you. He passed when I was very ill and I don't think I even posted a thread about it, at the time. It was for the best as he'd been poorly for about a year, then in a very bad way for a month or so. I was relieved when he let go and was free from pain, etc. Still miss him, though, very much.