The EHRC finally makes up its mind

[vinteuil]

... a fine example

:

... if you liked that - you may like this...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1556420/Count-Gottfried-von-Bismarck.html

[one feels that the concluding sentence - He never married - was hardly necessary... ]

[amateur51]

... if you liked that - you may like this...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1556420/Count-Gottfried-von-Bismarck.html

[one feels that the concluding sentence - He never married - was hardly necessary... ]

A masterpiece, vinteuil

What a shame that it is unattributed

Another piece of work from our favourite Amercian workhorse?

[Anna]

What a wonderful Obit that is!! My father's two younger brothers never married. They were a tad eccentric and from leaving home at 18 to death in their 70s they lived together in a ramshackle old cottage. From discussing them with my cousins there was never any suggestion that either of them were gay nor that various maiden aunts in the family were lesbians.

[amateur51]

What a wonderful Obit that is!! My father's two younger brothers never married. They were a tad eccentric and from leaving home at 18 to death in their 70s they lived together in a ramshackle old cottage. From discussing them with my cousins there was never any suggestion that either of them were gay nor that various maiden aunts in the family were lesbians.

But would it occur to you to put 'They never married' in their obituaries, should they have them?'

[Anna]

But would it occur to you to put 'They never married' in their obituaries, should they have them?'

I think they did have obits are they were well known in their specialist field (I'll check this) but anyone who knew them well would know they were bachelors and the only reason I can think of for stating they never married would be for the information of others who may have wished to offer condolences to widow and/or children if such had existed.

[amateur51]

I think they did have obits are they were well known in their specialist field (I'll check this) but anyone who knew them well would know they were bachelors and the only reason I can think of for stating they never married would be for the information of others who may have wished to offer condolences to widow and/or children if such had existed.

Precisely.

The same respect has not been afforded, in the past, and as others have shown, currently to some famous lesbians and gay men who have obituaries published about them in the national Press.

[Bryn]

The close of the New York Times obit. for John Cage:

"Mr. Cage was a soft-spoken, mercurial man who remained keenly interested in new music. He made himself easily accessible to young composers and critics, and was often seen at concerts in downtown Manhattan.

"Mr. Cage's marriage to Xenia Andreyevna Kashevaroff ended in divorce in 1945. From 1970 until his death, he lived with Mr. Cunningham.

"There are no immediate survivors."


I'd have said Merce was pretty much immediate to John.

[scottycelt]

I think they did have obits are they were well known in their specialist field (I'll check this) but anyone who knew them well would know they were bachelors and the only reason I can think of for stating they never married would be for the information of others who may have wished to offer condolences to widow and/or children if such had existed.

Absolutely, Anna ... obits almost always say 'he leaves a wife and x children ..', so why all the fuss about 'he never married' ?

If those who are obsessed with the personal lives of others wish to read something else into that perfectly straightforward statement, well that's entirely up to them!

[amateur51]

The close of the New York Times obit. for John Cage:

"Mr. Cage was a soft-spoken, mercurial man who remained keenly interested in new music. He made himself easily accessible to young composers and critics, and was often seen at concerts in downtown Manhattan.

"Mr. Cage's marriage to Xenia Andreyevna Kashevaroff ended in divorce in 1945. From 1970 until his death, he lived with Mr. Cunningham.

"There are no immediate survivors."


I'd have said Merce was pretty much immediate to John.

Spot on, Bryn.

[amateur51]

Absolutely, Anna ... obits almost always say 'he leaves a wife and x children ..', so why all the fuss about 'he never married' ?

If those who are obsessed with the personal lives of others wish to read something else into that perfectly straightforward statement, well that's entirely up to them!

As it is to those who will not see what's going on in front of their blinkered traditionalist 'I-see-no-ships' Panglossian eyes

[vinteuil]

the following site contains various naughty words, so if you don't wish to be offended, don't peek.

But it also contains an excellent selection of what the various euphemisms in obituaries really mean...

https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=17554.0

[amateur51]

the following site contains various naughty words, so if you don't wish to be offended, don't peek.

But it also contains an excellent selection of what the various euphemisms in obituaries really mean...

https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/foru...?topic=17554.0

I only got half-way through before I got a stitch from laughing

However, I have bookmarked it for later!

Many thanks, vinteuil

[vinteuil]

... glad you liked it!

For those who didn't want to be sullied by any smut, extracted the following on the policy of The Times -

"The relatively new obituary style which was pioneered by Hugh Massingberd recognised that, while dreary respectfulness was out of date, readers preferred the facts of a life to be reflected with a certain generosity of spirit. So a coded system of euphemisms was introduced which allowed the obituarist to present weaknesses and vices in light disguise. A crashing bore would be "a tireless raconteur", a terrible old drunk would be described as being "affable and hospitable at every hour". A serial groper was "an uncompromisingly direct ladies' man"."

[amateur51]

... glad you liked it!

For those who didn't want to be sullied by any smut, extracted the following on the policy of The Times -

"The relatively new obituary style which was pioneered by Hugh Massingberd recognised that, while dreary respectfulness was out of date, readers preferred the facts of a life to be reflected with a certain generosity of spirit. So a coded system of euphemisms was introduced which allowed the obituarist to present weaknesses and vices in light disguise. A crashing bore would be "a tireless raconteur", a terrible old drunk would be described as being "affable and hospitable at every hour". A serial groper was "an uncompromisingly direct ladies' man"."

Bliss!

[Chris Newman]

No beating about the bush for some obit writers. Classical music lovers the world over hated Walter (Waldo) de los Rios the man who stuck disco drums into many pieces of well known music. He reached No 1 with the first movement of Mozart 40 in 1971.

http://loungelegends.blogspot.com/2010/04/waldo-de-los-rios-music-and-romance.html

I can never forget the obit written by Bernard Levin in The Times (before it became an overambitious Murdoch Tabloid) after de los Rios committed suicide on March 28, 1977. It began:
"We are pleased to announce the death of W......."