"Man, 55..."

[fleetfootmike]

It's how the Bucks local papers referred to keristor.

And I think that, in the end, is the thing that really gets me. That someone with his skills, his talent, his generosity, can be reduced by an accident to those two words. There's a part of me wants to find the person who wrote that, show them everything that's been written about him here and elsewhere, and say "Look. I know it's not your fault that at the time you wrote the piece that's all you could say. But I'd like you to know what the man you wrote about was really like."

I may yet.

[Edit: Yes, I know this isn't the reporter's fault.]

Comments

[otherdeb.livejournal.com]

Well, it might be worth your effort to drop the writer (if you can get his/her name) a note saying just that and pointing him/her to some of the things written about Keris.

[bardling.livejournal.com]

It would have been phrased that way in any case, as they can't release the name until the body has been identified and the immediate formalities have been done, probably not until after the post-mortem & the interim death certificate has been released to the next of kin. That didn't happen 'til Wednesday evening.

That said, yes, I grok. I half-share your desire and see no harm in doing so, if you can get the contact info... *hugstight*

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

:D hence 'I know it's not your fault, and at the time you wrote....'

It's the universe I'm complaining at, mostly.

[aunty_marion]

As bardling says, they couldn't do that till this week anyway. But it might be worth trying to write up an obituary to send to them to print, with an accompanying note saying what you said here.

[occams_pyramid]

The very junior reporter who wrote that probably wasn't given time to write any more, let alone to research it. But if you can send them a letter or article they might well print it.

Probably helps if you can make it fit their style, give some local interest, and keep it short - ideally so they can just slot it in.

Pterry has noted that he saw his first dead body on his first day of work as a junior reporter, and had any tendency to writer's block burned out of him by deadlines - presumably all local papers are much the same.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

What always strikes me about such notices is that they are all inadequate. We see this when it's someone we know, but in the end, it's always someone's friend, sibling, child, parent, partner. Words are never adequate. It's the curse of them.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

That's exactly it. And even were it written by someone who knew Keris well, someone from another aspect of Keris' life would say, "Yes, but what about..."

[eoforyth.livejournal.com]

It's sad that many people could be summed up in such a way for all but a handful of people, but not Keris. *Hugs*

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

It's what got to me the most as well. The fact that there was more information about the stupid cars than the people. I know that privacy issues and such make it that way, but it just seemed so dehumanizing.

[filklore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

I am fairly certain that all the details in the local papers (and the BBC news item) would have come directly from Thames Valley Police's press release. This would normally be dealt with by a junior, under the copy sub-editor. No actual reporting went on, I'm afraid.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're right. But that's not actually the important part of what I was trying to say.

[filklore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

To be honest, what really depressed me on reading the articles (I really don't know why I did) was just how close to home Keris was when the collision happened.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

Though I suppose in any collision that actually occurs, if you were just a hundred yards closer to home (or indeed further away), it almost certainly wouldn't happen. Alas, cold logic doesn't quell the sting of "Dammit, so nearly home and safe...!" =:o{

[pola-bear.livejournal.com]

Anna mentioned someone had found the articles and I stupidly read them just before going to sleep. So inadequate to express him. I feel so sick thinking about them. Maybe sending some sort of obituary would be good.