"Body Found After SMELLING UP Apartment Complex"...?

[evilkumquat]

"Body Found After Smelling Up Apartment Complex"

I am neither squeamish nor given to readily finding offense where none may have been intended, but ****, does anyone else think this headline may have been a bit callous?

I cannot imagine any relatives would be very happy with the paper if their family member's remains were referred to in such a manner, or was it the fact that that guy was probably all alone in life (considering no one noticed his absence) license for such treatment?

Better, less degrading headlines would been something like:

Body Found After Resident Complaints
Body Found After Bad Odor Discovered
Body Found in Apartment Complex

"Smelling up the place" is a rather loaded statement. Dead animals smell up the place. Skunks smell up the place. Garbage smells up the place.

Is that any way for the paper to refer to a human being?

[LuciusBeebe]

'tis a bit crass

[evilkumquat]

'tis a bit crass

HAH!

I showed the paper to two co-workers, and I didn't say anything. I just pointed to the headline and asked them to read it. I wanted to see if I was just reading too much into it.

With absolutely no prompting from me, both used the EXACT same word to describe it.

"Crass."

[mikem]

Sorry to offend.

These are difficult stories to write, let alone write headlines for.

We actually discussed this headline before going to press and it was the consensus that this was truly what occurred.

From what our tipsters told us, this smell was present for some time. People were given notes to get rid of their garbage. Finally the authorities were called to check on this man.

So Quat, next time we are discussing headlines and whether they will offend members of this board (and our readers, for that matter), I would be more than happy to give you a call and bring you in on the discussion. Send me an e-mail or a PM with a phone number where you can be reached at 6 a.m. when we're putting the pages together. I'll be more than happy to call. (Insert smiley face here.)

[cynicalfoe]

Sorry to offend.

These are difficult stories to write, let alone write headlines for.

We actually discussed this headline before going to press and it was the consensus that this was truly what occurred.

From what our tipsters told us, this smell was present for some time. People were given notes to get rid of their garbage. Finally the authorities were called to check on this man.

So Quat, next time we are discussing headlines and whether they will offend members of this board (and our readers, for that matter), I would be more than happy to give you a call and bring you in on the discussion. Send me an e-mail or a PM with a phone number where you can be reached at 6 a.m. when we're putting the pages together. I'll be more than happy to call. (Insert smiley face here.)

Another case of poor judgement? When are we going to stop being so human?:confused:

[LuciusBeebe]

We actually discussed this headline before going to press and it was the consensus that this was truly what occurred.

While it may have been what truly happened, the choice of words is curious. You could have said "after stinking up the joint", and it would have been just as truthful.

You really didn't see anything wrong with "smelling up"? I'll be honest, I was more amused than offended. But history has proven my sense of humor to be less than P.C.

[evilkumquat]

Sorry to offend.

These are difficult stories to write, let alone write headlines for.

We actually discussed this headline before going to press and it was the consensus that this was truly what occurred.

From what our tipsters told us, this smell was present for some time. People were given notes to get rid of their garbage. Finally the authorities were called to check on this man.

So Quat, next time we are discussing headlines and whether they will offend members of this board (and our readers, for that matter), I would be more than happy to give you a call and bring you in on the discussion. Send me an e-mail or a PM with a phone number where you can be reached at 6 a.m. when we're putting the pages together. I'll be more than happy to call. (Insert smiley face here.)

I think you may have your /snark filter turned up a bit high there, Mike. Try taking it down to a four if you wouldn't mind. I'm delicate.

Put the KPC pom-pom down for a second and think about it for a bit: had this been your father, brother, son or friend, how would YOU have phrased the headline?

I can't imagine that many adults in a group would come up with that particular headline is all. Why does the online version just say "Body discovered at Elliot Manor"?

And I wasn't kidding about my co-workers. I wanted to make certain I wasn't being obtuse, since it takes a lot to offend me in the traditional sense. Like Gary Larson's friend, I know that if *I* see something bad, then that means about 75% of the rest of the world will see it as well.

[james_t]

Why does the online version just say "Body discovered at Elliot Manor"?

A lot of times an early headline is typed into our editorial system. If that doesn't fit with the page layout, the editor will make changes on the Quark page and re-word it to something that fits better. But the early version of the headline is what gets sent to the Web.

[Copycatted]

Maybe they'll have the obituary in todays paper...

[mrs.bass46703]

Th is doesn,t surprise me they ****ed up the story about the ecoli in the water and it looks like they ****ed up publishing this when too. Good job K.P.C for scaring the crap out of people again!

[mrs.bass46703]

come on kpc no comment it it because you guys know you ****ed up again

[jims]

The point of this thread wasn't to question the accuracy of the article. I wrote the article, though I didn't write the headline, and all of the information I received came from either the director of the housing authority or the coroner.

[bigbass]

The point of this thread wasn't to question the accuracy of the article. I wrote the article, though I didn't write the headline, and all of the information I received came from either the director of the housing authority or the coroner.

I agree with jims here, the whole point of the thread was to simply point out that some thought the title was "callous, crass, or maybe even tacky".

It is kind of humorous though, to see how many people on this thread are ready for someones head to roll.

Maybe, had someone from the paper simply wrote in and said something to the effect of "Evil your point is well received and will be taken into consideration on future stories that are similar in content." this thread would not have made it off the ground.

[Copycatted]

I agree with jims here, the whole point of the thread was to simply point out that some thought the title was "callous, crass, or maybe even tacky".

It is kind of humorous though, to see how many people on this thread are ready for someones head to roll.

Maybe, had someone from the paper simply wrote in and said something to the effect of "Evil your point is well received and will be taken into consideration on future stories that are similar in content." this thread would not have made it off the ground.

Hey bigbass,long time no see...or I've just been so busy. I'm finding it odd there has been no obituary yet that I have found. Having spent seven years there as an Resident some interesting backgrounds have gone through/PASSED from that place,one in particular was most likely on that confidential list recently published with Chef Julia Childs(sp) name on it,an retired Fed that had inside scoop of Steuben County/Timothy McVeieh(sp) and of course there was the 1936 German Olympian that their story made the Herald-Republican. Some there have been as "tight" with their backgrounds as some Vets are until you get to know them then WOW...the death of the guy in question though was an Newbie since I had been there.

[mrs.bass46703]

okay i'll accept that but you guys do sometimes write articles that are misleading or scare people. You have to admit aleast that. Have a nice day

[jims]

I don't believe anyone here ever writes an article to intentionally mislead or scare the public. We can, and have, made errors in articles, which was the subject of another thread, but we will make clarifications and corrections if we need to.

[mrs.bass46703]

thanks for that info. JUST TRY TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU PRINT. tHANKS AGAIN

[Copycatted]

Was looking for a thread about Jane Doe here in Steuben County but maybe it was to far back so will ask the question here. Anyone one heard where the character of this alledged death was buried (not the Jane Doe,I was there) or even an obituary? I've hunted about as high/low and found nothing.

[jims]

I don't recall an obituary going in. In reporting the story, I was told he was originally from Michigan, and had only been there for a relatively short time. It's possible the family, assuming there is family, only had the obituary printed closer to his home, which is not unusual.

[burgundystar77]

I don't recall an obituary going in. In reporting the story, I was told he was originally from Michigan, and had only been there for a relatively short time. It's possible the family, assuming there is family, only had the obituary printed closer to his home, which is not unusual.

He's got a point faff, it's probably in the Michigan paper and that's why you couldn't find it...Now I say we give the deceased some respect, drop this thread and let him rest in peace, now, taint good to keep goin on like this about the dead.

[Copycatted]

He's got a point faff, it's probably in the Michigan paper and that's why you couldn't find it...Now I say we give the deceased some respect, drop this thread and let him rest in peace, now, taint good to keep goin on like this about the dead.

It goes to IF there was family,IF he was a Veteran and IF so did his name make it on the Veterans plaque (something new in the last 4 years or so,an historical rememberance of Vets having lived there since Elliott Manor was) and that no such deaths at housing facilities like that are not uncommon but what WAS uncommon when ALL the signs were there,three weeks,and why :questionmark:

[burgundystar77]

It goes to IF there was family,IF he was a Veteran and IF so did his name make it on the Veterans plaque (something new in the last 4 years or so,an historical rememberance of Vets having lived there since Elliott Manor was) and that no such deaths at housing facilities like that are not uncommon but what WAS uncommon when ALL the signs were there,three weeks,and why :questionmark:

I know, I know; they took too long in checking on the complaints and making up excuses as to what it could have been (like a garbage disposal or something)--you make quite a point, three weeks is way too long; they should've gone in there way before that (4 days at the most, but yes, three weeks is too long)--wonder if they should be checked out by the Board of Health??? What do you think? Has a residential dwelling ever been checked out in such a manner?