a friend of mine from like 10 years ago's mother died this week, I was talking to someone else that knew her and this is what happened I was like "you knew so and so right? he said "yeah" I said "did you know her mother" "I think so" "this is awful but she died this week" he didn't know her too well but i felt like I shouldn't have said that, but i feel like he had the right to know, but was I wrong for saying that? I feel like I've done this before, where I'll spill bad news about someone but feel like the person has the right to know, but I feel like I break it in a horrible way. thoughts? is there a better way to tell someone that an aquaintance has died, or just don't mention it even if they will never find out most likely?
2007-09-11 05:11:35 · 8 answers · asked by bd 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
preface it with, "I have something important to tell you..." After a pause, continue. "You remember [person X]? Well..." and then go into detail.
that way it's not a casual or aloof-seeming statement, but has some respectful weight to it.
2007-09-11 05:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see anything wrong with the way you told him. I'd much more want to be told like that than read it in the paper or worse, not knowing for weeks after. You probably feel bad because it's never pleasant telling a person that someone has died. You didn't break the news in a horrible way.
2007-09-11 05:21:08 · answer #2 · answered by jenna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you bring something like that up out of the blue, it sounds,like gossip. there is a right moment to let someone know about a death and it can't be like " hey so did you go to the beach this weekend, oh by the way you know blah blah from high school, her mom died, ya that sucks, so what else did you do this weekend."
If you are going to talk about someone Else's business then make sure you do it in the right way not to come off rude or inappropriate.
2007-09-11 05:18:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the acquaintance doesn't know the deceased very well, I don't see what's wrong with breaking the news the way you did. If the acquaintance was close to the deceased, she/he probably already knew. If they did not, I would suggest a moment of privacy with them where they can sit down before I broke the news.
I'd rather find out than blunder about it later when I bump into the berieved and ask about the mother's health.
2007-09-11 05:18:20 · answer #4 · answered by Buttercup 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best way to break bad news is to acknowledge that it is bad news first.
"I have just had some very sad news....do you know April's Mother? She used to teach our Sunday school class. Well she passed away this week from cancer..."
If you break bad news in the way that you wrote it, it sounds more gossipy than respectful. That always leaves a bad taste. Make sure that you also tell the news at appropriate times and in appropriate (respectful and subdued) tones.
best wishes
2007-09-11 05:21:33 · answer #5 · answered by TelulahB 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on how close the person is to the bad news. If they are close never tell them when they are alone (if it is over the phone) because you dont know how they will react and someone should be with them.
2007-09-11 06:14:16 · answer #6 · answered by Dovahkiin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes there is a proper way and they do have a right to know.I think if you worked on this for ust a while you could get better at giving bad news..one thing about it tho...we dont have to give bed news to often
2007-09-11 05:20:58 · answer #7 · answered by ღOMGღ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing illegal
2007-09-15 02:11:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋