The column by David Collins titled "Celebrating obituaries with style," published Feb. 12, brought up a subject which has bothered me for a long time: the length and content of the modern obituary.No longer a few paragraphs of basic information, it has morphed into a virtual mini-biography featuring far more incidental and personal information than the public needs to know.

No longer a few paragraphs of basic information, it has morphed into a virtual mini-biography featuring far more incidental and personal information than the public needs to know.It is a concern that a blog has been created to feature unusual and entertaining comments found in obituaries. Will it now become a contest to see who can come up with the catchiest one in the hope that it will be posted online? Since one can "pay to say," will it become a thing of status to hoard long columns of print?

It is a concern that a blog has been created to feature unusual and entertaining comments found in obituaries. Will it now become a contest to see who can come up with the catchiest one in the hope that it will be posted online? Since one can "pay to say," will it become a thing of status to hoard long columns of print?It is unfortunate the deceased can't proofread their own obits; I think they would find them an invasion of privacy if not downright tacky.

It is unfortunate the deceased can't proofread their own obits; I think they would find them an invasion of privacy if not downright tacky.