Dear Leslie, are we obliged to not speak ill of Warnie?

Dear Leslie,

I’ve been watching the discussion about Shane Warne unfold on Twitter and both sides are so far apart. I was wondering what you think. Are we obligated not to speak ill of the dead or does that kind of silence paper over unsavoury truths that should be acknowledged?

Lurking in the Shadows

Dear Lurking,

Great question.

I think timing is key. It’s easy to forget that public figures are just like us: people with families who need time to get over the shock of a death, particularly when it’s sudden. Unless there’s very good reason, no one should speak ill of the dead before the body is in the ground.