Teacher Suspended for Gun Pictures on Facebook
Okay folks, if we've told you once, we've told you a thousand times: You should really make your Facebook profiles private. It's great to let it all hang out in the wild and go crazy, but if you have a job that you want to hang on to -- and these days, you should really be trying to do so -- it's in your best interest to keep things on the down-low. Need more proof? Check out the case of Betsy Ramsdale, a teacher in Madison, Wisconsin, who was recently suspended after photos of her with weapons appeared on her Facebook profile.
Ramsdale was pictured pointing a rifle at the camera, and therefore, at whomever was taking the picture. A "concerned staff member" at the school found the photo and brought it to the administration, which promptly placed the teacher on administrative leave. Ramsdale did remove the picture, so unfortunately we can't show it to you today, but like the unnamed teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina who was suspended late last year, it's a little too late.
Again, if you don't know how to make your Facebook profile private, just click on "Settings," then "Privacy Settings," then set everything to "Friend Only." [From: Fox News]
Losing Face on Facebook
Facebook is going to rewrite the book on standard office excuses, at least for its shortsighted users. Kevin Colvin, an intern at Anglo Irish bank, thought that had an ironclad story when he asked off to attend to a "family emergency." When his boss was alerted to this fresh picture posted to his Facebook profile during his absence, that story lost just a tad of its believability -- unless he was curing Aunt Hattie with his magical powers and a potent hoppy elixir. We're sure that posting the picture seemed like a good idea at the time, Kevin, but you were sadly mistaken. Same goes for that costume.
Students at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey were shocked and confused when the news trucks rolled up to get the scoop on a set of Facebook photos. Obtained by a nosy parent, the pictures featured underage drinking that led to the suspension of school athletes. Many saw the role of the photos in the punishments as legally questionable, but despite organized protests and other umbrage, many students opted to just take their own racy Facebook pictures down as soon as possible. Live and learn, everyone -- just don't post visual evidence of it happening on your profile.
Even the charmed lives of beauty queens can be dragged through the mud by Facebook photos taken far away from the pageant stage. Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo discovered this firsthand over the summer when she was the target of a strange "blackmail plot" centered on profile images of her partying and carrying on in a less than royal fashion. She ended up releasing the photos herself, and soon everyone was wondering what the fuss was all about -- from venture capitalists to gossip reporters, Facebook has a tendency to get people riled up.
Thinking about shoplifting some clothing? Here's a tip -- think twice before posting pictures of yourself modeling the hot merchandise on Facebook. Two students at Radford University in Virginia learned this lesson the hard way when a store owner was tipped off and found the incriminating images on Facebook. A stroke of the 'print' button, a trip to the police office, and the bust was complete.
This story -- women who show little discretion in their alcohol consumption and even less when documenting their misadventures on their profiles -- seems to have started the most recent wave of Facebook embarrassments. While it's difficult for many to understand the personal pride and motivation behind such excess, it's even more mind-boggling to know that these exploits are being glorified online for all to see. Mom must be proud, and potential employers are surely beating down the doors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
robbie said 1:44PM on 2-06-2009
The teacher was in Beaver Dam, WI not Madison. Its not a suburb, Madison is the closest large city though.
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Windwardman said 2:44PM on 2-06-2009
"Ramsdale was pictured pointing a rifle at the camera, and therefore, at whomever was taking the picture."
It should be "whoever", not "whomever". Even though it comes after the preposition "at", it is the subject of "was taking the picture". That entire clause is the object of the preposition.
It's bad enough to see English destroyed across the entire electronic written spectrum these days, from blogs to e-mails, but you'd expect that someone actually paid to write would be versed in the basics of grammar.
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carlee said 4:19PM on 2-06-2009
I appreciate you pointing that out. I'm still in school but one day I'd like all of my grammar and punctuation to be correct.
Mandi said 5:57PM on 2-06-2009
You have entirely too much time on your hands. Get a life, nerd!
With a B.A. in English,
Mandi
Ewwww said 5:58PM on 2-06-2009
This lack of privacy is really getting frightening. My stepdaughter is a teacher at a private school and was pulled into the Headmaster's office last week to discuss her "Facebook" pictures.
She is 23 years old and had a picture of herself and her friends sharing drinks at a bar....a "Ladies' Night Out". No stripping, no "Girls Gone Wild", NOTHING inappropriate......just three girls having a good time after work. She was told she would have to remove the picture because it promotes a negative image about the school and its staff.
When did our private lives become a matter of concern for the workplace? I understand that certain standards of decency should be required and adhered to with certain positions, but a young girl, old enough to drink, sharing drinks with her friends is "inappropriate behavior"?
Be afraid, people......be VERY afraid!
CK said 6:11PM on 2-06-2009
Ever heard of a Tri-Pod? Not saying that is what was used taking her picture but it could have been... Why do people always think the worse of others? I'm sure she meant no harm by having the picture taken...
Silk said 8:40AM on 2-07-2009
Have you ever seen the movie, "Idiocracy?"
Bob said 9:16AM on 2-07-2009
Everyone please fear the grammar police!
Bala Iyer said 10:35AM on 2-07-2009
Sorry, the author was perfectly correct in using whomever.
Ask the question, pointing at whom? or pointing at who ? What you missed is the unspoken (unwritten) "that". "that is taking the picture" is the phrase. So pointing at whom ?,, pointing at whomever (that) is taking the picture. It is nice that you did think of correct grammar but please check a good English Grammar text before particularly ridiculing someone else's work.
LS said 2:06AM on 2-09-2009
GOOD POINT. I'm glad you pointed it out, since this is not the first time I've come across grammatical errors in professionally written articles! It's a disgrace.
Pam said 9:05AM on 2-10-2009
Windwardman, I'm so glad someone else cares about grammar! They don't teach it in the public schools anymore. What a shame!!
Linda said 12:16PM on 2-10-2009
Agreed, and the word "should" appears redundantly in the first paragraph when it should have been omitted upon proof-reading?!
Hello paid professionals?...
Donna said 2:50PM on 2-06-2009
I simply do not understand what is happening here. What is so terrible about a teacher owning a gun and aiming it in a picture? Who knows for sure that there was someone behind the camera? The pic could have been taken by remote control. Is the school district going to suspend every teacher who owns a gun? Not likely! I can't begin to tell you how many teachers and students were absent each year for the start of deer season, so perhaps they should be suspended too.
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Jada said 4:28PM on 2-07-2009
not naming names but my aunt has a gun and she is a teacher, but it is only for emergencies which i think is extremely reasonable
Corey said 11:03AM on 2-10-2009
That is exactly where this is heading. Schools have been taken over by the FAR left in this country and they certainly do not want to allow any teachers who would dare to own one of those horrible firearms. So, yes, they probably will start firing teachers who own one, or who hunt, or who are Christians or who do anything not suitably PC.
srb said 3:14PM on 2-06-2009
Wake Up. There is no privacy in facebook, regardless of how you limit access. If you post something, it is public domain, and can be used against you. Companies by the hundreds access facebook to determine character of the candidates applying for jobs. These people, ESPECIALLY teachers, need to use their brains when posting information about themselves. And not just on their pages. Pictures on others' pages can be used against you...If you need advice on not shooting yourself in the foot career wise, google MICHAEL PHELPS...DUH....
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big68daddy said 3:01PM on 2-06-2009
Whats wrong with it,I live in this great state of Wisconsin. She was dont harming anybody it was not at school, This school was the only school in a 20 county plus that made kids go to school when the wind chill was at neg -40 so if this tills you what you are working with.
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Kayla said 3:11PM on 2-06-2009
I think that's stupid seriously i mean just casue she posed with a gun i coould understand if it was like a girls gone wild top of thing and my gosh but over that that is just down right stupid on the schools part we do still have a right to bare arms if a teacher wants to show her weapon that should be fine i don't think they should make a big deal out of it my gosh she isn't startin a war or anything leave the poor teacher alone
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Donna said 3:24PM on 2-06-2009
If I remember correctly, the 2nd Amendment allowing us to bear arms is STILL in effect! I'd sue the ever livin' daylights out of that school system!
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mlruahing1980 said 4:09PM on 2-06-2009
My thoughts exactly. She has a legal RIGHT to keep and bear arms. She was not commiting a crime, she was not threatening anyone and she was not at school when the photo was taken. Sounds like wrongful discipline to me.