Facebook Rant Results in Disciplinary Action for Firefighter
Facebook offers members opportunities to not only remain in contact with distant friends and meet new people with common interests, but to also voice their opinions and describe in great detail the minutiae of their daily lives. For some reason, though, people can't seem to grasp the concept that they might be held responsible for their statements.
Mike Sabz, a firefighter for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in Cardigan, learned this lesson the hard way. Sabz recently posted an innocent (well, maybe not innocent), rhetorical question which upset his bosses enough that they took disciplinary measures. Sabz asked, "I mean how f------ hard is it to keep your car on the road and not set fire to your house???????" He probably shouldn't have added, "Selfish b-------!" Sabz's bosses learned of the statements after a woman read the comments and complained. Sabz, who was disciplined but not terminated, denied making the statements and said someone must have hacked into his account. Sure, buddy.
Sabz is certainly not the first to discover the ramifications of free speech on Facebook. Recently, Kimberly Swann of Essex, England called her job "boring" on her Facebook page, and her bosses fired her after reading the comment. There are several lessons to be learned here for uninhibited Facebook users. Perhaps the most obvious is to practice a little discretion. Also, update your privacy settings, and, if you wish to unleash your fiery wrath on your employers or clients, don't add them to your friend list! Duh. [From: The Sun]
Facebook Crime and Punishment
Blackmail
Sending any personal info or incriminating pictures to someone on Facebook is a huge mistake for many reasons. One of the worst possible outcomes is getting blackmailed for money, sex, or, well, anything these sickos dream up. Really, whether they're using a fake profile or not, it's a horrible idea. Read up on the story of an 18-year-old who blackmailed 31 male classmates after he posed as a girl and asked for nude pictures. That's lesson enough.
Impostors
Sure, it can be harmless to impersonate a celeb online or create a fake profile for a movie character. But seriously, there's a definite line you shouldn't cross when pretending to be someone else and it can lead to dire consequences for you. Maybe it's not as extreme as the Moroccan man who was jailed for 43 days after creating a fake Facebook profile of a prince, but you never know. Just steer clear of it.
Self-Incrimination
Do we really have to explain this? Just look up the shoplifter who posed with her stolen merchandise, the many photos of drunk underage teens, and, most recently, the album featuring a couple who killed and ate an endangered iguana in the Bahamas.
Suicide
Social networking sites has been blamed for a lot of things, fairly and unfairly, but in our opinion, the worst offense has been their indirect involvement in suicides. Obviously, there are a lot of factors responsible in each case, but there does seem to be links between social networking and a rash of suicides, and obviously tehre's the case tragic of Megan Meier, who killed herself after a classmate's mom impersonated a teen boy and harassed her over Myspace.
Murder
We've reported on numerous incidents of people getting in trouble because of their online behavior. Now, people are becoming victims because of what they're doing on the Web too. In England, a man was convicted of murdering his estranged wife after she changed her relationship status to "single." So, be careful of who can see your profile and what you're doing, no matter how harmless it seems.
Nigerian Scammers
Oh, you thought this only happened via poorly worded emails, right? WRONG. Once people got wise to their old ways, these con men are turning to social networking sites for new targets. This time, they're hacking into people's accounts and impersonating them to ask for money, usually with some weird sob story. You can check out a transcript of one of these conversations here.
Cooperation
Even if the law isn't on a case, a victim, his friends, or empathetic strangers might be. Since it's easy to get word out for anything online, people are using blogs, forums, and social networking sites to help track down criminals. In one such case, a vehicle thief was tracked down by a bunch of anonymous car enthusiasts after the victim posted his story on a forum. In the end, they identified the guy through his Facebook profile.
Self-Incrimination
Do we really have to explain this? Just look up the shoplifter who posed with her stolen merchandise, the many photos of drunk underage teens, and, most recently, the album featuring a couple who killed and ate an endangered iguana in the Bahamas.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
rose said 4:17PM on 3-07-2009
I cant stand it when people use the F word while they are talking to me. if someone else comes into the conversation who shouldnt be hearing that crappy language they instantly can turn it off and talk normal which tells me that the f words in a conversation are all an act and can be left out.
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Stella said 5:15PM on 3-07-2009
Thank you Rose for your unsolicited sactimony but it has nothing to do with the article.
B.O stinks said 5:39PM on 3-07-2009
WTF does that have to do with the %^%$$%^&&7 never mind !
jackie said 6:13PM on 3-08-2009
Rose...don't listen to the comments that seem to want to strip you of your right to free speech. Most normal, decent human beings can have a conversation or post something online without having to use profanity What is wrong with being respectful to someone by not using that filthy language. I am no saint, and use that word sometimes myself, but I take into account who is around and will be exposed to my language. Of course I have the freedom of speech, but I was raised to respect other people, and therefore refrain from using that kind of language when there are people around who might be offended by it.
Shakeitdown said 9:55PM on 3-08-2009
Rose -
I hate to tell you this but somebody better!
The article isn't about YOU!
It's about a facebook article by a fireman in Wales.
~
Joe said 4:21PM on 3-07-2009
WTF?
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cole said 4:32PM on 3-07-2009
my dads a firefighter, and i completely agree with the man who was punished for his statement. i mean seriously? accidents happen. but you have no idea how many people have actually called for things like "can you get my cat out of the tree?" to which my father replied, "lady, have you ever seen any cat skeletons in any trees?"
that point aside, people shouldnt be punished for words, but rather actions. if the man beat someone for making him work that day, SURE fire him.. but complaining is a part of EVERYONES job.
like you dont say things behind your bosses back that you dont want them to hear?
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MadMike said 4:25PM on 3-07-2009
That has to be the DUMBEST thing I have heard in my life. I'm a firefighter and my Chief is a friend on my facebook. I could post that right now and I would not only NOT get in trouble, I would get AGREEMENTS! Possibly even a promotion... well okay, maybe not a promotion. But, WTF? I guess Fire chiefs in England are a bunch of wankers with sticks up their arses!
This is why, I love the United States of America.
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Master Shake said 6:57AM on 3-08-2009
No, why you love the United States is that you haven't lived anywhere else in the civilized world in the last ten years. Trust me. I have.
MadMike said 8:58AM on 3-08-2009
Uhm, You should really know what you are talking about before you open your mouth. I spent 6 months in London studying abroad in college. I also spent an extended amount of time in Germany when I was in the Marines. I've also visited some of the most NON-civilized places in the world. You now, the kind where you need to carry an automatic firearm to get to the local coffee shop.
I am also a certified Fire Services training instructor and I have spent a lot of time in Ireland, France and Mexico training firefighters.
The U.S. is still the best. I'm sorry to offend your weak socialist values.
Joy Hunter said 6:07PM on 3-08-2009
yup, what's up with all these people getting fired and disciplined for getting something off their chest or posting a funny picture expressing themselves? heeeelllloooo?? free speech, artistic expression, etc. all protected under the constitution. sometimes i think this world is becoming too politically correct. it's ANNOYING.
joy
joie said 4:33PM on 3-11-2009
re your reply to Trackprincess...........ROFLMAO!!! Get Some Marine! okay tears, rolling,......oh geez!!
Lily said 6:50PM on 3-08-2009
Sorry, did I not express myself clearly? I'm no way in hell offended by F*CK SH*T B*TCH
FOURDOGSLAUGHING said 4:54PM on 3-07-2009
FACEBOK NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD !! WHAT DAMN GOOD IS IT ? ALL IT DOES IS CREATEA PROBLEMS FOR PPL !!
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rubber_ducky said 5:29PM on 3-07-2009
I like hot meals.
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B.O stinks said 5:36PM on 3-07-2009
at least once a week I see someone is in trouble for putting their STUPID life on the Internet for the WHOLE WORLD to see.And I say the same thing every time YOU ASKED FOR IT !
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rose said 5:52PM on 3-07-2009
Easy ! All you need to do is read the article and you can see how this "man" writes, talks and expresses himself... it has 100% to do with the article. Unless your head is in the smoke, you cannot see it for yourselves. rose young-stewart
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Sidney said 6:24PM on 3-07-2009
That you don't like his choice of words IS irrelevent. It doesn't matter what words he chooses to express himself, he still has a right to express his opinion. It was not his language that got him in trouble, it was his opinion. And that is just plain wrong.
mary said 6:25PM on 3-07-2009
ok, I'm on facebook. I am writing my thoughts down...and I'm getting a few things off my chest. So, what gives ANYONE the right to tell me ANYTHING about what I wrote?? Are we at that point now?? That we can't even write something now without big brother jacking you up and almost getting fired about it? What? The next point is having someone LISTEN to what we say and having our jobs or life taken away because someone out there didn't like what we said. Unbelievable.
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otobesane said 6:52PM on 3-07-2009
If you don't want your words held against you, simply don't post them in public. Use a diary. As an employer, I wouldn't appreciate one of my employees complaining or even denigrating my company to the whole world. If you don't like working for a company, you have the right to get another job. You certainly don't have an unfettered right to say bad things about MY company when it is very possible that YOU are the cause of your own troubles. And I don't have the time or inclination to search the net every day for negative comments about my company and then defend them.