Facebook Poking Lands Lady in Jail
Since that latter function's inception, we've been waiting for someone to get in trouble for poking people on Facebook -- and not just because we're juvenile and enjoy the double entendre. Finally we got our wish. The Tennessean is reporting that a Hendersonville, Tennessee woman, Shannon D. Jackson, was arrested for "poking" an unidentified woman and, in doing so, violating a court order that prohibits Jackson from "telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner."
The violation, a class A misdemeanor, could result in almost a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
We've seen plenty of arrests thanks to dumb things posted on Facebook, but this is the first time (we know of, at least) that someone has been jailed for poking. A truly historic day indeed. [From: The Tennessean]
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
J Beals said 6:26AM on 10-10-2009
Sounds like it's by the book to me.
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richie said 4:44AM on 10-11-2009
holy shit, lmfao, no contact means NO CONTACT BITCH!!!!!
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shawn said 7:51AM on 10-10-2009
People. Get a life already. Go out side once in a while.
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toonice85814 said 12:20PM on 10-10-2009
i agree
zargon said 2:40PM on 10-10-2009
With all the smart phones out there, now you can be outside, but still poke people on Facebook or Twitter about how you are outside and that it snowed last night (yeah, here in Twin Cities, we got snow last night).
Frank Crisci said 8:32AM on 10-10-2009
Nude sites are a VIRUS.
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Karen Anne said 9:57AM on 10-10-2009
As usual, the story is twisted. And isn't just too, too cute how Mr. O'Brien tried to make it funny? NOT!
She was NOT arrested for merely "poking" the other person. She obviously knows her and there is some sort of bad history, because the other person has a restraining order against her!
She WAS arrested for violating the restraining order...the "poking" is merely HOW she violated the order.
Lock her sorry behind up!
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mark young said 10:20AM on 10-10-2009
I don't know why there was a court order to keep these two from having contact, and I really don't care. What I do care about, is the fact that with over 1% of the american population under some kind of court ordered confinfent, and/or control, we have to seriously consider raising taxes to build a lot more prisons. Those mythologicial , Divinely inspired rights we thought we had, have been reduced to nothing but provisional privileges. (You have the right to comply if you fail to use that right, all rights you thought you had are gone.) Mistrust those in whom the urge to punnish is strong.
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execk2 said 10:39AM on 10-10-2009
Tennessee....need they say more?
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sherlita daniel said 10:47AM on 10-10-2009
I don't get it
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thebadddsanta said 10:59AM on 10-10-2009
As usual out of this Clown O'brien. Always reporting half truths
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servicemasterwv said 1:47PM on 10-10-2009
what the heck aol why make this sound so different what it is just say the woman broke a court order gezzzzzzzzzzz such drama
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Ken said 11:25AM on 10-10-2009
When editor's do not want to report the real news that directly effects our lives, (IE Washington Corruption) this is what is left for them to report, nothing but meaningless garbage.
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gobluespartyon said 2:13PM on 10-10-2009
If you think this is such garbage then why you click on the headlines Ken. Go fine stuff that interest you like Washington and corruption every headline doesn't need to be about Washington or corruption just my opinion. You can type all that stuff and you would get your news there a lot of sources for news on Internet your to lazy Ken to seek it out thats why you complaina too much Ken and your wrong.
Ken said 2:45PM on 10-10-2009
WOW, easy there Gob, get a grip on yourself and lay-off the kool-aid. I didn't know that you were so sensitive about facebook poking.
whinymuslims said 11:30AM on 10-10-2009
bend over so you can be poked! lol
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alphama333 said 11:50AM on 10-10-2009
Arrested for face book poking? Are you kidding me? If the other person didn't want to be 'poked', then they should've ignored or refused being facebook friends with her. They could also 'block' a person from contacting them. Get real people. I'm on myspace and I have friends I 'poke' now and then. Guess I won't be doing that no more or 'hug' and ect. I don't even know most of them. WTF is this world coming too? Someone said here they need to get a life. I guess so.
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Susie said 2:38PM on 10-10-2009
You do understand that she WAS NOT arrested for POKING! She was arressted for violating a restraining order. So you can keep on poking and hugging away!! In a restraining order you are ordering absolutely NO CONTACT with each other, not in person,phone,mail or internet. by poking the person she violated that order and the person who got "poked" called and told the police. Obviously there is a reason for the order, they just don't hand them out all willy nilly.You really should READ and if necessary re-read articles before commenting.Hope this information helps.
Mia said 12:16PM on 10-10-2009
Lol. Poker!
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ucaiimecrazy said 12:31PM on 10-10-2009
What some of you idiots arent getting is that, clearly this woman had a restraining order against the other person. That prohibits ANY contact of ANY kind, and that includes a "Poke" on facebook. The real problem here lies with the woman doing the poking. She knows fully well, she cannot have contact with said person. It's stated CLEARLY in the restraining order papers she received BY a POLICE OFFICER. The police officer at the time of serving the papers ALSO will state that it will illegal to contact this person. When you violate a restraining order you can receive up to a year in jail. I think the writer should have given the full story.
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