Cell Phones, Web, Social Networking
Judge Disciplined Over Facebook Addiction?
We've heard plenty of stories about people losing jobs due to inappropriate posts on Facebook, but this is the first time we've heard it suggested that a person was disciplined for Facebook addiction. Sources have suggested to the Staten Island Advance that Criminal Court Judge Matthew A. Sciarrino, Jr. was transferred from his post in the Forgotten Borough to a Brooklyn court, due, at least partially, to his constant use of the social networking service.Until very recently, Judge Sciarrino's Facebook page was public, allowing people to view his frequent updates. These public updates included photos of friends and family, as well as detailed information about his location and activities. This wouldn't be an issue for many, but it does seem odd for a person whose job it is to send people to jail to post information about his family and location in a public forum. Additionally, the Advance states that Sciarrino updated his status at least once while on the bench, and uploaded a photo he took from his perch in front of his crowded court room.
The judge ruffled some feathers outside of his social networking activities however, and his "Facebook addiction" may have merely been used as an excuse for his ouster. Sciarrino had been very vocal in the media, particularly with the Advance, about the poor conditions at the courthouse and the need for an additional judge in light of excessive caseloads.
Regardless, it seems that Sciarrino failed to conduct his public, social networking activities in an intelligent and professional manner. A good rule of thumb is that if you're on the job -- especially if that job is one of public service -- you might want to think twice about updating your Facebook (or Twitter or MySpace, for that matter) account. Make your profile private and save those posts for when you're off the clock. [From: Staten Island Advance, via Business Insider]
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 1)
Lynn said 7:21PM on 10-19-2009
THis is a Gimme a break moment.................this man has a right to a life just like the rest of us!!!! GIMME a break!!!!!
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kbhret said 7:38PM on 10-19-2009
Maybe this judge, like many other judges, didn't ever send anyone to jail, so he had no reason to worry about letting the world know his and his family's whereabouts.
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