"You're a retard but I love you? Say what?
"I know that employers will look at that page, and I need to be more careful," said Webster, adding that other Prince William teachers have warned her about her page. "At the same time, my work and social lives are completely separate. I just feel they shouldn't take it seriously. I am young. I just turned 22."
--When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web
This article, especially this specific paragraph, raised some interesting points. Although the internet, and all of its resources are free for all to see, is it really fair to judge people by what they choose to do and say for fun? I'm kinda on the edge for this topic.
On one hand, I think that it's every person's right to state their opinions and even have fun on the web. Websites like Facebook and MySpace were created for people to stay in contact with long lost friends, and have fun while doing so. It's a tool used to help us be creative and individuals. Why should we change who we are or put on a face just to please our employers?
On the other hand, I think that specific jobs should require specific behaviors. For example, if my boss at Staples told me that he didn't agree with something I'd put on my Facebook, I don't think there is much that he can do about it. As long as I'm not offending anyone in my workplace or directly insulting any specific person, what harm is being done? Unfortunately, some jobs do require specific guidelines to follow. Although even young teachers deserve to have fun every now and again, they need to keep in mind that they are the role models for hundreds of children yearly. What kind of example do you set when you put a bumpersticker on your Facebook that reads "You're a retard, but I love you?"
Don't get me wrong. I'm a full-fledged freedom of speech, but I think we all need to keep in mind that what we say online isn't always as private as we think it is. Maybe we could all learn a lesson from those Washington D.C. teachers.
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Recent Comments
Andy Lonigro on "You're a retard but I love you? Say what?: I couldn't agree more Jessica.
I couldn't agree more Jessica. I feel that this issue basically depends on what you want out of life, or more importantly, who we want to be seen as. Like you said, your boss at Staples probably can't do much to you if he/she doesn't agree with your Facebook pic (you like that technical jargon?) But, as we saw in the example with the D.C. teachers, their degree of professionalism is much higher than a clerk at Staples (not taking anything away from that). They are in charge of young lives and must set good examples. So if their students are friends with them on Myspace, how much respect could any teacher deserve in that situation?
I completely agree with you, Andy. I definately think that it depends on what our current employment is. If I were a teacher--or even wanted to be a teacher--I'm not sure I'd be so hasty to have a facebook at all. I just think people need to realize that there is a time and place to be mature and grow up. Those teachers in DC need to realize that.