What Not to Do on an Online Social Network

why you should be careful what you say, and remember to change your settings!

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i22/22a00104.htm

If you are a member of a online social network, for example, Facebook, be careful when you think you are venting only to your friends, often, when you hit the Submit key, what you just wrote will be read by the entire world!

This was the unfortunate demise experienced by a college professor, Reiko Ohnuma!  To prepare for her class the professor looked something up on Wikipedia, which she wasn't very proud of doing.  Then follows a tirade of venting to her friends on Facebook, where she wrote that she felt like a fraud and asked if parents would be upset if they found out that their college student professor had to use Wikipedia for help with her lesson plan, which was then preceded by even more venting, this time about her colleagues!

She found out the hard way that what she wrote was not only seen by her friends, and colleagues but her students as well!  She has not lived that embarrassment down yet, apparently obvious from the writing of the article I read written by Jeffrey R. Young, in the Chronicle of Higher Education and for which I found an online link posted above.

We all make mistakes like that or close to it at some point or another.  For some people, they sometimes say or do things which they will come to regret later on.   Is this the reason for a lot of anonymous responses or postings online?  (thank heavens JU no longer allows such things!)  This is why I abhor anonymous mouthing offs, because if you have something bad to say about anyone or anything, be brave enough to put your name to it!  

Just remember, one should be very careful and re-read, then re-check to whom you're sending your writing (or at least remember that the entire world will see it!) and most of all, if you think that photo of you skinny-dipping in the hotel's fountain at your (insert at will here) wedding will make for a good laugh, re-think this big reveal, before hitting that submit key!

24,360 views 26 replies
Reply #1 Top

Maybe Pamela Anderson should read this ;p

Reply #2 Top

Maybe Pamela Anderson should read this

For which indescretion? She has so many! ^_^

Reply #3 Top

Quoting foreverserenity, reply 2
Maybe Pamela Anderson should read this

For which indescretion? She has so many!

:rofl:  She is one.

Reply #4 Top

At the price of higher education, I would feel defrauded if I were a student who discovered my professor was using Wikipedia for lesson plans.  Wikipedia is NOT an authority.  This is the equivalent of a professor getting their lesson plan from the local pub!  With the average tuitition price tag of $3,000-$6,000 a semester, I expect an authority with a little more clout than Wiki!  Heck, for $3,000-$6,000 a semester, I could visit the pub myself and get the same info as Wiki! 

This professor should be fired immediately.  Then again, with all the fraud and graft going around in business and politics these days, I guess the fact that the status quo of how things work has shifted to education, too, shouldn't surprise me.

Reply #5 Top

Heck, for $3,000-$6,000 a semester, I could visit the pub myself and get the same info as Wiki!

And possibly have a better time. :grin:

Reply #6 Top

With the average tuitition price tag of $3,000-$6,000 a semester,

Average?  Then why the hell am I paying over 20 grand a year?  (Well, I'm not actually paying tuition...scholarships take care of that...but still...)

~Zoo

Reply #7 Top

Then why the hell am I paying over 20 grand a year?

They saw you coming? ....;)

Reply #8 Top

They saw you coming? ....

Greedy bastards! XO

~Zoo

Reply #9 Top

Quoting Zoologist03, reply 6
With the average tuitition price tag of $3,000-$6,000 a semester,

Average?  Then why the hell am I paying over 20 grand a year?  (Well, I'm not actually paying tuition...scholarships take care of that...but still...)

~Zoo


Are you going to a private college?  State colleges are usually $3000-$6000 a semester (and, of course, a semester isn't a year).  

Reply #10 Top

(and, of course, a semester isn't a year).

....can be .....if you're slow....;)

Reply #11 Top

For which indescretion?

could be wrong but i'm guessing he was alluding to a video of honeymoon sex featuring ms anderson and her new husband, tommy lee.  it was reportedly stolen and then made available to the entire online world becoming arguably the first huge net celebrity event.  after suing the alleged distributor, anderson & lee received 1.5 million bucks.

sorta argues counter to your point in that for some online indiscretion can be very rewarding,

Reply #12 Top

"This is the equivalent of a professor getting their lesson plan from the local pub!"

You mean that's not where they get them?  I'm shocked!!!  :grin:

Reply #13 Top

What happens on the Web stays on the Web.  Forever and ever and ever...

Reply #14 Top

Recently my son played a recording of one of teachers stating that he gets paid whether they learn or not. Now if I were the type of person who wanted to make trouble, he would be in it big time!  His entire conversation made me wonder what was he thinking in saying what he did. But because I have gotten to know him, since I try to stay on top of my son's school work, he's a decent guy and a good teacher who cares about his students. Not kwowing this, that statement was pretty open for misinterpretation!

Reply #15 Top

Your son played a recording of something his teacher said?  

Where did the recording come from?

Reply #16 Top

Quoting hallv5, reply 13
What happens on the Web stays on the Web.  Forever and ever and ever...

I found that out recently, when I came across a pic of me from 10 years ago --> Vampire Queen of the Week!X|

 

*Sinks into a hole and burrows to the center of the Earth*

Reply #17 Top

Where did the recording come from?

His phone.  Yes, of course I know the implications are there because he recorded what was going on in the class but I've told him not to do that again, and to erase it.  This is why cell phones are not ok in the classrooms. :X

Reply #18 Top

I found that out recently, when I came across a pic of me from 10 years ago

This is something to remember too! XD

Reply #19 Top

Quoting foreverserenity, reply 18


This is something to remember too!

The thing that got me is, that a Geocities site was STILL going!X| :w00t:

Reply #20 Top

Yea, what we write online lasts forever.

Heck, long before there was a JoeUser, there was Usenet and the flame wars I've gotten into on Usenet over the years would disqualify me from ever holding any sort of public office. :)

On Usenet, I wasn't nearly as nice as I am on here. :)

Reply #21 Top

And before the Usenet flame wars there were 300 baud modem accessible BBS flame wars.  Ah those were the days!

Reply #22 Top

wow, what a revelation. Smart people are stupid too. lol.

Reply #24 Top

Some of you might find this useful...

Thx I'll take a looksee!

 

wow, what a revelation. Smart people are stupid too. lol.

Yep, everyone messes up!

 

On Usenet, I wasn't nearly as nice as I am on here.

Overstatement or Understatement of the year? :rofl: }:) lol

 

 

 

 

 

Reply #25 Top

Quoting Excalpius, reply 21
And before the Usenet flame wars there were 300 baud modem accessible BBS flame wars.  Ah those were the days!

Indeed. I use to be the "sub-op" of several "war boards". :)