Saturday, February 18, 2012

The thought police. We've all griped about it one way or another. We've seen different stories about it in many books and movies. One of the latest being "The Hunger Games" trilogy, soon to be a movie franchise. It's represented in many different ways as big brother "government" or the church pastor in the 1980's movie "Footloose " which was just remade for a new generation. Its always the same message though. People of power trying to control the masses where they shouldn't! I've seen this in the news lately, and also on Facebook and Twitter. A Missouri teacher was fired and then publicly humiliated on all of the local news outlets for having a picture in her private facbook picture folder that only let friends view it of her in a bikini swimsuit. There was nothing wrong or trashy about the photo or the suit. But, because she's a teacher, she was fired. The school would have known nothing about the photo had someone not given them access to it, nor would her students. What is going on with stories like this? Teachers are afraid to post pictures or post status updates on facebook and now who knows who's watching their tweets on their Twitter account. I think as long as the teachers are using their privacy settings, not recruiting Twitter followers in the classrooms they should be able to enjoy our shared freedoms of speech! Enough of this already. Teachers are people too! They do a tough job, and deserve our respect. For now though, it seems we must all Beware The Thought Police!

3 comments:

  1. I totally agree. Certain people are forced to live by different standards because of their profession. I speak from personal experience. I'm a 911 dispacther & my husband is an officer. We can't even do something as simple as drink alcohol in public locally because people would be calling in a complaint so fast you wouldn't believe it. We wouldn't get in trouble at work but it's just not worth hearing the jaw jacking! On our time off, we just stay at home & hang out with all our critters. They don't judge us & never spread gossip lololol!!!!

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  2. I thank you for your input. Its tough just to live your normal life when so high profile! Lol! I was a medic for ten yrs so I can relate. My brother, also an officer couldn't go for a drink w/out it haunting him either. We all talked to one of the local establishments about it, and turned the place into our own Blue and white friendly establishment. Its amazing how things change when the place is full of off duty police, fire, and rescue. 8-)

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  3. I agree. As one who has been in public service for the past 12 years, doing something as simple as going to a local bar/restarant for a kereokie night is difficult. As an RN now, I have to watch myself in public, especially if I am wearing anything that identifies me as an RN. People hold public servants up to a higher standard than the Joe (or Jane) who works on your car, or rings you up at the register. The only good thing that can come out of something like this issue you brought up, is that perhaps it will make the young see how important it is to be careful what you post on the internet. Firing a teacher because someone leaked a picture of her in a bikini is insulting & totally rediculous! So what, now we have to guard our private photo albums in the house & hope that no one sneaks out a copy of our vacation photos? Good grief! Personally, I'd rather hang out at a "Blue & White Friendly" bar/pub/whatever. Who's gonna cause trouble in an establishment that is possibly full of off-duty police/fire/ems? ;-)

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