http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-editors-desk/the-editors-desk/2009/11/post-a-vulgar-comment-while-youre-at-work-lose-your-job/
This was quite the local controversy a few weeks ago when the social media editor of the St. Louis Post Dispatch asked readers the question, what is the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten? One commenter posted something vulgar, which I won’t repeat here, and the editor deleted the comment right away. Then when the guy reposted it, the editor tracked down where it came from, and it happened to be a school downtown. He forwarded the info to the school and the guy (a teacher) was fired from his job. There are a lot of different ethical questions raised here, but to me it brings to mind issues of free speech and how it seems as though some people have different standards of free speech when it comes to the internet. There are a lot of websites that allow comments to be posted beneath their stories. I think that if a web site allows this function, they should be aware that some posts might be a little off-color – it is only natural to expect that a few vocal people are going to take the opportunity to see their thoughts posted online and feel important for a minute or two. This has not gone to court yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does once the ex-teacher realizes he can't get another job.
It is interesting to think about the rise of social media, blogs, and the internet and how they fall under free speech. Many people out there admonished the editor for what he did. You can see the response in the comments section in the article I’ve posted. There is even a website out there that is strictly devoted to saying lots of really bad things about this editor. He has faced a lot of backlash and it is interesting to see what the future has in store for his career – and for internet free speech cases.
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