This particular subject is so broad that it has lots of little bunny trails tempting me to go down. I have lots of commentary to share about personal responsibility, how I think the best way to use social media is, my specific comments on the subject that sparked this post but I think for the purposes of this thread I am going to try to directly answer Kyla's question:
So the question here is what I think about visible professionals and their right to use social media. The short answer is that I believe they have the right to do/say whatever they want. That's freedom of speech and there should be no government enforced law preventing them from sharing their thoughts and opinions. Just like freedom of speech in the 'real world' so too the same principles apply. Just because you CAN say something it isn't always the right thing to do. People are responsible for their own actions and this extends to what you say. Though I would be willing to fight and die to protect your freedom to say what you want, it doesn't mean that you can do so with impunity. If I stood outside of my office and started cursing the names of my employers I should logically expect consequences for those choices.Blog topic: in light if the recent comment about the Jenks and Union "dirtbags," what is your opinion on professions that are highly visible to the public? Should teachers, administrators, principals, etc. Be allowed to have their own social network accounts where they can post their opinions about life? If not, why not? If so, what about the repercussions of the public's opinion of their actions?
So if you work in a position that makes you viable to the public and you have a personal social media account then it is YOUR choice what you decide to post. However, if you lose your job, or evoke the wrath of people who disagree with what you said then I have no pity or special protection for you. So whether or not you have 2 followers or a million one should always consider that their right to free speech doesn't mean complete impunity. You are responsible for what you say and do and just like I ask my two sons you should ask yourself "are you being an honorable person"?
I completely agree. I know that my mother, as a school teacher, doesn't even have her own facebook account. She shares it with my father and it's technically his name as the first name. She never talks about school.
ReplyDeleteOther school teachers refuse to friend their students on facebook, or create a second account for ONLY facebook friending of students (sometimes it can be helpful for providing after school hours tutelage, if a student has a question).
There are options out there that allow you to say what you want to say. But discretion can be the better part of valor when you're very easily in the public's eye.