Virtual Selves

   
      In “What You Say Online Could Haunt You” by Janet Kornblum and Marybeth Marklein it talks about how people are getting fired from a job, kicked out of a school, or not getting into a college because of the things they post online. I think the only time a school, work place, or college should check someone’s online profile is when they think a crime is being committed. Checking someone’s online profile just too if the person has inappropriate pictures or if they posted something about their boss or school is unnecessary. 

Micheal Guinn was a student attending John Brown University, a Christian college in Siloam, Ark. Micheal Guinn posted a picture on his online profile of himself dressed in drag. The administration at John Brown University saw the post. He was kicked out of the university. “Guinn’s activities were in violation of campus conduct codes stating that behavior must be affirm and honor Scripture.” Micheal Guinn did not harm anyone by posting the picture of him. Getting kicked out of the university because of the picture is unfair.

Another incident where almost the same thing occurred was in Louisiana. “Two Louisiana state swimmers were kicked off the team last spring for criticizing their coaches on Facebook”.  It’s wrong to criticize people but the swimmers were just expressing how they feel about their coaches. For them to get kicked out of the team is not right.

There are times when you should check someone’s online profile like for example safety reasons. In Costa Mesa, Ca. twenty students participated in a MySpace group where one student threatened to kill another. “Students were suspended last month from TeWinkle Middle School for two days for participating in a MySpace group where one student alleged threatened to kill another”. In this case it was good that the school got too access the profile before it was too late. “The student accused of making the threat could face criminal charges and expulsion, says Bob Metz assistant superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District”. These are the times where a student should get kicked out of school.

Another example is the 16 year old boy in Colorado. He was arrested after he took pictures with a weapon in his hands. “Police subsequently found the same weapon in his home says Jim Shires of the Jefferson County”. A teenager in possession with a weapon can be dangerous. “The boy has been charged with three misdemeanors for being a juvenile in possession of a handgun”. Guns are weapons, not toys. 

In some ways schools looking through your online profiles can be a good thing but it can also be not so good. It depends on the situation.