Blog At Your Own Risk

CBS News ^ | February 7, 2005 | Randy Dotinga

[srm913]

Suffering from "pure boredom" while working as a features writer for a North Carolina newspaper, Rachel Mosteller began keeping an online journal. Anonymously, with names changed to protect the guilty, she chronicled the people who inhabit just about any newsroom - the foul-mouthed female reporter, the chubby sportswriter, the co-worker who hoards the free books sent in by publishers seeking reviews.

But her blog, called the "Sarcastic Journalist," didn't stay secret for long. Her bosses found out last year, and Ms. Mosteller, eight months pregnant at the time, promptly found herself sacked.

She learned a valuable lesson: If you have a job, blog at your own risk - "unless you're writing recipes and about how much you love puppies and kittens," Ms. Mosteller says.

Other blogging employees have followed her into the unemployment line. San Francisco freelance journalist Curt Hopkins has documented more than 20 cases of bloggers who claim they were fired because of their online activities.

In one high-profile case, a flight attendant claims that Delta sacked her last year after she posted sexy photos of herself in her uniform on her blog. In another case, the social networking website Friendster reportedly fired an employee after she discussed the company's technical problems online. In December, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch features writer left his position after bosses discovered that his blogging alter-ego, complete with fake name, had been commenting on the newspaper's stories in less than flattering terms.

[srm913]

Oh, dear... Too much free speech! This has to stop! /sarcasm off

[trisham]

Read more at cbsnews.com ...

****************

No bias here...move along, now.

[AppyPappy]

Oh dear. Being held responsible for your actions. How awful.

[mhking]

CBS News has already shown their disdain for bloggers, and will use any excuse to demean and demoralize the blogosphere.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[RKM]

"Some states go out of their way to protect employees from getting fired for things they do outside the workplace. Depending on where they live, workers may smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, gamble, run for public office, or use marijuana for medicinal purposes - all without fear of a pink slip."

Nice to know.

[Dog Gone]

If one of my employees was bad-mouthing me on the internet I think I'd have to urge him to find a new employer that he liked better.

Is that wrong?

[Lazamataz]

Not-so-subtle message from CBS News: "Do it to us again, and we'll make sure your boss finds out."

[Fiddlstix]

Not-so-subtle message from CBS News: "Do it to us again, and we'll make sure your boss finds out."

Bingo!

[Grampa Dave]

"If one of my employees was bad-mouthing me on the internet I think I'd have to urge him to find a new employer that he liked better."

What if he/she/it was using your company computer or server to trash you or President Bush on company time or even off company time?

[infidel29]

Perhaps the journalists and those others who were fired divulged a little too much about themselves in their blogging. It's a shame when someone can't share their ideas, even if they happen to be in opposition to their bosses' opinions. What business is it of their superiors what they do in their free time?

Much like the (4?) workers in Michigan who were fired for smoking on their off time. Unconstitutional.

[Protagoras]

What if he/she/it was using your company computer or server to trash you or President Bush on company time or even off company time?

How about the many Freepers who blog all day long on company time? I always wondered how that worked.

I do it, but I work for me. If I had an employee doing it, I would wonder if I really needed a person who has enough time to fool around on the internet all day.

[Dog Gone]

Well, then I'd have to slap them with a wet fish before firing them.

[lilylangtree]

Yikes!

[Flyer]

If one of my employees was bad-mouthing me on the internet I think I'd have to urge him to find a new employer that he liked better.

But since I am not an employee of yours I can bad-mouth you here all I want.

WOOHOO!

[Grampa Dave]

"How about the many Freepers who blog all day long on company time? I always wondered how that worked."

"I do it, but I work for me. If I had an employee doing it, I would wonder if I really needed a person who has enough time to fool around on the internet all day."

Exactly! Now what if that so called Freeper was really a troll for the other side, and you found out that you were paying him for work that was really anti what you stand for?

[Grampa Dave]

Don't was a good dead/wet fish, just fire them.

[kipita]

The days of one Deep Throat are over............now there's blogging.

[Protagoras]

I wouldn't pay him if he was promoting me!

[granite]

I terminaed an employee for loading "Evidence Eliminator" software on their workstation. I only hire "At will" and let them go AT WILL.

[Dog Gone]

But since I am not an employee of yours I can bad-mouth you here all I want.

I sure wish you'd come work for me. Pay no attention to that fish I'm holding behind my back.