Firing People For "Offensive" Comments Has Gone Too Far

[dandh]

I'm a pretty caring guy when it comes to matters of race. I really dislike remarks that are racist or focused on someone's ethnicity or culture. Some of you know my wife is latina, so I've heard lots of stupidity in my lifetime that was aimed at her and I have a pretty low tolerance for it. However, we're going too far with our reaction to some things, as evidenced by the dismissal of a Prinicipal in a North Miami school.

What was his big crime? Per the linked story, here's what he posted on his Facebook account that got him fired, related to the McKinney, TX pool party cop incident:

He did nothing wrong. He was afraid for his life. I commend him for his actions.

That's it, in total. Per the linked story, this was deemed "insensitive" and was determined to be cause to terminate his employment. I do think the last line was unneeded, and could have been left off. Still, he's offering his opinion based on what he saw.

I actually understand what he's saying with the first two sentences - the cop was looking at the girl on the ground and two guys caming charging toward him from the side, stopping about two feet short, and the cop reacted. The third sentence is his opinion, but i don't share it when it comes to the cop's approach to the situation in general.

Was it smart for the principal to say this? No, but since when did we become so hypersensitive that we find someone unfit to work when they make a comment that arguably might go a little too far? It's become pretty crazy out there, I think, and all these actions do is make it harder to have an honest dialogue or air differences of opinion. The absolutist approach we're taking is making things worse, in my opinion, as it will force people to bottle up honest differences of opinion.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/06/10/north-miami-principal-removed-after-insensitive-comment/

 

[torbee]

This whole concept of using social media to publicly shame people is very, very scary.

The internet has turned us all into a torch-waving, pitchfork-carrying mob, the vast majority of whom will go on facebook and talk tough while the only action they'll actually take in the real world is to pull out their phones and take pictures/video. We've become a society in which public shaming has replaced real action.

 

[ChrisVarick]

This whole concept of using social media to publicly shame people is very, very scary.

The internet has turned us all into a torch-waving, pitchfork-carrying mob, the vast majority of whom will go on facebook and talk tough while the only action they'll actually take in the real world is to pull out their phones and take pictures/video. We've become a society in which public shaming has replaced real action.

I agree with this. The issue on the other side is people that feel the need to mass share their opinions. If you are a professional stay away from share your social opinions in mass on social media platforms. This doesn't mean that you don't have to have an opinion. It just means you don't share it with 100s of people on the Internet like it is important enough for them to care.

 

[dandh]

This whole concept of using social media to publicly shame people is very, very scary.

The internet has turned us all into a torch-waving, pitchfork-carrying mob, the vast majority of whom will go on facebook and talk tough while the only action they'll actually take in the real world is to pull out their phones and take pictures/video. We've become a society in which public shaming has replaced real action.

I think this principal might have preferred public shame to being fired. Actually, fear of the public reaction is likely what prompted the school board to act.

 

[theIowaHawk]

This whole concept of using social media to publicly shame people is very, very scary.

The internet has turned us all into a torch-waving, pitchfork-carrying mob, the vast majority of whom will go on facebook and talk tough while the only action they'll actually take in the real world is to pull out their phones and take pictures/video. We've become a society in which public shaming has replaced real action.

 

[torbee]

I think this principal might have preferred public shame to being fired. Actually, fear of the public reaction is likely what prompted the school board to act.

What made me think about public shaming, though, is that many of those "outraged" Facebook and Twitter campaigns specifically CALL for the firing/punishing of those deemed to have offended with their words.

I just read an interesting article on the phenomenon:

LINK

 

[HawkFantastic]

dandh, do you see how his post could be interpreted, given the events, and lead to discipline (in this case dismissal)?

 

[theIowaHawk]

I agree with Torbee, and I agree with the OP Premise. The principal should not have been fired. But in the vein of all of the Pool Party threads, "it is his fault for posting it........he got what he deserved."

Do I believe that? No. Should he have posted it? I don't know, there seems to be no reason, other than for social media idiocy, why he did.

 

[dandh]

dandh, do you see how his post could be interpreted, given the events, and lead to discipline (in this case dismissal)?

I saw why it was. IMHO, it's an overreaction based on hypersensitivity to his comments. His commending the cop was the nail in his coffin. My point is that this type of action chills honest dialogue and is counterproductive in general. It's tantamount to thought control.

 

[theIowaHawk]

I saw why it was. IMHO, it's an overreaction based on hypersensitivity to his comments. His commending the cop was the nail in his coffin. My point is that this type of action chills honest dialogue and is counterproductive in general. It's tantamount to thought control.

I posting on facebook now "honest discourse"?

I'm a massive, huge proponent of open and un-chilled dialogue. Does facebook count? Maybe I just don't like/use it enough to give it that credence.

Also, it obviously doesn't control thought, only expression.

 

[dandh]

I posting on facebook now "honest discourse"?

I'm a massive, huge proponent of open and un-chilled dialogue. Does facebook count? Maybe I just don't like/use it enough to give it that credence.

Also, it obviously doesn't control thought, only expression.

It's public conversation - so what else would you call it?

OK, I'm sure you have some other descriptors that would fit - people do some pretty stupid stuff there. I only know that because my wife tells me about it. I don't have a Facebook account and probably never will. Too much stupidity and not-so-subtle bragging, imho.

 

[dandh]

What made me think about public shaming, though, is that many of those "outraged" Facebook and Twitter campaigns specifically CALL for the firing/punishing of those deemed to have offended with their words.

I just read an interesting article on the phenomenon:

LINK

Thanks - good read.

 

[BABiscuit]

Seems over the top to fire him, but a public figure would be wise to not post anything about this, especially before all the facts are out. Or at least hedge his comments with something like, "I don't agree the cop did anything wrong based on what was posted in the video. If he feared for his life, he has the right to pull his gun."

His quote actually sounds a lot like something arbitr8 would post.

 

[The_Joker13]

Pretty stupid of the principal imo. Why post a controversial opinion for all to see? What did he hope to gain by sharing that publicly?

 

[mstp1992]

I'm a pretty caring guy when it comes to matters of race. I really dislike remarks that are racist or focused on someone's ethnicity or culture. Some of you know my wife is latina, so I've heard lots of stupidity in my lifetime that was aimed at her and I have a pretty low tolerance for it. However, we're going too far with our reaction to some things, as evidenced by the dismissal of a Prinicipal in a North Miami school.

What was his big crime? Per the linked story, here's what he posted on his Facebook account that got him fired, related to the McKinney, TX pool party cop incident:

He did nothing wrong. He was afraid for his life. I commend him for his actions.

That's it, in total. Per the linked story, this was deemed "insensitive" and was determined to be cause to terminate his employment. I do think the last line was unneeded, and could have been left off. Still, he's offering his opinion based on what he saw.

I actually understand what he's saying with the first two sentences - the cop was looking at the girl on the ground and two guys caming charging toward him from the side, stopping about two feet short, and the cop reacted. The third sentence is his opinion, but i don't share it when it comes to the cop's approach to the situation in general.

Was it smart for the principal to say this? No, but since when did we become so hypersensitive that we find someone unfit to work when they make a comment that arguably might go a little too far? It's become pretty crazy out there, I think, and all these actions do is make it harder to have an honest dialogue or air differences of opinion. The absolutist approach we're taking is making things worse, in my opinion, as it will force people to bottle up honest differences of opinion.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/06/10/north-miami-principal-removed-after-insensitive-comment/

In Iowa you can be fired for being 'too attractive.' Nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[torbee]

I posting on facebook now "honest discourse"?

I'm a massive, huge proponent of open and un-chilled dialogue. Does facebook count? Maybe I just don't like/use it enough to give it that credence.

Also, it obviously doesn't control thought, only expression.

That's a very interesting question, actually.

I think FB, Twitter, etc. are often very good at creating dialogue. But they are also too often tools used to whip up mob-like monothought.

 

[theIowaHawk]

It's public conversation - so what else would you call it?

OK, I'm sure you have some other descriptors that would fit - people do some pretty stupid stuff there. I only know that because my wife tells me about it. I don't have a Facebook account and probably never will. Too much stupidity and not-so-subtle bragging, imho.

Is graffiti honest discourse? I mean, I presume this was posted on his "wall" right? (is that still a thing?) Is this different than spray-painting it? Did a discussion follow? Is this just him standing outside, looking to the sky, and screaming it?

I get where you are coming from, but I'm not sure I'm willing to simply grant all forms of expression "honest discourse" status. I was, sort of, on the other side of this on the Iowa City - Cop "threatening" incident. I said he couldn't/shouldn't be arrested for those comments, which were not specifically-directed threats on facebook. I'll use the same logic here, without knowing ANYTHING more about this guy's facebook page. 1. He is a principal. 2. He likely has his subordinates/colleagues/students?/student's parents? on his page......so when he openly posts a thought like that, specified to no one in particular, is he acting in his "official" capacity? Is it different than standing in front of the school when everyone is gathered?

Surely if he had done that, you could see some issue in it right?

Again...I would not have fired him, certainly not.