In this world of unlimited access to information via the Internet and social networking, most people are well aware that if you say it in writing, it is going to be there forever. Not just that, but almost anyone can access your Facebook page or Twitter account — or Myspace, for those of you still stuck in 2002.
It is not uncommon for students and adults alike to be warned about employers looking at Facebook to see what kind of person you are, what kind of language you choose to use and what you were doing on Friday night. Recently, this issue was thrown into sharp relief with the case of Lindsey Stone, a Massachusetts woman who was fired from her job after one of her Facebook pictures went viral.
The picture shows Stone at Arlington National Cemetery flipping off and yelling at a sign that reads “Silence and Respect.” While this may seem like a funny picture to some, it is a slap in the face to all those Americans who take the commemoration and respect for those soldiers who have died very seriously. At best, the photograph is in bad taste; at worst, profane.
Once people caught sight of this photograph, a Facebook group was created calling for the firing of Lindsey Stone and in short order they got what they wanted. But the story does not end there. The firing of Stone from her job has led many to question whether or not she should have been protected under the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.
The answer to that question is no. Her job is not protected by free speech. The First Amendment applies to the federal government and more recently state and local governments, but not to privately owned companies. Even at the national level, some of these rights have been suspended under related laws regarding pornography and treason.
The moral of the story: have some respect, people. Not just respect for yourself but also for your country and for the people who are going to see what you post. Not everything is appropriate and not everything will be tolerated. Employers want the people they hire to exemplify upstanding citizenship and with good reason.
Imagine that Lindsey Stone had worked for a company like Disney. Would her post not affect how viewers see Disney as an employer? Of course it would. One employee has the power to stand for, and change, the image of an entire company. An example of this was seen during the recent presidential campaign when David Chalian, a reporter, was caught making inappropriate comments on a hot microphone. The incident was not only embarrassing for him but also for his network, which then terminated his employment.
In this respect, privately owned companies should have every right to temper behavior that they deem inappropriate with the threat of termination. No one can tell you how to speak or what to say — that is a right that belongs only to the individual. But be warned, your actions have consequences and what may seem funny or harmless in the moment could come back to bite you. Not all jokes are funny and not all opinions should be voiced in a public forum. You have the right to take a stand; just make sure it’s worth it.