The New York Times reported today that Salvatore J. Cassano, the son of the Fire Department commissioner, resigned from his position within the department because of comments he had made on Twitter. The comments suggested that he had hatred for Jews, blacks and poor people. Cassano, with the connections his father has, may not need to worry too much about finding a new job somewhere. Still, there are many people who do not have this luxury.
So what? Social media users must learn from recent history, using social media can be both beneficial, but deadly as well. The outcries from the public when an offensive act has been committed is to immediately demand their job. This is understandable. However, the American system is set up in a way that from the moment a pupil enters an academic setting, they are being trained for the work environment. So after countless years of "education", one slip of the keystroke may result in losing all that they have worked for.
Examples: Congressman Anthony Weiner sent sexually suggestive pictures via Twitter to a women who was not his wife; this resulted in Congressman Weiner resigning from his position. Comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who was the voice for the Aflac duck, was fired for making a joke through Twitter about the Tsunami in Japan. Nicole Crowther, and extra on Glee, Twitted inside information about what was going to happen in an upcoming episode. She was fired from the show, and is finding it very difficult to find job opportunities in the business.Examples like these should be eye openers to the dangers of social media. It may seem obvious to most, but in a desperate and emotional time, anyone can let the hands type just a little too quickly.
