# Tv reporter's blog gets her fired. Right or Wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892 "2013-07-30T09:37:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/101 "2013-07-31T14:05:03Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Really? You’re going to blame everyone else for reacting to her mistake? Of course she was trying to be snarky, cutesy, trendy, edgy, whatever. What she wasn’t being, was smart. > > You are in a job in the public eye. Fuck up, and your fuck-up is in the public eye. Your employer, who is in the “public-eye” business, so to speak, fires you for being an embarrassment. It seems that simple. She created a personal blog, put her name on it, and fucked up. She made herself an embarrassment to her employer, and they cut her loose. This is not because they “didn’t get it”, it’s more a case of HER “not getting it”. So readers of her blog are not expected to get that those are her opiniions, feelings, etc. and not her employers’? Do you see an employer as having a sort of blanket right to the opinions and ideas of all his or her employees? Is that how it works in your mind? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/102 "2013-07-31T14:06:07Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I can’t believe this is how you actually. It reads more like a parody of “evul libruls” than someone’s actual thought process. It’s how I actually, actually! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/103 "2013-07-31T14:07:07Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Local news’ #1 demographic is so-called “old people.” That one alone would be enough to get her canned. Yes, because the old people who watch TV news read blogs. Mm-hmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/104 "2013-07-31T14:08:26Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > So readers of her blog are not expected to get that those are her opiniions, feelings, etc. and not her employers’? Do you see an employer as having a sort of blanket right to the opinions and ideas of all his or her employees? Is that how it works in your mind? When people watch the news they see her not her employers. I see an employer as having blanket right not to employ someone who is actively harming their product in their off time, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/105 "2013-07-31T14:16:16Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yes, because the old people who watch TV news read blogs. Mm-hmmmmm. Yes, it is a proven fact that Old People do not use the Internet and are oblivious to its content. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/106 "2013-07-31T14:18:20Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Um … the freedom to speak the truth as one sees it? Nobody denied her that freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/107 "2013-07-31T14:20:49Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > When people watch the news they see her not her employers. I see an employer as having blanket right not to employ someone who is actively harming their product in their off time, yes. I think that, in the interests of expanding human freedom and discourse, that employers can only claim a right to controlling their employees’ speech while they are on the job. When the woman said “Fuck” on air, that’s legitimate grounds for penalizing her, though I thing firing would be overdoing it … certainly, repeatedly saying “fuck” on air would be grounds for dismissal. In her free time, she should be free to say whatever she likes about her job, her employer, whatever. I realize that in the increasingly corporate fascist state that is America, this is not likely to work out well for the employee if he or she has any negative opinions about her employer (and really, who does not have such opiniions?). It’s just that unlike you, I think this is not a good thing. How far would you go? Could she be fired for talking about her employer’s shortcoming to another employee after hours in a bar? To a member of the general public? Should her employer be allowed to monitor what she says in her sleep? Inquiring minds want to know! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/108 "2013-07-31T14:21:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Pure snark. She even calls herself a smarty pants on her twitter page. I guess the humor in the blog went over most people’s heads. I think the list I read must be truncated. Are the funny parts after #10? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/109 "2013-07-31T14:22:52Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Nobody denied her that freedom. Of course not, firing someone for speaking their mind is a little thing, not to be bothered about, hardly a consequence to be considered. You keep believing that, you lovable scamp! Would you be OK with imprisoning her for speaking her mind? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/110 "2013-07-31T14:27:24Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Of course not, firing someone for speaking their mind is a little thing, not to be bothered about, hardly a consequence to be considered. You keep believing that, you lovable scamp! > > Would you be OK with imprisoning her for speaking her mind? No. That would be denying her freedom of speech. Why do you deny an employer their freedom to employ who they choose? If you refused to buy a book by an author after he made openly racist comments, are you are denying him his freedom of speech? Your logic is shit. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/111 "2013-07-31T14:27:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yes, it is a proven fact that Old People do not use the Internet and are oblivious to its content. I bet the old people **who watch local news on TV** are one of the least active demographics on the Internet. I will bet of those that DO use the Internet, following blog posts is not common. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/112 "2013-07-31T14:28:49Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I bet the old people **who watch local news on TV** are one of the least active demographics on the Internet. I will bet of those that DO use the Internet, following blog posts is not common. I didn’t read her comments on a blog, nor did anyone else in this thread. Your logic is still shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/113 "2013-07-31T14:30:20Z")
Personally, I think its immoral of an employee to say things in a public form (an internet blog, a newspaper article) that could be damaging to the employer. The employer is a business, and most business depend on their reputations to drive revenue. They use the revenue they get to pay their employees, expand the business and hire new employees - and yes, to return profits to owners. Risking the reputation of the business is something you should get fired for - because you are risking EVERYONE’S job when you do so. Or the ability for the employer to afford to give you a raise. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/114 "2013-07-31T14:33:55Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Of course not, firing someone for speaking their mind is a little thing, not to be bothered about, hardly a consequence to be considered. Free speech may have non-governmental consequences. That’s the station’s right. There’s absolutely no guarantee on consequence-free speech. If you think there is, then you’re infringing on employers’ rights. > [@](#): > > Would you be OK with imprisoning her for speaking her mind? Since the TV station doesn’t have that power, I’m not sure how this is relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/115 "2013-07-31T14:35:12Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No. That would be denying her freedom of speech. No, it wouldn’t. She can say anything she likes, she just goes to jail afterward if it’s offensive … you know, like Pussy Riot in Russia. Her freedom of speech is not denied, it just has consequences … just like firing is a consequence of her use of freedom of speech. > [@](#): > > Why do you deny an employer their freedom to employ who they choose? I think you meant the freedom to FIRE whomever they like, as I said nothing about hiring practices. The reason I object to her being fired for expressing her opinion is in the interest of broadening human freedom and the public discourse. I think these are fine things, and the right to fire whomever one wants for whatever reason is … not so fine. > [@](#): > > If you refused to buy a book by an author after he made openly racist comments, you are denying him his freedom of speech? Where did I say that? Feel free to point it out. > [@](#): > > Your logic is shit. An impressive display of reasoning by scatology! ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/116 "2013-07-31T14:38:38Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > No, it wouldn’t. She can say anything she likes, she just goes to jail afterward if it’s offensive … you know, like Pussy Riot in Russia. Her freedom of speech is not denied, it just has consequences … just like firing is a consequence of her use of freedom of speech. You are arguing for consequence-free speech. That would necessarily infringe on the rights of others. > [@](#): > > I think you meant the freedom to FIRE whomever they like.. No, I meant exactly what I said. Your opinion denies them their right to employ who they choose. You would force them to employ someone not of their choosing. > [@](#): > > Where did I say that? Feel free to point it out. You are arguing in favor of consequence-free speech. Your logic is still shit. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/117 "2013-07-31T14:40:17Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I didn’t read her comments on a blog, nor did anyone else in this thread. Your logic is still shit. The only reason this came to public attention is that she got fired for her comments, raising freedom of speech issues. And more scatological reasoning! ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/118 "2013-07-31T14:41:01Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > The only reason this came to public attention is that she got fired for her comments, Cite, please. Surely you don’t believe that blog items never escape the blogosphere. That would be an incredibly stupid thing to think. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/119 "2013-07-31T14:41:48Z")
I’ve told this story before here, because its illustrative. Years ago I worked for a certain big Twin Cities based health care company in IT. It was fairly early in my career, I was a systems admin. And one of the guys I worked with was an idiot who didn’t “get” corporate America. It was pretty clear in our employee manual and ethics guide that when talking to the press about the company, you had to get it cleared through corporate communications. He got called by a reporter for one of the trade rags (Info World probably) and they got him to give them a quote regarding a vendor and company strategy. He got fired. And complained all the way out the door about his freedom of speech. At the time, I don’t think I really understood what a big deal it was - other than it was foolish. And then I started doing IT contract negotiations and vendor management. And, oh my god, he probably cost that company millions. The company he said we wouldn’t dump now knew we had no plans to dump them - and we were negotiating contracts at that time. That millions meant that later, when the company had a rough spot, they didn’t have those millions in the bank to weather that storm - it was a commitment on the balance sheet. One of the many steps taken to weather the storm was to cut jobs. Another was to cut expenses - so the people who did have jobs didn’t have the tools to do their job. All the contractors - including myself - were walked out the door with a weeks notice. Worked fine for me, I was placed again immediately, but a lot of people ended up out of work for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892/120 "2013-07-31T14:44:28Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I think that, in the interests of expanding human freedom and discourse, that employers can only claim a right to controlling their employees’ speech while they are on the job. When the woman said “Fuck” on air, that’s legitimate grounds for penalizing her, though I thing firing would be overdoing it … certainly, repeatedly saying “fuck” on air would be grounds for dismissal. > > In her free time, she should be free to say whatever she likes about her job, her employer, whatever. I realize that in the increasingly corporate fascist state that is America, this is not likely to work out well for the employee if he or she has any negative opinions about her employer (and really, who does not have such opiniions?). It’s just that unlike you, I think this is not a good thing. > > How far would you go? Could she be fired for talking about her employer’s shortcoming to another employee after hours in a bar? To a member of the general public? Should her employer be allowed to monitor what she says in her sleep? Inquiring minds want to know! I think she has the freedom to say whatever she wants and the employers have the freedom to employ whoever they want. The only one interested in limiting freedoms here is you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-reporters-blog-gets-her-fired-right-or-wrong/664892.md?page=7)