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BIG BROTHER

Vulgar Online Comment Costs Man His Job

He posts dirty word, then gets tracked via his IP address

By John Johnson| Posted Nov 20, 09 8:40 AM CST|

(Newser) – Commenters, beware. A St. Louis man who posted a vulgarity at a newspaper website soon found himself out of a job. When the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asked readers to weigh in with the strangest thing they've ever eaten, one guy responded with what the paper describes as a "vulgar expression for a part of a woman’s anatomy." The single-word post was quickly deleted, but just as quickly reposted. When website editor Kurt Greenbaum noticed in a WordPress email alert that the IP address came from a local school, he forwarded the info to officials there.

"About six hours later, I heard from the school’s headmaster," writes Greenbaum. "The school’s IT director took a shine to the challenge. Long story short: Using the time-frame of the comments, our website location, and the IP addresses in the WordPress e-mail, he tracked it back to a specific computer. The headmaster confronted the employee, who resigned on the spot."

A vulgar comment posted online cost a man his job. (AP Photo/Ferdinand Ostrop, file)

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38 comments

VIEWING:

Fondue
Nov 20, 09 8:45 AM CST

Invasion of privacy or not? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Nov 20, 09 8:47 AM CST

Yes but the guy should have more sense Fondue than to use a computer at a school, he at least should have used proxy servers and more than one

+10

IN RESPONSE:

gnieberg
Nov 20, 09 8:51 AM CST

Part of the problem is also the anonymity of my postings leads to a harshening of the civil discourse. I'm sure the person in this story would not have used such vulgar language if he had to put his name to it. Free Speech doesn't mean the ability to say whatever you want whenever you want. Does that mean that this guy's use of a vulgar word should have led to him being fired? Probably not. On the other hand, as a society, we gain nothing by having forums where people can be outrageously vulgar, and make any unfounded claim they want. If you can't say something intelligently, and have facts to back up your claims, then you don't have much to offer.

+12

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 8:52 AM CST

@Reader, so instead of having a momentary loss of decorum and using a vulgarity in a forum (not sure if that's what happened, but let's assume so for the rest of this post), he should have intentionally tried to hide his actions? But I agree with the first part. Don't post that kind of crap at work using company property. If that company is a school where you're supposed to be a role model and teach kids *not* to behave that way, all the more reason not to post it.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

hybrid
Nov 20, 09 8:53 AM CST

not! it was not made on His computer but on somone elses. If it was made on his and he got fired i could see were that would be a privacy thing

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 8:55 AM CST

@Fondue, what if here were on the phone instead? Should he talk that way within earshot of students? Should he close his office door before saying the word?

-1

IN RESPONSE:

tomodachi
Nov 20, 09 8:59 AM CST

according to the article he wasn't fired... he "resigned on the spot."

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 20, 09 9:06 AM CST

I never said this was an invasion of his privacy. I was asking what people thought. If you read the actual article, you'll find that the guy was confronted and resigned on the spot. He wasn't fired, he quit. - I agree with most here, since school/work property was used you get fired if that is what is determined by the owners of the property. Do this at home, well it's part of a person private life.

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Nov 20, 09 9:19 AM CST

Just another reason to connect through your own network and not others if you want to share opinions online.

IN RESPONSE:

RockyPneumonia
Nov 20, 09 9:23 AM CST

Not. He was using his employer's computer and had no reasonable "expectation of privacy".

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Ladydi
Nov 20, 09 9:54 AM CST

gnieberg is so correct about the anonymity issue....I once worked for a company that had guidelines for ethical behavior.....part of it said "There is one ultimate test which will help you with any difficult ethical decisions. You should act so that you would not be embarrassed to explain your action to a government agency or your local newspaper." In other words think before you speak or post!

IN RESPONSE:

USAHomeofthebrave
Nov 20, 09 11:01 AM CST

This is probably why clown face got fired.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Nov 20, 09 12:00 PM CST

He did the talk and he did the walk as a result. What's the problem? It was his risk to take and once taken, he resigned. As for free speech as related to vulgarity, I have to tell you that every convo I've had with friends has not always been of the debate variety where we have to back up everything we say. Sometimes we talk shit about friends who are not present, something everyone does...sometimes we secretly make fun of people around us as if we are all that, but knowing we are not and yet finding it fun to do, as many people will do...sometimes we discuss work, sometimes we discuss politics, sometimes we simply discuss what we saw in the news, sometimes we tell stories from our lives and sometimes, we discuss technology or movies or tv shows....and all of these discussions vary in their style and we speak in generalites because we expect every one of us to have enough sense to know none of us are so myopic as to not know the diference. Sometimes we are vulgar, but sometimes our definition of vulgar may not be the same as another's definition of vulgar. Sometimes we don't have facts to back up what we talk about, hence, the phrase "I read somewhere, but I can't remember where right now..." If someone wants to know more, they can look it up or the speaker may volunteer to try to find it. There's no pressure other than on the one who really needs or wants to know more. I enjoy the humor, the vulgarity and the banter here at newser as much as the topical discussions. Without the variety, it becomes stuffy and boring. If I am offended, I remove myself or I say something in return which may or may not be offensive in return, depending on my mood at the time. I think people who seek a certain type of interaction and want to be limited to that type of interaction should go where only that type of interaction exists. Usualy, in my experience online, it's not long before that person leaves that specific interaction from boredom and comes back to the three ring circus for real fun. People must be stimulated and stimulation comes in a variety of ways. We can be stimulated by anger, joy, sadness, differences in opinion, politics, etc. We may also be stimulated in one way, one day, but the next day is different. Variety is the spice of life, imo, and that includes the occasional outbursts of vulgarity, sincerity, humor, anger, intellect or joy. I welcome all to my world, even the gay bashers, even the haters, because frankly, even they could possibly grow in some small measure from the contact, as I might, as well, despite all our claims to the contrary.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 20, 09 12:24 PM CST

Got fired, got whitehouse, got senate, got house of representatives, got NY-23. You got peaderfist, enjoy.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 1:00 PM CST

Geez, Snarfeh. Write a book!

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Nov 20, 09 1:41 PM CST

@Unaffiliated - Damn, I thought I did! :O Ok, ok, I'll write some more...

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Nov 20, 09 10:47 PM CST

@robr - I *wish* that were true....:::sigh:::....sorry, but I get wordy at times and most here know that...one can read it or not read it...:::shrug:::

| 0 minutes ago

polstroad
Nov 20, 09 8:47 AM CST

flucking bosses are assholes Reply

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Nov 20, 09 9:39 AM CST

He wasn't fired; he resigned. His terms of employment may have been such that this conduct constituted a clear violation of policy which he did not want on his employment record.

| 0 minutes ago

wiley14
Nov 20, 09 8:47 AM CST

What happened to freedom of speech? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 8:56 AM CST

It only applies to the government. Employers do not have to allow employees to spout off anything they wish. There are places where using this sort of language may be appropriate - at work, at a school, is not one of them.

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Nov 20, 09 9:21 AM CST

Ummmm... NO, Freeedom of speech applies to theAmerican people. IT's sad that so few Americans have a clue about their own constitutional freedoms.

-7

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 9:45 AM CST

The full text of the first amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." I leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine who this amendment specifies must abide by its precepts.

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Nov 20, 09 11:03 AM CST

Recently I posted the "free speech" text of the 1st Amendment and its been necessary to post it again here. There is no individual right to freedom of speech; the Congress, however, is forbidden to abridge that right. Employers are free to set standards for behavior that Congress may not set. If you've ever signed an Acceptable Use Policy in order to use a computer at work, at school, or a public library, you have agreed to terms that restrict your freedom of your speech. The ones I've seen allow the owners to use a great deal of discretion when deciding that the AUP has been violated. As to this person's predicament; he was in the wrong and took the least harmful way out.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 20, 09 11:19 AM CST

Well said, Rocket. It's sad that so few Americans have a clue about their own constitutional freedoms.

| 0 minutes ago

diltsduo
Nov 20, 09 8:50 AM CST

Things change when your at WORK. I Agree with Fondue, invasion of privacy but when your at work you cant do crap like that. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Hip
Nov 20, 09 8:51 AM CST

Jayster666, I hope you're using someone else's computer... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader39895947
Nov 20, 09 9:36 AM CST

Anyone posting to a blog would have a reasonable expectation of anonymity. Surely there was no criminality involved. This was an amoral breach of accepted protocol. You can delete a post, but it's totally fubar to actually track down a user with the intent of doing damage, either socially, or financially. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Observer
Nov 20, 09 10:17 AM CST

That is BS. I once was arrested for saying the F word to an airline employee. While Dick Cheney says it to a Congressman on the House floor. Or Larry David says it repeatedly on his HBO show. The double standards in the US are ridiculous. NO way should he have resigned over using a "vulgar" word online. For Christ's Sake. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Rocket448
Nov 20, 09 11:06 AM CST

First Amendment? Right to privacy? They don't apply if you're using someone else's computer outside your home. The fact is, the word was uttered in a public forum in violation of the school's computer use policy. If this sort of thing doesn't make sense to you, then I hope you try it on your bosses' computer. Good luck. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

passinthru
Nov 20, 09 12:18 PM CST

that sucks, but for crying out loud, there is a time and a place to be careless with your words, and your workplace is not that time or place...if you gotta be an ass on the internet while at work...use a proxy, lol. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

njgreen
Nov 20, 09 1:36 PM CST

This is a sign - time for me to stop procrastinating on Newser at work! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Ezizabef
Nov 20, 09 2:25 PM CST

He probably shouldn't be posting anything like that at work. Especially since he works in a school. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Antiks
Nov 20, 09 3:24 PM CST

Kurt Greenbaum, even if what he did was in his right, is a douchebag for doing it. He should have just deleted the comment and moved on. No, he had to be a vengeful, petty prick and contact the guy's workplace. If this guy made a threat against Greenbaum, or was constantly harassing him I could understand. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

flame821
Nov 22, 09 10:33 PM CST

read the article carefully, it WAS deleted by the site moderator and then immediately reposted by the guy. I'm not sure if that makes him determined or stupid

| 0 minutes ago

RufusT.Firefly
Nov 21, 09 2:59 AM CST

Rule 1: Never use a work computer for something even the least bit sketchy. Rule 2: See Rule 1. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

PrestoEnigma
Nov 21, 09 9:06 AM CST

I wish I could have seen the guy's face when he got caught. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

thezenhaitian
Nov 23, 09 8:18 PM CST

Fudge. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 38 comments »

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Vulgar Online Comment Costs Man His Job

He posts dirty word, then gets tracked via his IP address

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Turkish Women Lured to Fake Big Brother, Filmed Naked

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Internet • Big Brother • inappropriate comments • comments • vulgarity

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from our news partners

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Associated Press

About

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Tools

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