28 ms·

Social Network Profile Costs Woman College Degree

7 points by twampss 18y ago

blurry 18y ago
The title is pure bait. The woman did not lose her college degree, she lost her teaching assistant position. Even that happened because of poor performance reviews, not because of the photo. It sounds like the university did her a favor in re-classifying her B.A. from Education to English, hardly a surprise since she could not teach. Honestly, the only controversy in this whole story is the misleading title.
- twampss 18y ago
  I agree with you that the title is pure bait. It's obvious that the combination of her poor performance reviews and Myspace photo caused her to lose her teaching position, with the photo pushing everything over the edge. But I think the real controversy here is our online privacy. This is yet another example of how social network profiles (when people are not careful) come back to bite them in the ass. Although I know almost everyone on HN is smart enough to make photos like that private, it's a good reminder from this lesson learned. And this story always cracks me up :) - http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/bank-intern-busted-by-facebook-321802.php http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/bank-i...
- GHFigs 18y ago
  The article implies that in spite of poor performance reviews, the university did not take action until the photo containing criticism directed at the author of those reviews was discovered. Assuming for a moment that this is the case, that should be troubling, in that it suggests a student with equally poor performance who was more vigilant about concealing their criticism or extracurricular activities would be given the green light. This would explain much about what is wrong with public education, and the great rewards reaped by the diligently dishonest, but it can hardly be called a positive thing. That's why, even if this particular story is light on details that might clarify its importance, the subject itself is worth keeping an eye on. To ignore it may allow employers, educational institutions, and the government to move further into invasive and moralistic roles in our lives.
kirse 18y ago
This whole social-network photo/video thing will be biting my generation in the ass for many, many years to come --especially as we get older and seek higher positions that involve more public scrutiny. I'm pretty sure the de-facto way of addressing it will be along the lines of "They say your college years are the best years of your life...". Or at least that's how I'm planning on dealing with it =)
Dilpil 18y ago
Yet another great solution to the oversupply of high school teachers.
danielh 18y ago
Lesson Learned: Use Privacy Controls On Your Social Network Profile I'm pretty sure that U2-singer Bono would say something like "don't trust Privacy Controls On Your Social Network Profile" Don't put anything potentially compromising online, private or not.
- GHFigs 18y ago
  Where "potentially compromising" is defined in precise terms by whom? Even if it were worth aiming for, moral fashion is a moving target. It's also impractical, as you have an ever-decreasing amount of control over what information is recorded about you and put online, and how much attention it gets. Even if you're confident in your definition of "potentially compromising" means, the only way to be sure is to not do anything potentially compromising or say anything potentially compromising, which will eventually render it impossible for you to think anything potentially compromising. Fuck that shit. see also: http://xkcd.com/137/ http://xkcd.com/137/ see also: http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html

7 points by twampss 18y ago

The title is pure bait. The woman did not lose her college degree, she lost her teaching assistant position. Even that happened because of poor performance reviews, not because of the photo. It sounds like the university did her a favor in re-classifying her B.A. from Education to English, hardly a surprise since she could not teach. Honestly, the only controversy in this whole story is the misleading title.

twampss 18y ago
I agree with you that the title is pure bait. It's obvious that the combination of her poor performance reviews and Myspace photo caused her to lose her teaching position, with the photo pushing everything over the edge. But I think the real controversy here is our online privacy. This is yet another example of how social network profiles (when people are not careful) come back to bite them in the ass. Although I know almost everyone on HN is smart enough to make photos like that private, it's a good reminder from this lesson learned. And this story always cracks me up :) - http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/bank-intern-busted-by-facebook-321802.php http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/bank-i...
GHFigs 18y ago
The article implies that in spite of poor performance reviews, the university did not take action until the photo containing criticism directed at the author of those reviews was discovered. Assuming for a moment that this is the case, that should be troubling, in that it suggests a student with equally poor performance who was more vigilant about concealing their criticism or extracurricular activities would be given the green light. This would explain much about what is wrong with public education, and the great rewards reaped by the diligently dishonest, but it can hardly be called a positive thing. That's why, even if this particular story is light on details that might clarify its importance, the subject itself is worth keeping an eye on. To ignore it may allow employers, educational institutions, and the government to move further into invasive and moralistic roles in our lives.

kirse 18y ago

This whole social-network photo/video thing will be biting my generation in the ass for many, many years to come --especially as we get older and seek higher positions that involve more public scrutiny. I'm pretty sure the de-facto way of addressing it will be along the lines of "They say your college years are the best years of your life...". Or at least that's how I'm planning on dealing with it =)

Dilpil 18y ago

Yet another great solution to the oversupply of high school teachers.

danielh 18y ago

Lesson Learned: Use Privacy Controls On Your Social Network Profile I'm pretty sure that U2-singer Bono would say something like "don't trust Privacy Controls On Your Social Network Profile" Don't put anything potentially compromising online, private or not.

GHFigs 18y ago
Where "potentially compromising" is defined in precise terms by whom? Even if it were worth aiming for, moral fashion is a moving target. It's also impractical, as you have an ever-decreasing amount of control over what information is recorded about you and put online, and how much attention it gets. Even if you're confident in your definition of "potentially compromising" means, the only way to be sure is to not do anything potentially compromising or say anything potentially compromising, which will eventually render it impossible for you to think anything potentially compromising. Fuck that shit. see also: http://xkcd.com/137/ http://xkcd.com/137/ see also: http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html