How many times have you heard, "Never put anything on paper that you wouldn't want to read on the front page of a newspaper?" Wise words, except Facebook, Twitter and every other Internet site have surpassed newspapers' reach with instantaneous access around the globe.
Perhaps we need to adapt the Miranda warning for electronic devices to read: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you type can and will be used against you in a court of law..." The warning could pop-up on all electronic devices after you type in your password, like the "Smoking kills..." warning on a package of cigarettes.
After Thanksgiving, a Congressional staffer posted her personal opinion about President Obama's teenage daughters' clothing and appearance. Within 24 hours of posting, the staffer offered her resignation and apology.
On the other side of that topic, what happens when a person in authority writes of their personal beliefs and its publication alienates a sector of colleagues or employees?
Recent news reports of the suspension of the fire chief of a metro fire department is an extreme example of the risks in voicing personal opinions.
The chief is currently on a 30-day, unpaid suspension as a result of a controversy surrounding his self-published, religious book. In the book, published over a year ago, the chief calls homosexuality and lesbianism sexual perversions morally equivalent to “pederasty” and “bestiality.” The book intro mentions the author's position as fire chief of a metropolitan department.
Obviously, the news of the book and the views on homosexuality and lesbianism have particularly shocked and devastated LGBT fire officers and chiefs nationally who have worked with the fire chief.
"Stunned, sickened, pissed and feeling betrayed as I thought [he] and I were friends," wrote one fire chief who is also lesbian.
I have known this fire chief for several years. A deacon in a Baptist church, he is an open, devoted Christian, as are some of my other friends in the fire service. I also know many of my fire service friends to be openly lesbian, gay, Jewish, Muslim, Tea Party-ers, etc.
As individuals, we each have a wide range of educational, cultural, religious, political beliefs and opinions that we have learned or developed over the years. While truth is an integral part of credibility, an internal "filter" is required to avoid conflict, judgment, disparity or even favoritism, to allow people to work together or accomplish a goal or task. Sometimes filters are ignored in the quick, easy access to social media. Sometimes our filter is full of passion for a topic.
I'm Catholic, Irish-Polish and know my opinions over the years have rankled some people. I also know what it's like to work with men who openly did not like working with women in authority, let alone strong women. Every meeting was a challenge and conversations carefully filtered to accomplish a job.
The metro chief--like you and I--is entitled to his personal opinions. If we chose to make known our personal opinions--which we have a right to under this country's freedom of speech---then we are also responsible for any accolades or repercussions. Whether political, religious and pro or con, while we have a "right" to say it, we take the risk of being vulnerable to support, opposition or worse, whether a quick tweet on Twitter, a comment on Facebook or published in print. Depending on your position, stature and notoriety, the bigger your soapbox, the bigger the target.
There is a difference between making a "flip" comment and a stating a belief, whether in social media, in public or in print, but only the speed and volume with which it is disseminated.
