Social Network Profile Costs Woman College Degree

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-i...

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.

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/ see also: http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html