Being Fired for Posting on SJ

[journalist68]

Has anyone ever been fired for posting on this website?

 

[blondebomber]

I haven't been fired, but would be if they found out. There actually was an internal investigation at my paper to find me out.

 

[writing irish]

Well, there was the horndog up in Boston who had the hots for a Lady Terrier.

I haven't been fired, but would be if they found out. There actually was an internal investigation at my paper to find me out.

Could you elaborate without outing yourself? ???

 

[Ace]

I just wondered, how many folks have been fired for posting on here? Why did they get fired? Did they diss their employer or what? Do we have a hard count of doofusses that have gotten the axe for saying something stupid on here? ;D

I'm pretty sure the plural of doofusses is doofii.

 

[SF_Express]

My presence here is an open secret, and frankly, this site has been a resource that has gotten us breaking news, job candidates, story ideas, etc.

I never really understand those who come on here "anonymously" and then post 500-word gripes about their workplace that it would take the subjects about 10 seconds to figure out exactly what paper it is, and who's doing the posting.

A 100 percent guarantee: You'll never see my bitching about my workplace here (of course, I like where I work), and I rarely get into discussions about it that were started by others at all.

 

[Ace]

Bottom line, several have. I don't see any reason to get into specifics.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I had a friend who was fired for posting on the old Sportspages board. He had been warned not to do it on work time and did it anyway and they made an example of him even though the post in question was completely innocent...

I know there was one guy fired for posting here a couple years ago.

One major paper did an internal investigation of one of their writers who they thought was a regular on here. When they confronted the writer in question, they were stunned to find out that the writer was not anothing more than an infrequent SportsJournalists.com poster.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I know of two posters who were axed for sj-related issues, but they shouldn't be named unless they do it themselves. I'll say this, though: Just because it's an anonymous message board doesn't mean you can leave your judgement at the login screen. As another on here told me, the anonymity is a thin veil. If your employer doesn't want you on this site, then if you visit while you're at work, you do so at your own peril. Beyond that, whether you do it from home or from work, tread very lightly when talking about your employer. That can only end in tears. Of course, if they do fire you, we absolutely want every lurid detail posted here. ;D

 

[Rockbottom]

My presence here is an open secret, and frankly, this site has been a resource that has gotten us breaking news, job candidates, story ideas, etc.

I never really understand those who come on here "anonymously" and then post 500-word gripes about their workplace that it would take the subjects about 10 seconds to figure out exactly what paper it is, and who's doing the posting.

A 100 percent guarantee: You'll never see my bitching about my workplace here (of course, I like where I work), and I rarely get into discussions about it that were started by others at all.

Me, too. I am pretty easy to figure out. Not that I have a particular problem with that. I know of one of my guys posting here, and when I have talked to people I might supervise in the past, I have told them I don't have a problem with them being here as long as they are professional and don't diss the paper.

As for hypocritical me, "professional" occasionally takes a backseat to arguing a point into the ground/stepping on someone's precious little toes. But you take that as it goes. If I fretted about every person who has a problem with me, and the reason why, I'd get even less done than I do.

rb

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Just remember, by law companies have to be able to track down what you do on a company computer.

 

[Left_Coast]

Well, there was the horndog up in Boston who had the hots for a Lady Terrier.

I haven't been fired, but would be if they found out. There actually was an internal investigation at my paper to find me out.

Could you elaborate without outing yourself? ???

Look for the Las Vegas sports editor opening thread. Lots of juicy stuff from the blonde one on there.

 

[Appgrad05]

Like SF, I've never understood people flaming their place of employment.

My employer does not care that I post, seeing as how I have been asked to post job openings and when my work comp was rebuilt last week, the IT's guy list of my various Internet usernames/passwords included SportsJournalists.com.

 

[blondebomber]

Well, there was the horndog up in Boston who had the hots for a Lady Terrier.

I haven't been fired, but would be if they found out. There actually was an internal investigation at my paper to find me out.

Could you elaborate without outing yourself? ???

I think our sports department is a ridiculous, dysfunctional joke. When someone came on here to praise the outgoing sports editor on his retirement and it started to become a Van McKenzie-type walk down memory lane, I reminded everyone that the guy was a hopeless drunk with more DUIs than bylines the past 10 years and was known for getting autographs from some people he interviewed (he showed up to a Jack Nicklaus interview with a trunkload of stuff). The laundry list of other reporters with problems (ethical violations, gifts in exchange for positive coverage, general incompetence, a copy editor fired for threatening to blow up the building, a preps reporter fired for trying to feel up a local softball player, an outdoors writer who required you buy his homemade lures before he wrote about you, etc) was lengthy. The search for a new sports editor ended up with the columnist, one of the worst in the country according to many, getting the job. A big-time opening was created for new full-time columnist and it went to a decent guy who has been OK, but not what you would expect from a national search that generated resumes from some name candidates who contacted me via SportsJournalists.com to scout out the paper.

So everybody got worked up here at the paper, and some made the mistake to come on here and proclaim I was a know-nothing. I responded with names and dates and ironclad specifics. Management grew even more incensed and began an internal search to find out who I was. Computers were monitored, IP addresses were tracked, etc. A couple people came on here and dropped big hints as to who I was (so they thought), but they weren't even in the right department. It was quite comical.

 

[Ace]

got the picture now, 68?

 

[Boom_70]

I've been threatened by the warden with solitary confinement a few times, but I found a way to cover my ip address.

 

[Lester Bangs]

Well, there was the horndog up in Boston who had the hots for a Lady Terrier.

I haven't been fired, but would be if they found out. There actually was an internal investigation at my paper to find me out.

Could you elaborate without outing yourself? ???

I think our sports department is a ridiculous, dysfunctional joke. When someone came on here to praise the outgoing sports editor on his retirement and it started to become a Van McKenzie-type walk down memory lane, I reminded everyone that the guy was a hopeless drunk with more DUIs than bylines the past 10 years and was known for getting autographs from some people he interviewed (he showed up to a Jack Nicklaus interview with a trunkload of stuff). The laundry list of other reporters with problems (ethical violations, gifts in exchange for positive coverage, general incompetence, a copy editor fired for threatening to blow up the building, a preps reporter fired for <b>trying to feel up a local softball player</b>, an outdoors writer who required you buy his homemade lures before he wrote about you, etc) was lengthy. The search for a new sports editor ended up with the columnist, one of the worst in the country according to many, getting the job. A big-time opening was created for new full-time columnist and it went to a decent guy who has been OK, but not what you would expect from a national search that generated resumes from some name candidates who contacted me via SportsJournalists.com to scout out the paper.

So everybody got worked up here at the paper, and some made the mistake to come on here and proclaim I was a know-nothing. I responded with names and dates and ironclad specifics. Management grew even more incensed and began an internal search to find out who I was. Computers were monitored, IP addresses were tracked, etc. A couple people came on here and dropped big hints as to who I was (so they thought), but they weren't even in the right department. It was quite comical.

So, this is unethical?

 

[21]

I think our sports department is a ridiculous, dysfunctional joke. When someone came on here to praise the outgoing sports editor on his retirement and it started to become a Van McKenzie-type walk down memory lane, I reminded everyone that the guy was a hopeless drunk with more DUIs than bylines the past 10 years and was known for getting autographs from some people he interviewed (he showed up to a Jack Nicklaus interview with a trunkload of stuff). The laundry list of other reporters with problems (ethical violations, gifts in exchange for positive coverage, general incompetence, a copy editor fired for threatening to blow up the building, a preps reporter fired for trying to feel up a local softball player, an outdoors writer who required you buy his homemade lures before he wrote about you, etc) was lengthy. The search for a new sports editor ended up with the columnist, one of the worst in the country according to many, getting the job. A big-time opening was created for new full-time columnist and it went to a decent guy who has been OK, but not what you would expect from a national search that generated resumes from some name candidates who contacted me via SportsJournalists.com to scout out the paper.

So everybody got worked up here at the paper, and some made the mistake to come on here and proclaim I was a know-nothing. I responded with names and dates and ironclad specifics. Management grew even more incensed and began an internal search to find out who I was. Computers were monitored, IP addresses were tracked, etc. A couple people came on here and dropped big hints as to who I was (so they thought), but they weren't even in the right department. It was quite comical.

Seriously, unless this story is completely made up, how could anyone involved in the story read your post and not recognize who you are??

 

[Ace]

You've seen one bitter, cranky, surly, mean copy editor, you've seen 'em all.

 

[blondebomber]

I think our sports department is a ridiculous, dysfunctional joke. When someone came on here to praise the outgoing sports editor on his retirement and it started to become a Van McKenzie-type walk down memory lane, I reminded everyone that the guy was a hopeless drunk with more DUIs than bylines the past 10 years and was known for getting autographs from some people he interviewed (he showed up to a Jack Nicklaus interview with a trunkload of stuff). The laundry list of other reporters with problems (ethical violations, gifts in exchange for positive coverage, general incompetence, a copy editor fired for threatening to blow up the building, a preps reporter fired for trying to feel up a local softball player, an outdoors writer who required you buy his homemade lures before he wrote about you, etc) was lengthy. The search for a new sports editor ended up with the columnist, one of the worst in the country according to many, getting the job. A big-time opening was created for new full-time columnist and it went to a decent guy who has been OK, but not what you would expect from a national search that generated resumes from some name candidates who contacted me via SportsJournalists.com to scout out the paper.

So everybody got worked up here at the paper, and some made the mistake to come on here and proclaim I was a know-nothing. I responded with names and dates and ironclad specifics. Management grew even more incensed and began an internal search to find out who I was. Computers were monitored, IP addresses were tracked, etc. A couple people came on here and dropped big hints as to who I was (so they thought), but they weren't even in the right department. It was quite comical.

Seriously, unless this story is completely made up, how could anyone involved in the story read your post and not recognize who you are??

Because there are hundreds of people who work at my paper.

 

[slappy4428]

You've seen one spnited, you've seen 'em all.