The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Another blogger fired for her blog content
I don't know if you all have heard of the most recent doocing case, of Natalie Baker, who was fired after she wrote about the Belgian defense minister's antics in the NYC bar she worked at. Essentially, it appears that she commented on his drunken behaviour, as well as the fact that another staffer told her they had chosen to go on the taxpayer funded trip despite the fact that the UN meeting they were scheduled to attend was moved to Geneva because they had never been to New York.
You can read about the story here.
The Belgian defense minister has since gone on record saying that blogging has become dangerous in that it allows for mudslinging and personal attacks without the need for accountability (like, presumably, journalists would have).
I'm interested in what you guys think about this case and the defense ministers comments! Should she have been fired? Is there merit in what the defense minister has said?
Also, (shameless plug alert) I have written a more details post about the topic here, so feel free to hop on over and say anything there, including about your own experiences in having your blog inadvertently discovered.
Cheers!!
You can read about the story here.
The Belgian defense minister has since gone on record saying that blogging has become dangerous in that it allows for mudslinging and personal attacks without the need for accountability (like, presumably, journalists would have).
I'm interested in what you guys think about this case and the defense ministers comments! Should she have been fired? Is there merit in what the defense minister has said?
Also, (shameless plug alert) I have written a more details post about the topic here, so feel free to hop on over and say anything there, including about your own experiences in having your blog inadvertently discovered.
Cheers!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Stehle on -
Who's Natalie Baker? Should I know her or at least heard of her? Because the name doesn't ring a bell.
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Permalink Reply by Princess Pointful on -
No, I'd never heard of her before. She blogs in Belgian, too, which means that the bulk of us non-Belgian speakers wouldn't have the slightest clue! Her name has just been getting publicity once the media got ahold of this case. There is a link to her blog, and a more thorough explanation of the case in the link I provided.
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Permalink Reply by David Stehle on
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Ah, that makes sense then.
Me no speaka Dutch.
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Permalink Reply by Princess Pointful on
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Oh yeah... Belgian isn't a language.
Me = smart.
(How I wish I could edit my above comment)
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Permalink Reply by Daylah on -
I am actually from Belgium, and even though I am not in the country I can tell this was a very big thing.
But personnally I dont think the drunkness was that bad. I mean, everybody should be allowed to let go sometime, though if you are a public person, representing a country, you maybe should consider doing it more privately. Maybe he thought he could get away with it being out of the country and was just really unlucky that Natalie was working there.
However, the fact that he was on a trip payed by the people that had no purpose at all (he was supposed to have meetings there but all his partners were in Geneva) , is unforgivable ! I know these kind of trips are pretty common in the goverment, but it doesnt make them anymore wrong
Using his power to get that waitress fired is also not done at all for me, its not like he gains anything with it.
But if I were in that girls place, I would have blogged about it as well.
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Permalink Reply by Maxie on -
I haven't read the actual article, but I think that once you start to name names on your blog then you should be held accountable for it.
It's one thing to bitch about your boss but not say where you work or who it is. If I got fired for that I'd be pissed because really-- who is it hurting? But if I were to say I work at XXX and today I waited on XXX and they did this... well that's just asking for trouble.
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Permalink Reply by Mindy on -
Completely agree. It's the details that get you into trouble, not necessarily the vague issue or context you're presenting. Once you toss in where you work, what you do, who you fraternize with, etc., you ought to be held responsible for putting something on your blog that may taint that company, its employees, and so on.
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Permalink Reply by mom in real life on -
I will offer my services to all that want to gossip. Number one advantage of being a stay at home mom is that I can't get fired. So tell me what you saw and I'll post it on my blog. Once I get as famous as Perez Hilton I will start paying you.
Deal?
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Permalink Reply by Princess Pointful on
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I'm sure your readers would be thrilled by such hot gossip as "Girl in Canada thinks her boss is being a douche!"
Deal!
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Permalink Reply by mom in real life on
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It beats my posts about how I think my neighbors across the street are stealing newspapers....
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Permalink Reply by Princess Pointful on
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You are the local crimewatcher. It is very serious business, you know.
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Permalink Reply by mom in real life on
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I think of myself as that nosey neighbor on Bewitched;
"Dan! There is something weird going on at Samantha's house again!'
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