• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

"Liking" Something on Facebook Not Protected by First Amendment

Another judge that is challenged intellectually by flies. Sadly, I saw this coming.
 
Everyone that "Liked" Mafia Wars is now a criminal. /sarcasm

Although, if a security/intel agency wanted to build a "mentality portfolio" of you based on your likes.... Perhaps it could actually be misconstrued/misused.
 
Last edited:
dirtpoorchris said:
Although, if a security/intel agency wanted to build a "mentality portfolio" of you based on your likes.... Perhaps it could actually be misconstrued/misused.
Click to expand...
:lol: They'd love mine...

"Likes"... bacon, root beer floats, gummy worms, pizza, etc. Overweight. Check.
 
radcen said:
:lol: They'd love mine...

"Likes"... bacon, root beer floats, gummy worms, pizza, etc. Overweight. Check.
Click to expand...

Im sure they would love mine too.

Twin lesbians, Future Weapons, FPSrussia, cat videos, etc. Oddball pervert? Check.
 
Thought I would throw this into the mix. Many people allow others access to their facebook or twitter or whatever social site. Lets say an ex GF or BF or disgruntled friend or family member was to get on someones site and start screwing with them. How would anyone actually know? That can be used as a defense. The person charged with "liking" something can say someone else did it. They may actually be correct with that excuse too. Hard to prove or disprove that. At best the person making the excuse can prove that other do or did have access and could have done it.

Still though, in 1st ammendment cases, I don't know if this truly meets criteria. I think it is more of a privacy issue. If I publically denounce my employers and wish them to lose their job, nothing good is going to come from that. If I had private discussion that was made public without my knowledge or consent????
 
I couldn't even guess how they'd classify me:

cooking, Ikea, baking, Texas Longhorns football, Wii Fit, potato skins, guacamole, wine, state fair of Texas, UT, cuddling, sleep, Dallas Cowboys, reading, "Hey Lebron, How's my Dirk Taste?"
 
I would bet this will be overturned on appeal. They have a right to support the candidate they want, even if that candidate is running against their boss. Are we going to start discharging soldiers who "like" Mitt Romney's Facebook page?
 
tessaesque said:
I couldn't even guess how they'd classify me:

cooking, Ikea, baking, Texas Longhorns football, Wii Fit, potato skins, guacamole, wine, state fair of Texas, UT, cuddling, sleep, Dallas Cowboys, reading, "Hey Lebron, How's my Dirk Taste?"
Click to expand...
Pretty sure your perfect for "model citizen, tax cow".
 
jamesrage said:
Liking something is basically saying I like this or I like that.How in the hell can that judge say this is not a 1st amendment issue?
Click to expand...
One could claim that the employer was undermined, and an employer has the right to hire and fire at will, but... in this case the employer is an elected government entity, which means it squarely falls within the First Amendment.
 
And I inch all the closer toward deleting my Facebook account. Honestly, if I need to apply for jobs, I'll almost certainly delete it. I don't need potential employers snooping through my business, especially if I have no rights to privacy.
 
tessaesque said:
I couldn't even guess how they'd classify me:

cooking, Ikea, baking, Texas Longhorns football, Wii Fit, potato skins, guacamole, wine, state fair of Texas, UT, cuddling, sleep, Dallas Cowboys, reading, "Hey Lebron, How's my Dirk Taste?"
Click to expand...

With Strong Psychosis...

WRECK 'EM TECH

Well, at least we both have the good sense to love football in The Republic.
 
You miss the point of the 1st amendment entirely. ANY boss may fire those that they feel are not helping "get the job done" as much as some random, unknown replacement worker may. A gov't job, like a private job, need not (and should not) be a "job for life". You work at the pleasure of the boss. You certainly have no right to try to elect a new boss (fire him?) that he does not have to replace you. It is insane to assert that employees that don't like the boss, especially when that can be easily proven, are as likely to cooperate and work as hard as they can to please that boss. Note the massive turnover in the federal SES workforce after each election, especially when the party in power changes. You have the right ro say anything you want to, but no right to expect no consequences from that speach. Had the sheriff arrested, or otherwise harrassed them, then THAT would be a free speach issue, but not merely firing them becuase he did not like them, their work habits or their "likes".
 
Last edited:
radcen said:
One could claim that the employer was undermined, and an employer has the right to hire and fire at will, but... in this case the employer is an elected government entity, which means it squarely falls within the First Amendment.
Click to expand...

That is insane. Every time the president changes, especially if the party in power changed as well, nearly the entire SES federal workforce changes, and even with union nonsense a federal worker (or any other worker) is not entitled to a job for life. What recourse does a sheriff (or any boss) have to keep a happy and productive work force? Do you expect the six workers that wanted a new boss to be "loyal" to the existing boss? Perhaps they would prefer to slack off (or worse) to make the current sheriff not look as good in an upcomming election. Think, before you drink, even koolaid.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
That is insane. Every time the president changes, especially if the party in power changed as well, nearly the entire SES federal workforce changes, and even with union nonsense a federal worker (or any other worker) is not entitled to a job for life. What recourse does a sheriff (or any boss) have to keep a happy and productive work force? Do you expect the six workers that wanted a new boss to be "loyal" to the existing boss? Perhaps they would prefer to slack off (or worse) to make the current sheriff not look as good in an upcomming election. Think, before you drink, even koolaid.
Click to expand...
What brain cell gymnastics did you use to extrapolate what I said into "entitled to a job for life"? Can the hyperbole, stay on context, then I'll consider your points.
 
I wouldn't delete/change my FB account for a job. My account is already set to private. You can't find my active account by searching for my name or my e-mail address. Even if you somehow determined the direct link all you'd see is my profile picture and a notice saying you must be my friend to see my info. Friends-of-friends can find my page, but cannot see anything unless I add them to my friends list.

That being the case, I'm not overly concerned with a potential employer finding my FB and using it against me in the hiring process. If they feel the need to waste that much money and time trying to gain access to my personal life then it's their waste, not mine. I also do not reference my employer or attempt to represent them via facebook.
 
tessaesque said:
I wouldn't delete/change my FB account for a job. My account is already set to private. You can't find my active account by searching for my name or my e-mail address. Even if you somehow determined the direct link all you'd see is my profile picture and a notice saying you must be my friend to see my info. Friends-of-friends can find my page, but cannot see anything unless I add them to my friends list.

That being the case, I'm not overly concerned with a potential employer finding my FB and using it against me in the hiring process. If they feel the need to waste that much money and time trying to gain access to my personal life then it's their waste, not mine. I also do not reference my employer or attempt to represent them via facebook.
Click to expand...

Same. I have about 300 people on my fb. NONE work with me. ALL know me personally. The overwhelming majority are family or decades long friends. If someone tried to find me on FB it would be damn near impossible and the most they´d see is a blank profile pic with my name next to it. You cant contact/add me. I´ll decide whether I add people or not and if I do want to, I´ll go looking for them.
 
Lokiate said:
So a sheriff fires six employees for showing support for his competition amidst elections... Those six people are idiots, and the only issue involved is whether or not Virginia state laws allow for this sheriff to fire employees over such conditions.
Click to expand...

The employees are not political appointees, are they? They aren't elected. To require them to support the boss who is an elected official seems to me to be a violation of their rights.

Luckily, we still do have the right to a secret ballot.

For now. Who knows what rights will be chipped away next?
 
Dittohead not! said:
The employees are not political appointees, are they? They aren't elected. To require them to support the boss who is an elected official seems to me to be a violation of their rights.
Click to expand...
Why should he keep them on? They publicly expressed that they are against him in the election. I'd fire them too.
 
Hatuey said:
Same. I have about 300 people on my fb. NONE work with me. ALL know me personally. The overwhelming majority are family or decades long friends. If someone tried to find me on FB it would be damn near impossible and the most they´d see is a blank profile pic with my name next to it. You cant contact/add me. I´ll decide whether I add people or not and if I do want to, I´ll go looking for them.
Click to expand...

Most of my FB friends are family or IRL friends. I have two networking friends and a few people from this site that I spoke with for quite some time before adding.
 
jamesrage said:
Liking something is basically saying I like this or I like that.How in the hell can that judge say this is not a 1st amendment issue?
Click to expand...

Because the 1st amend says the govt cant stop you from saying that you like something. It doesn't stop private parties from using what you say when making their own decisions

However, because this involves political speech, I disagree with this decision. If "supporting their boss' re-election" were a part of the employees job description, I would agree, but its' not
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom