Credit cards and Students

Not a week passes when I don't receive another credit card application.
According to whomever is selling my personal information to these companies, I need to have at least six different cards.
Some of the applications are through banks I've never used. Others are apparently specially selected just for me through the Alumi associations of my university. I'm so glad I spent four years there so they could try to sell me more stuff later in life.

My point is that the economy is not a favourable place to be getting multiple cards as a student. Most of us can barely cover rent, phone bills and pay for food. Who was the wise person who decided to pray on students who are weak in funds and weak in the ability to say no?

I wish that companies and institutions would stop selling my address. Its really getting annoying to see all the wasted junk mail and credit card applications.

the unqueering of ABC television

According to the GLAAD organization, the television network ABC had the second highest number of queer characters in prime time television. Featuring a queer married couple on Brothers and Sisters, and an emerging lesbian romance on Grey's Anatomy, ABC was on the fast track to represent real life with diversity.

http://www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/overview.php

But, a few weeks ago news broke from the Grey's camp that they were discontinuing the romance between on-screen characters of Callie Torres (Sara Raimerz) and Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith). In fact, the network outright fired actress Brooke Smith. According to the creator of Greys, Shonda Rhimes, she was told by the network that she could no longer write for Brooke Smith's character. This news was released just a few days after Proposition 8 was passed in California, banning marriage between same sex couples.

Here's my point and pr related rant.
There are hundreds of blogs and youtube videos dedicated to protesting Grey's discontinuation of their romance. In fact, there are protests and boycotts of Grey's in full force.
The messaging that has come from ABC since it was announced that their lesbian romance was for all purposes, cancelled, has been non-existent. There has been no release from ABC explaining their actions, or attempting to retain their viewers.

In the past, ABC television has been known for having diverse casts and having the most amount of queer characters on their television shows. But in the past few years, ABC has been slowing dropping the number of queer characters. Instead of keeping up with their forward thinking, they've stepped into a backwards slide. Instead of being supportive of the queer community, they've alienated many members.
In the case of Grey's, the relationship between Callie and Erica was a later in life coming of age story. Some women spend most of their married lives, happily married to their husbands. Then sometimes changes internally, and they experience love with a woman. This is the path that their relationship was taking. The network was treated the development of their relationship with tact and respect.
But then something changed. And the word came down from the network to end the relationship. It makes me wonder what exactly was decided that changed the network's mind about this one relationship on one of their shows. Was it that the Mickey Mouse network (ABC is owned by the lovely folks at Disney) were afraid that with the passing of proposition 8 would negatively affect their viewerships?
Was the network aware that people weren't enjoying the relationship? Did Brooke Smith do something that we, the public, were not aware she had done? Clearly it must have been something serious enough to warrant firing.
According to internet rumours, these same rumours that confirmed that Brooke Smith had been fired, also indicate that other members of the cast, including Sara Raimerz are leaving part way through the season in response to their firing. In addition, the openly gay cast mate TR Knight's screen time has been slashed to very little.
Another random fun fact, is that none of the actors involved in this show has publicly commented on the firing. In fact, cast mate, Patrick Dempsey was on Ellen's talk show and pulled out a statement written by ABC. What was read just illustrated that Smith no longer was employed by ABC.
I understand that there is a lot of rumour and speculation about what's caused the ABC backlast and the so-called Brookegate. But let's be real. We are never going to hear what happened behind closed doors.
But here's my confusion. Several years ago, Isiah Washington called his co-worker TR Knight a degrogratory homophobia name. ABC wrote him out of the series in response to the public's distaste. Their mixed messaging between this incident and the so-called "Brookegate" is incredibily confusing.
So in one case, its wrong for one man to be homophobic. But its acceptable for a group of people running a television network to be homophobic.
I, like many others, am not sure that I want to watch where the show is heading. However, with one remaining queer character on Grey's, I still want to be supportive. I want to see how the network impacts the writing of the show and their impact on what actors are brought on.

So, in conclusion, the world isn't fair. Just when you think that things are looking up for one group, another group steps out of the shadow for their turn to get kicked.

Auto Industry Buyout Plan

As you might notice, I tend to follow US politics, in addition to Canadian politics. With the big three automakers in the United States struggling for a variety of reasons, they think that the US government should step in and help them out.

I can understand that an industry that is suffering wants assistance. However, if an organization is failing in their industry, they must be doing something wrong.
The business practices must not be sound. They are clearly not functioning in a healthy business manner. I am all for supporting business, but when a business is failing there are several causes for this.
a. The business is failing because the business isn't listening to their customers.
b. The business is in an industry that is suffering.
c. The business is failing because their business practices are not sound.

If the big three automakers weren't already suffering, asking the US government to help bail them out can only damage their already fragile reputation. Would you want to buy a major product from an organization that cannot support itself right now? Without the stability of knowing that the company can repair and maintain something as complex as a car, people are going to stop buying these cars and turn towards an organization that is going to last longer.

Having the ability to withstand market troubles, stock issues, consumers losing confidence in the economy is what keeps customers coming back to your organization.
I can only imagine how busy everyone at the big three automakers' head offices must be. It has to be shifted into huge crisis mode, especially with the information that one of them could be heading for bankruptcy.
Today is a day to be happy that I'm still a student. Where crises are only one week long, and learning is more how to act in those crises is easier than being thrown into learn when its too late.

the Greening of Catalog City

Environmentalism is allegedly running rampantly through corporations around the globe.
Organizations are asking employees to refrain from printing documents unless its necessary. Other businesses are no longer handing out paystubs, instead opting to email pdf files with the same information.

For example, Mountain Equipment Coop no longer mails out printed catalogs. Instead they email out a notification to check the website for new additions to their catalogs. Partly because of their corporate structure, MEC consistently strives to minimize their foot print on the environment.

But on the opposite side, there are organizations that are sending out an overwhelming amount of catalogs. For example, for the past six months the lovely people at Sears have ensured that each week my household receives a catalog. Each week the catalog is different. A winter catalog, an overstock winter catalog, an Xmas catalog, a bedding sale. The list continues.

With consumers having more and more of a role in the management of an organization's reputation. Rumours about an organization's environmental sensitivity can turn consumers off of their company. In the case of Sears, consumers may not want to receive catalogs every week. Its excessive to think of the costs of printing even one batch of catalogs, let alone enough catalogs for a weekly delivery.

In our current economic crisis it is ridiculus to consider that a company would spend excessive amount of funds on catalogs when other organizations are laying off employees. It seems very frivilious to think about how many cash is going into the recycling program.

How did I get here?

This post is my story. Its the story about how I got to be here. Not literally sitting in front of my computer, as that would be a dull story. Though my progress story may not be as interesting as I intend it to be.

So, like others in high school was thrown into the chaos of trying to pick a career. At the age of 17, I had no clue as to a career path I wished to start down. In fact, I was more confused on whether to pick college or university or trade school. So I did what each of my high school friends did. I applied to both colleges and universities.
In general I'm not outstanding at any particular subject. Some subjects I am better at. Science and math weren't my strong suit. Some of the other subjects weren't helpful in picking a career.
So I applied to five college programs and three university ones.
I had eight options. One of the eight had to come through. Awkwardly, all eight choices accepted me. Then starting throwing money around. I felt like a number being auctioned off to the higher giver of cash.
But in the long room, the highest bidder for me was my best option. I accepted Laurier Brantford's position, their residence room and their cash. For four years I helped build the newly created campus in Brantford into a vibrant community.
When I enrolled at WLU Brant, there were 250 students enrolled, some mature students, most newbies. Now through the campus grapevine I hear that their enrollment numbers are nearing two thousand students.
Last spring I returned for our first annual official reunion. It was amazing to see how many additional buildings had been converted from run down or fire damaged, to fully operational, university running campus. Instead of a run down building, there's now a campus rec complex.
Instead of an old white house, there's a student centre. It was amazing to see how many different infrastructures that my classmates and I requested, were finally being built and enjoyed.

Ah yes. Back on the path. I went to WLU Brant for four years and graduated. My major: Contemporary studies. In essence, I know a little bit about a lot of different subjects. For example, I spent two semesters learning about First Nations people. Two semesters about the environment, its legal processes, its ownership and its historical relevance to specific areas. More relating to my personal enjoyment, I spent a few semesters learning about pop culture and how to create pop culture. The lovely area of branding, consumerism and the creation of culture were just some of the areas I explored.
So then, a simliar problem appeared. What now? I had the same issue as applying for colleges. I was in the same position, except with a few letters after my name. What happens after university? More university or the workforce?
Instead, I took some time off from school. I had been in school in some form for 20 years. I needed a break. So I joined the workforce. And then got fed up and took many different personality testing, skill inventories and what sort of jobs would suit my skills and personality.
Not surprising, but public relations was the second on the list of results.
I applied, and was accepted at Conestoga College.
And that leads me to how I arrived back at college, after the roundabout route.

Thanks for allowing me the chance to re-take the trip with passengers.

Politeness

Politeness is a dying social nicety.
Common courtesy is dying faster than politeness.
Co-workers are barely civil towards each other. I hear the backstabing and gossiping that happens.
Why is any of this necessary? I refer to the gossiping and negativity.

Why don't people say thank you when someone does something nice, like hold open a door?
Where did common sense go? Did we sell it for a cheap price? Can I still offer to sell mine? I know I'm in need for cash, but I don't think my common sense should be for sale.
My common sense sometimes creates more problems when those around me choose not to use their common sense parts. Or just plain forget to think before they act or speak.

How much energy does it take to hold open a door for someone else?
Or thank a co-worker for doing an excellent job?

When did it become ok to constantly interrupt someone who is speaking? Rather, when did it become ok to be so self-absorbed that you don't notice that you continually talk over someone else?
Have we all become so wrapped up in ourselves that we can't take a few minutes to hear out other people's ideas?

In the world of communication and public relations, what kind of message does it send if you can not wait your turn to speak?

This posting tied back to my posting about teamwork far too closely.
It was not intended to do so. I intended to invite people to return to a time when you are polite to everyone you meet. To invite people to be patient.

Thank you. For reading.

US post Election

Its been almost two full weeks since the United States elected Barack Obama into the White House.
I fully intended on posting a commentary on this whole campaign and its results much earlier. However, I wanted to take some time to process everything before commenting.
First, I want to discuss the outcome of the election. Then I will attempt to make sense of some of the propositions that were on the ballot.

Firstly, wow. A first for the United States. I watched some of the election coverage, leading up to Obama's speech. As the cameras panned around the crowds, I was overwhelmed by the passion and emotion that so many Americans were celebrating with. It was refreshing to see how passionate people can be about politics, and the ability to vote for their country's leader.

It was inspiring to see Jesse Jackson crying on international television, on the day that his dreams were realized. Way to embrace change.

But. You knew there was a but coming. There always is. When progress is made for one group of civilly denied citizens, another group gets kicked. It took African Americas 40 years to even get close to feeling equal. 40 years.

I'm still having problems wrapping my head around all of the propositions that were on state ballots. There was one about the use of stem cells for research, one defining when a fetus becomes a person, whether pot should be de-criminalized, on hiring immigrant workers, ending affirmative action, allowing video lottery terminals, and allowing doctor assisted suicide. Each proposition boils down to a moral issue. Is it right to allow doctors to assist with a terminally ill patient's right to choice death? It is right to hire immigrant workers? It is right to use stem-cells for research purposes?

If you've been following the election coverage in the United States, or watch a mainstream news outlet, you know I have purposely not mentioned a proposition that was on the ballot in four states (Arizona, Florida, Arkansas and California). I am referring to the measures of allowing a ban on gay marriage, and a ban on gays to adopt children.

There have been multiple protests across the United States, in each major city in California. There's protesting on both sides. Sometimes at the same location. How challenging that must be for both sides. I'm actively trying to not let myself get personal and emotional in this posting.

For example, in California, their Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage is legal. However, the people of California disagree. In this case, who's right? Who's choice makes same sex marriage legal? Is it the law makers? Or the people who put the law makers into power?

For an inspiring commentary on California's passing of Proposition 8 by Keith Olbermann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOR7LVbdx0
This commentary is incredibly persuasive as it tells a tale of historical marriage legislation.Keith Olbermann's balance of facts, religion and emotion is incredibly inspiring. Its good to know that in the mainstream newsmedia reporters are allowed to express their personal opinions.

(Source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/ballot.measures/)

I tried very hard to not post a rant about the direct impact of the ballot measures. Its hard to not get wrapped up in the emotions that are attached to this issue.

On Novemeber 2nd, Americans voted for change.
I respect the right to vote and express your opinion. I was just sadened by the results.

Nervousness about preparing for public speaking

Sometimes presentations make me a basket case.

This week's Friday presentation is no different.
Except, with just having my group in the room, we're adding a group of first years, armed with questions and another teacher.

Based on the marks in the past, my presentations aren't bad. I need to work on my conclusions (its in the works) and minimizing my rambling. These areas are works in progress.
This week's assignment is a news conference. I've been a part of them in class, but not on this level. Not when I am expected to play the role of a surgeon.
In the last two nights, I have had a nightmare each night about this conference. I have no idea why, its not like I think I am going to fail. I'm more worried about getting asked questions that I won't be able to answer. I've research everything I could possibly about medicine, what it takes to be a surgeon, and our incident. That should be enough.

Deep breathing is everyone's friend.

The thing about public speaking and myself is that once I begin, I am fine. I take a deep breath and then begin. This is my best coping strategy. Actually, my best strategy is just to think about what it will feel like to be done the presentation.

Any suggestions for coping strategies, things you do during the presentation to keep you on topic, or things to look at to keep the flow moving?

Experience

How should I be gaining more experience? I've only been a student in the public relations and communications for just over a year.
What are my best avenues for gaining more experience?
I have the best intentions on volunteering for some non/not for profits, but rarely am I able to find the time to do so. Is this going to negatively inhibit my networking and potential jobs?

I feel like my lack of experience in the corporate world is going to make it harder for me to find a job that I'd like. This irrational fear could just be due to the anxiety levels that are building as the semester progresses.
One positive experience I will be able to use is the upcoming work placement. The anxiety of locating and landing this challenge will be worth the experience it promises to give me.

Infovirus

"Why is information not flowing smoothly?"
(Adbusters, November/December 2008)

As alluded to earlier, I often read Adbusters magazine. Not for the ads, of course, but not the content. Often these articles and photographs are inspiring, engaging and thought provoking.
For example, one recent issue covered the issues involved with cutting through the technological advertisements to find out what the real message is.

In this month's issues of Adbusters, there is a photograph of a young girl sitting in her bed, with her computer running, her television on, her mp3 player plugged into her ears. The tag line of the photograph is "because an infovirus has infected our communications systems".
This tag line is effective because this girl has at least three different devices running and throwing 3 different messages at her. How is she going to remember or even process more than one of them? Further, is the girl even going to get any complete message from either sources?

I feel that this information overload problem isn't going away. In fact, this problem might just be getting worse. As you walk into post-secondary institution, there are ads for every possible event. Walk into the bathroom at a bar, there are more ads. There are tvs everywhere. Some major cities have televisions set up that are able to track you and your purchases. They use this information to provide better products for you/the consumer.

How am I, as a communicator, going to be able to cut through all this extra messenging and advertising? How can we make our positions and documents differently so that our messages are reaching the public? I know that we have tried to be able to reach our consumers and targeted publics. But we need to take a more minimialist approach to advertising so that our publics are being oversaturated.

Dancing around the economy chat

I've been considering posting about the economy and its active downwards sliding. However, I'm not overly sure what to say about it without getting incredibly frustrated or depressed.

Here's my premise. The world's economy isn't doing well very. That's an understatement of the decade. So when large corporations are laying off workers left, right and centre, I would imagine that these same companies would attempt to rein in spending.
There is a delicate balance between maintaining current employee levels and saving for a rainy day. Some organizations are better suited to surviving a recession, such as those businesses who provide a necessary service. Other organizations are more suited towards those times when finances are plenty.

A few weeks ago, I was reading a newsite that was reporting about an oil company's record quarterly profits. In the midst of the United States government bailing out banks all over the map, this company made a record 14.9 Billion dollar profit during its previous quarter.

Let me repeat that. FOURTEEN. Nine BILLION DOLLARS.

This amount of money is more than most mid-sized corporations can only dream of.
Being a student, the idea of 14.9 billion dollars is more money than I will ever earn. Even to have more than a couple of hundred dollars that isn't heading directly for a credit card or loan repayment, is flooring.

I'd like to thank the oil company for keeping their gasoline prices so high, so that they could report to their shareholders/investors that they reported record quarterly profits. How's that for investor relations?
As a consumer of gasoline related products, knowing that a company made record profits would drive me towards a different gas station. I'd rather support an independent gas station than one that owns so many others.

What makes a good corporate citizen?

This week was community involvement week.
What makes an organization a good corporate citizen?
Is it that the organization contributes to local charities?
Is it a short term program that involves giving cash to the local food bank once a year?
Is it that the organization cleans up beside their corporate head office?
These are all small actions that contribute to the potential for a good corporate citizenship.
Does the organization that your organization is supporting have any kind of link to yours? Is the link easy to follow?
There are so many questions to consider when deciding whether the organization is a good corporate citizen. Does your individual advocacy passions, or charitable ambitions closely relate to your organization's?

As a consumer, I expect the organizations I support to go that extra mile. I want these organizations to have common interests with me in the charities that they support. Does this make me a high maintenance consumer? Heck yes. It does.
In the highly competitive consumerism world I can take my business to whichever business better matches my personal agendas.
That previous statement makes me sound like a backroom dealer. But its not true. A professor in my media in a global world class once said, "Everyone has an agenda". Its the most accurate statement I can remember from those four years.
As we're thrown further into the world of communications and public relations, its easier to see that everyone's agenda plays a role. I think that this insight will help me when audience analyzes are required.

Buy Nothing Day

Since November began, I've been thinking that there's an activist day coming that I couldn't remember.
Then it hit me, the end of November marks Buy Nothing Day and Black Friday.
November 28th marks Adbusters' campaign to buy nothing. This year, they are expanding it to be a Buy Nothing Christmas.

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Its this type of collective cross-national/international event that makes me want to participate. Knowing that there are hundreds or thousands of other people who are trying to make a difference in the way the consumer culture works.
On November 28th, Buy Nothing.

Creativity Conflicts

The age old question. How do you create assignments, writing pieces or other documents when your creative drive is put in park?

This is a current issue for me. How do I crank out the numerous assignments that require an attempt to be creative? I don't pretend to have any concrete answers. Some days when there is an assignment is due the next day, I will sit in front of my computer and become so frustrated with my lack of creativity.
According to some, I am a creative person. Most days I argue with these people that on occasion I can come up with random ideas, however when demand comes to supply, the demand never wins out.
One of my suggestions for working around creativity is utilizing a co-worker/friend/colleague/beloved pet/family member for bouncing ideas off of. If there is a specific topic or theme to the piece of writing bouncing ideas off of someone else can create a spark within to drive you towards the finish line.
Based along my personal attempts, this suggestion works sometimes. Often it takes more time to explain the assignment and why you need a creative concept/theme than coming up with an idea.
I don't pretend to have any answers about the lack of creativity. Some days are much better than others. Though currently, I feel as if I am stuck in a slump or a rut. My little monkey that inspires me has decided that being in a coma is a better than plan than being helpful.

It has recently been brought to my attention that a potential reason on why I'm having problems with creativity could be that I feel that the ideas I come up with aren't good enough. I'm going to try to puzzle this suggestion out.
I have an internal drive to do exceptionally well. I want to graduate and find a job that I like in this field. Accordingly, I am putting extra pressure on the already delicate monkey. The need to relax and not put pressure on the creativity maker seems foreign to me.

I have no answers for this. Only several small steps that can attempt to steer me in the right direction.

Team Work

There's a famous statement that is supposed to summarize the ideal of team work.
"There is no I in team".

Each of our teachers promote the ideal that teamwork is abundant in the corporate world. That learning to work within teams is fundamental building block of gaining corporate experience.

Some days I wonder if this promotion of group work is a funny way for the instructors to laugh at us secretly. Or in a sympathetic manner, assist us to learn how to deal with the dreaded difficult co-worker.

To be honest, I understand the need to work in groups and teams. I get that, and I did well in Kindergarten when you were graded on how well you got along with others. But group work on at this level is just as challenging as it was when I was 5.
You've got the similar groups of kids. Those who can't share, who won't stop talking, and those who haven't started talking. What a mess.

I'm hoping that as we aim for the workplace, our goals for our teams will be focusing in the same directions. I hope that at an organization, their goals for the specific teams are the same. I hope that the level of commitment towards a goal is the same.

If not, then its time to return to Kindergarten for a lesson.

Tomorrow's the big Election

Tomorrow's the big US election.
Will it be the Democrats, or the Republicans?

I am not attached to any particular party, even within the Canadian multiple party system. I simply try to get friends and loved ones who aren't informed about the issues and the election to get informed and involved. I'm a hardcore idealist. But very honest about it. I know that my specific vote won't determine the leader of lovely Canada. I'm ok with this, and I know that by encouraging others to become informed, I am doing my part.

Back to US politics. I am, firstly, a humanistic. I want the best for humans. Animals are important, as is the environment, but I want each person to be able to express themselves, feel free to speak their mind (as long as their speech doesn't infringe on someone else's free speech) and live the way they feel most comfortable. According to the political spectrum, I am a special interest group. I want women to have the right to choose, the right to love whomever they wish to, and the ability to earn an equal wage when compared to men.
With the US election in the United States, two of these issues may be hot button topics. For example, Sarah Palin is adamantly anti-abortionist. In California Proposition 8, could take away the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Politicans and leaders of the countries do not directly impact those who control the wages of women.

The way the campaigns have played out gives me the impression that its an US versus Them mentality. You're either with one side or the other. What about the fence sitters? Each side of the fence doesn't seem to be trying to attract the 'moderates'. According to CNN online (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/undecided.voters/index.html), there are at least 5% of voters who are undecided. There is less than twenty-four hours left before voting begins. Shouldn't one side be capturing these voters' attentions?

I should mention communications/PR somewhere in this posting. The message coming out of the Obama-Biden camp is one victory. Isn't this a big pre-mature and cocky? This message has the potential to turn off voters who are undecided. The McCain camp seems rather quiet, instead focusing on the last day of campagning and the swing states. Which method will prove to be successful?

According to many in the US, Obama will bring change. Says who? The media commentary? They may be able to comment on past elections, but if this is supposed to be 'the biggest election in United States history", how do they know that IF Obama wins, there will be sweeping change? Where's the proof? I apologize. I just wrote a Persuasive practices midterm. I want a logical layout, with proof. Don't try to sell me on the leader of the country using emotions. I'm a cold hearted voter and I want proof that the leader is going to do what they claim to want to. Show me the statistics, the facts, the proof. Leave the claims, the emotional appeals to those who will buy what you're selling.

I sympathize with the average United States voter. They want someone who can represent themselves in Washington. I don't think I could pick from either candidate.

Good luck Americans. The rest of the world is watching. Don't screw up.
*kate.

Virgin Atlantic Sacking Staff after Facebook Criticism

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/081031/technology/britain_aviation_internet_company_virginatlantic_1

Virgin Atlantic sacks 13 staff after Facebook criticism

LONDON (AFP) - Virgin Atlantic said Friday it has sacked 13 of its cabin staff after they criticised the airline and some of its passengers on social networking website Facebook.

The airline, controlled by Richard Branson's Virgin group, said the staff's behaviour was "totally inappropriate" and "brought the company into disrepute".

The action follows an investigation into the remarks posted on Facebook, which concerned planes flying from London's Gatwick airport and insulted passengers, as well as reportedly saying the planes were full of cockroaches.

"Virgin Atlantic can confirm that 13 members of its cabin crew will be leaving the company after breaking staff policies due to totally inappropriate behaviour," the airline said in a statement.

"Following a thorough investigation, it was found that all 13 staff participated in a discussion on the networking site Facebook, which brought the company into disrepute and insulted some of our passengers."

It said cabin staff who held such views could not uphold the expected standard of customer service.

"There is a time and a place for Facebook. But there is no justification for it to be used as a sounding board for staff of any company to criticise the very passengers who ultimately pay their salaries," a spokesman said.

Facebook allows users to share photographs, videos and personal information through online individual profiles and groups. It claims to have 110 million users worldwide.


****************
My remarks:
Wow. During our first personal PR class, our teacher searched for some classmates on Facebook and Google. Some classmates were shocked to realize that their pictures of their drunken escapades were viewable by the public or other Facebook members.

This article reinforces the damage that your online personality can do. Even just a small number of unsatisfied employees who are posting their displeasure online can publicly damage the company's reputation and the person's reputation. Imagine going into a job interview and the HR person asks why you left your previous job. You wouldn't want to admit that you were terminated because of your online personality.

But on the company's viewpoint, will this company be seen as very strict and difficult to work for because they terminated employees for their Facebook postings? While the company has a reason to be strict and enforce the company policies that promote an united public reputation, firing employees for expressing their displeasure at their jobs seems rather extreme.

However, according to the news article, the statements made online by the employees were very specific, damaging and misleading towards customers. The employees claimed that the planes were infested with cockroaches. This claim can negatively damage the reputation of Virgin Airline as not being sanitary or properly cleaned. In this case, the comments made by the employees were completely out of line and should not have been made publicly. If the employees were concerned about cockroaches on the planes, they should have discussed it with their supervisors or management.

Additionally, the employees insulted customers. In the land of customer service, and an highly competitive industry such as the airline business, any attempt or successful attempt to discredit or insult customers is a very poor choice. In my first day of working in customer service, my boss told me the key to success: the customer is always right. In this case, customers who are feeling insulted are not going to want to fly Virgin again because of this negativity. Who knows what else the cabin crew has been discussing? There is no place in the workplace for insulting those whose participation pays your wages. Respect them, or they won't use your service again.

Ouch. Think before you post.
*kate*

First Post

Welcome!

If you've made it this far, that means you, as a reader, are either interested in me as a person, or are interested in communications or public relations.

Good luck as you follow me down my path to self-discovery within the fields of communications and public relations.