From the sphere of clueless bloggers, a former Boston Herald sports reporter mistook a sports journalism blog for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and, thinking it acceptable to drool over women, described his lust for one of his students. The result? He lost his gig but not his delusions.
You'd think a guy would be more humble after losing his job in May when the Boston Herald had a string of cutbacks. That was a message: You are good, but not good enough. After either 18 or 17 years, depending on which source you want to believe, (The Washington Post or Editor and Publisher), one Michael Gee was celebrating his new gig, a part-time teaching position at Boston University, by letting fellow bloggers at www.sportsjournalists.com, know about his six students.
"Today was my first day teaching course 308/722 at the Boston University Dept. of Jounralis (sic). There are six students, most of whom are probably smarter than me, but they DON'T READ THE PAPER!!! Not the Globe, Times, Herald or Wall Street Journal. I can shame them into reading, I guess, but why are they taking the course if they don't like to read. But I digress. Now here's the nub of my issue. Of my six students, one (the smartest, wouldn't you know it?) is incredibly hot. If you've ever been to Israel, she's got the sloe eyes and bitchin' bod of the true Sabra. It was all I could do to remember the other five students. I sense danger, Will Robinson."
Perhaps his students didn't read the paper, but someone reads blogs. According to Joe Strupp in his E&P article, someone reported the blog entry to a university publicist who then informed Bob Zelnick, the chair of the journalism department.
Even when fellow posters on SJ warned Gee, according to the Washington Post's Robert MacMillan, Gee didn't get it.
"Congrats on the gig and the proximity to a hottie, but be careful. Not with her, but with this site. She or your bosses could Google your name and the university at any point and find this thread."
To this Gee glibly replied,
"Dear Folks: I suppose I should be flattered that many of you think this gorgeous woman who's half my age would consider having sex with me. Which, if I have any news instincts, she won't. My problem is losing my focus when I meet her to-die-for eyes."
According to Strupp's article, the copy of Gee's posting with news of his firing first appeared on another Web site, www.bostonsportsmedia.com.
Article comments
1 - RJ
It's a tough issue.
For example, there are several women where I work who are rather attractive. Should I never mention that on my own blog?
And if I do mention it, am I just asking to be fired for "sexual harrassment" or some such?
2 - Tan The Man
I always use pseudonyms for the girls I describe.
3 - Dave Nalle
>>I always use pseudonyms for the girls I describe.<<
If your descriptive skills are any good, how would that help?
Dave
4 - Eric Berlin
I try to be as vague as possible about my profession / paying gig(s) in the blogging world, just to be on the safe side.
5 - alpha
I am only just learning the power of the net and its dangers. It can also be used to strike at you by showing that you have written something (almost anything) not offically approved of. Your local enemies and the government can both get together to exert control over what is published.
6 - Purple Tigress
To answer RJ's question: You should first see what your company's policy is on blogs. As I previously noted in another article posted here, people have been let go for things written that were not work related but made his co-workers feel uncomfortable. The person in question was a vendor/contract employee.
As for describing people, when I copy edit, I weigh whether the description of the men and women are equal.Oddly enough, I rarely find men describing other men as attractive or handsome and for this reason, the women should also not be so described.
I have to also add, that if you use the word "girls" to describe someone over the age of 18, you are already in trouble. Same goes for describing minority males over the age of 18 as boys. Certain circumstances are exceptions, of course.
Sexual harassment is continued or continuous directed unwanted attention that creates a hostile environment.
The person in question, Gee, was obviously clueless, even after being warned by fellow bloggers--all male. How much more clueless was he when similar patterns of behavior offended women?
I, personally, do not feel the need to describe attractive men in my blog.
7 - Temple Stark
In my experience sports writers are exactly like this. Borish, yes. Most of the ones I've known however, don't go the extra stumble and post about it on the Web, saying how attractive and f***able the star women's basketball player is.
(And for the record I have no idea in my city who the star basketball player is and couldn't name one of the players on the boys or girls teams. CYA, and true)
8 - Mark Sahm
I see no literary merit in oogling over attractive women on your blog, unless you're working for a modeling agency or something close to that. I love the female form as much as the next guy, but it all stays in my brain. That's what fantasies are for, eh?
9 - Joe
I've actually had a very similar experience at my former job. Never in terms of sexual attraction, but mentioning your boss negatively in any kind of online public forum can and will lead to your boss trying to find a way to can your ass. Kinda sucks.
10 - Cerulean
I've said it before: If you want to write honestly about your lusts and who your hatreds, you'd better change everyone's name and obscure every detail. Otherwise, you're looking for trouble.