[url]http://www.cnet.com/news/woman-gets-citation-for-innocent-facebook-comment/?ttag=fbwl[/url]
In an ideal world, people would instinctively get your Facebook comments. Second best, your words would at least be interpreted in the manner in which you wrote them.
One woman, however, must have been aghast after she posted on the private Facebook group of the Whalon Lake Dog Park in Bolingbrook, Ill., and was then served a citation carrying a $50 fine by the Will County Forest Preserve District.
As the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday, her post was scarcely the stuff of controversy: "I was feeling bad that I haven't bought a pass and been bringing Ginger there but I'm pretty glad I haven't. So not going to worry about it until later. I hope all the doggies get better soon."
The dog park had been enduring a bout of kennel cough. While the comment might have been read as a message of sympathy, a forest preserve district employee saw the comment and sent it to a boss. Before hiss came to bark, the woman was issued a citation on May 20 for knowingly using a dog park without a valid 2014 permit.
It doesn't appear that any questions were asked of the woman first. Instead, authority smacked her wrist and told her not to be a naughty girl.
The only slight kink was, after receiving the citation, the woman said that she hasn't actually been to the dog park since 2013, according to the Tribune. One might argue that her phrasing had been imperfect. But to reward her with a $50 fine for a Facebook comment without even hearing her side seems a touch officious.
The fine and citation have now been rescinded, said the report. However, the Forest Preserve District's Executive Director Marcy DeMauro told the Tribune: "We treat any information like that as a tip and that has to be verified before any action is taken on our part. We would go to the dog park to see if that individual is actually there and using the dog park without a permit."
Somehow, though, a enthusiast in uniform seems to have obviated such practicalities and simply issued a sanction.
Somewhere in our heads, we know that everything we post on Facebook carries with it the potential of public exposure and complete misinterpretation -- never mind the potential of envy, scorn, trolling, rebuttal, and mocking.
But when the forces of law decide that its interpretation is fact, there's a rum spectacle in the making.
So next time you decide to post: "I could strangle half of Congress for their arrogance," please be prepared to call your lawyer within the hour.
wow really? That's insane
Huh, what an ambiguous sentence
Either felt bad about not buying a pass to bring her dog to the park, but being relieved that there was at least a good reason to not go there after all
or felt bad about bringing the dog to the park without a pass, but being relieved that she didn't buy the pass because of the kennel cough
If you think about it, the second one makes the least sense, so she shouldn't be fined
only $50? surprising
people usually go for more nowadays
There are places where you need a fucking pass to walk a dog? The fuck?
[QUOTE=~ZOMG;44945168]There are places where you need a fucking pass to walk a dog? The fuck?[/QUOTE]
Such is the busy city life.
[QUOTE=Hat-Wearing Man;44944977]only $50? surprising
people usually go for more nowadays[/QUOTE]
50 dollars is chump change in Bolingbrook, its a very upscale town.
I think the fine is BS, but I guess anything you put out there on your public profile can be used against you no matter how petty it is.
[QUOTE=brianosaur;44945264]50 dollars is chump change in Bolingbrook, its a very upscale town.
I think the fine is BS, but I guess anything you put out there on your public profile can be used against you no matter how petty it is.[/QUOTE]
I need to check my privilege then because I never really thought of Bolingbrook as an upscale town.
Also to those saying $50 is outrageous, remember it's a dog park. Some of them charge for entry because they need to pay people to keep the place up. You can walk your dog wherever in Bolingbrook but if you want to go to that particular dog park then you have to pay.
By the way that's a shit title OP.
[QUOTE=brianosaur;44945264]50 dollars is chump change in Bolingbrook, its a very upscale town.
I think the fine is BS, but I guess anything you put out there on your public profile can be used against you no matter how petty it is.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://www.kainc.com/content/Portfolio/1.2.1.2-Bolingbrook-1.JPG[/IMG]
Looks nice enough.
Title made me think the comment itself directly caused the fine. Instead, she's just being charged since she basically admitted to going on the property without a pass, the comment being the confession.
[quote]authority smacked her wrist and told her not to be a naughty girl.
The only slight kink was,[/quote]
What the fuck
[QUOTE=MR-X;44945812][IMG]http://www.kainc.com/content/Portfolio/1.2.1.2-Bolingbrook-1.JPG[/IMG]
Looks nice enough.[/QUOTE]
I live about 20 minutes from Bolingbrook and I can say it's a nice town but that picture gives it a slightly "nicer" look than the rest. That picture is of "The Promenade" where a lot of the strip-malls and fancy shops are right off the 355 expressway. It's meant to to look fancy. Either way, a $50 dollar fine might as well be pocket change for some of the residents.
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