Ok, I'm back on Facebook. I have joined the enemy. But, in my defence, I lost my cell phone. It feels weird.
Facebook has been at the heart of so much political controversy in the past few years. Politicians use Facebook to connect with supporters on a "personal" level. Did you know Sarah Palin's husband was in a snow mobile race?! Isn't that exciting! I never would have known that if I wasn't her friend on Facebook.
See, even big time politicians fall victim to the narcissistic pleasures of posting life's banalities. It becomes real trouble for politicians when they post pictures from that off the hizzle' cabinet party. Let's take a look at some of the cases raised from irresponsible Facebook and Youtube use from BC's NDP:
1. In 2009, up and coming candidate Ray Lam withdrew his nomination for his riding's NDP leadership. Why? sexually suggestive Facebook photos. I've posted the link below, and I don't understand what the big deal was. Gimme a break, he is just having fun, and clearly everyone in the photos is also having a good time. If these ultra-tame photos can derail a potential bright political career, shame on us for being so up tight.
2. In 2008, NDP Candidate and marijuana advocate Dana Larsen withdrew his name from the riding "West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast". The NDP accepted him as a candidate, fully knowing of his past marijuana advocacy. His real problems started when videos he posted online several years earlier showed him, "lighting a mouth full of joints, taking hallucinogenic drugs and driving while stoned". This does not inspire much confidence in me. I get the whole "drug prohibition doesn't work" shtick but seriously Dana? Driving around intoxicated?
BC's NDP has had copious amounts of trouble from "skeletons" in digital closets. The party has implemented a new policy demanding all potential leadership candidates hand over their Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, passwords. Before a candidate will be chosen, their entire Internet footprint is searched. If some risque material shows up that might embarrass the party, that candidate will not be chosen to represent the NDP. Sounds tough; I mean look at all the photos carelessly plastered around Facebook currently. This begs a lot of questions...
Does a potential political party or employer have the right to search through personal profiles, using someone's password? Not just scanning the profiles from the context of a "friend", but to actually go in and read private messages?
Why do people care so much about lame photos on Facebook?
Why does Andrea Horwath not return my "pokes"???
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