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Haik Bedrosian
Member since Jul 5, 2017
Recent Comments
Re: “India House Closes; Equipment and Building Available”
Nothing about the owners and why?
Posted by
Haik Bedrosian
on 11/21/2019 at 8:36 PM
Re: “Cop on the Tweet: Chief's Social Media Posts Draw Criticism”
My response to this article:
http://www.burlingtonpol.com/2017/07/dont-bring-gun-to-flame-war.html
Excerpt from my comments to the city council:
First: the police should always remember that any tweet, comment, message or emoji they send from a police email or social media platform carries the full authority and power of their position and that they represent not just their own point of view, but that of the police department and the city of Burlington. Any officer , including and especially the chief carries his badge and his gun into any online social media debate he gets into, and as such it should be *assumed* approaching a stranger online for any reason can be intimidating to that person.
Second: to the extent possible the police should avoid getting into online debates with people about anything. The police exist to protect people's freedom of speech, not argue with them about it from their own personal point of view or even from the point of view of the department.
Third: based on the premise that an officer of the department, speaks for that department and the city when engaging in social media, the preservation of what that officer says and posts for the record becomes a matter of public interest. It is therefore advisable that to the extent possible the police limit their online engagement to the media platforms they control and can preserve for the record, such as their own Twitter, Facebook and web pages... Or perhaps to those connected to a commercial media entity with a physical address like the free press or Seven Days... But avoid engaging on citizens personal Facebook, Twitter etc, because that person will be free to change or delete what was said. That person may also not welcome it and find it extremely impolite and intimidating.
Posted by
Haik Bedrosian
on 07/06/2017 at 2:28 AM
Re: “Cop on the Tweet: Chief's Social Media Posts Draw Criticism”
There is no legitimate business purpose for the chief to leave comments on an *individual's* page. The only practical effect is to intimidate the person out of their freedom of expression and that is completely inappropriate. It's very difficult to believe intimidation is not the goal.
Posted by
Haik Bedrosian
on 07/05/2017 at 1:08 PM
Re: “Redacted: How the City of Burlington Keeps the Public in the Dark”
This is very valuable local journalism.