I like this new trend in the internet: calling people out for bad behavior.

Maybe it will inspire all of us to be a little kinder to the people we encounter daily. For so long, it seemed like the internet trolls (aka mean people) were going to be the reality of our cyber world. But lately there’s been a change in the mood.

While the cyber world still harbors mean and malicious people, it’s become a great gauge for behavior in real life. Seriously, people, think before you act rashly, because it’s no longer only between you and the other person. The whole world will get to weigh in on your ugliness. And sometimes the world will weigh in when your behavior is simply questionable.

Doctor Amy Dunbar learned the hard way that a Facebook status update could lead to unseen repercussions. After posting about a rude patient, people were calling for her dismissal from the hospital where she practices. All she did was anonymously call out a rude patient and people went berserk. Hey, if you don’t want to be the person behind a negative status update, don’t be a jerk. Since the update went viral and we all know about it, one of Dunbar’s “friends” needs to be unfollowed.

Hard lessons were also learned by a bakery and a high school teacher/coach. Ill behavior of their’s was called out. The bakery probably lost a lot of business. Luckily the offended customers made out for the better. As for the teacher, if you feel that comfortable making racist and homophobic comments in this day and age, you probably don’t belong in a high school classroom. Heck, in any classroom!

But my favorite story so far is a little old news. A waitress was not given a tip, instead received a receipt with a message: “I give God 10% why do you get 18.” The waitress posted the receipt (complete with the customer’s signature) online. The “embarrassed” pastor of a St. Louis church demanded that the waitress be fired, and Applebee’s complied. So not only did she stiff the waitress on a tip, she also added someone to the unemployment statistics. Plus she wanted everyone at the location fired for everyone seeing what a tight wad she is!

What’s so enjoyable about the above story is the way the internet has gathered together and condemned this pastor. In a thread on Ravelry I learned more about this woman that someone found on line. Information about her church was readily available to anyone doing a little digging.

As for the waitress, I haven’t heard if she’s still unemployed or not. And what she did is questionable since the signature was there for all to see. Personally, I’m torn. The pastor had no problem leaving the message for the waitress, so she opened the door to ridicule. She only added to the fire by demanding the waitress’ firing.

I guess the moral here is to mind your Ps & Qs because you never know who’s watching. The Morality Police, they are everywhere!

What do you think about The Waitress vs. The Pastor? Should the waitress have been fired for her actions?

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