{"id":1909,"date":"2011-03-25T12:32:21","date_gmt":"2011-03-25T17:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stager.tv\/?p=1909"},"modified":"2020-07-25T18:59:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T23:59:23","slug":"tell-the-kids-i-stand-with-gilbert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stager.tv\/?p=1909","title":{"rendered":"Tell the Kids, “I Stand with Gilbert!”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gilbert & Me - 3\/3\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yesterday, Wes Fryer published a blog post, Digital Citizenship Lesson from Gilbert Gottfried: The (former) Voice of the Aflac Duck.<\/a><\/p>\n

While I understand Wes’ desire to teach kids (via their teachers) that they should be careful what they say online, I take great exception with the conclusions drawn in the post.<\/p>\n

“…it highlights the very REAL consequences rash words can have, shared on Twitter or elsewhere.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wes suggests that Gottfried’s tweets were “rash.” I disagree. Gilbert Gottfried is a professional comedian who entertains his audience via Twitter, clubs, televised roasts, films, The Howard Stern Show and many other venues. All of this builds his brand and enhances his professionalism.<\/p>\n

“It also brings up issues about professionalism and image, for individuals as well as organizations. Like it or not (and since he was apparently pulling in a six figure income<\/a> for his work, I’d say he liked it) Gilbert was officially representing Aflac.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ok, where to start?<\/p>\n

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  1. Mr. Gottfried has a right to earn a living. In fact, I paid to see him live earlier this month and have purchased multiple copies of his DVD, Dirty Jokes<\/a>, for myself and friends.<\/li>\n
  2. He does not represent Aflac. He is the voice of a duck in its commercials. He is not the duck’s voice in Japan, the subject of his comedic, to some unpleasant, tweets.<\/li>\n
  3. 99% of Aflac’s customers have no idea who voices the duck. In fact, the sort of person who gives their money to Aflac probably believes that ducks actually do talk.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Wes Fryer ends his post by asking, “What discussion questions might be good to use with students for this “teachable moment?” While I disagree that this story is about digital citizenship, here are some of the lessons I might share with students.<\/p>\n