To write “Gee posted these remarks to a message board at yaddayadda.com” does not carry the same weight as writing that Gee was fired “after sharing inappropriate thoughts about a student on a blog.”

(I do appreciate that it’s “a blog” and not “his blog” – there’s one subtle step of understanding there.)

There’s a stigma brewing here, and it’s that blogging will get you in trouble, especially if you’re an educator. Recall the Chronicle of Higher Ed article from earlier this month.

I don’t think it’s defensible to start using one format as shorthand for “everything written on the web.” Gee is not a blogger. He’s a guy who posted something stupid to a message board. I think there’s a difference.

The communication was still made public, board or blog – no matter.

Wasn’t the message board a predecessor of the weblog?

The point I was making in my posting was that this guy’s behavior was inappropriate when it became public. His immature musings cast a nasty cloud on what I found to be a rather healthy place for discourse and learning.

I am not overly concerned or interested in arguing over the format of the communication, but rather I am sincerely invested in what the implications and consequences of this action might mean to educators.

Being one of the bloggers concerned, I have to say fair fisk and will acknowledge the error. Still, it was stupid, crass and unprofessional – if you’re going to drool over your students, go for the low-tech solution of a diary and a desk drawer with a lock. Jerk off, if you must. But just try keeping it to yourself.