The Big Leak

UP Beauty Online

If someone broke into your house and stole, let’s say, some intimate or naked snapshots, and sold it to Tabloid for mass distribution, would you feel violated? We could all pretty much categorize this as a criminal act, and the ‘blame’ most likely wouldn’t be directed towards you for shooting the sensual photos in the first place. The perpetrators of the initial theft (as well as the Tabloid) would be the ones in the wrong for stealing (and printing) your private property.

So how is this different from cyber criminals ‘jacking intimate celebrity shots off the cloud or where ever they hacked them from recently? It really isn’t any different. It’s simply the modern, current version of the physical theft described in the first paragraph; the social media edition of someone’s, especially if famous, worst nightmare.

In regards to the individuals who were the victimized in this recent hacking and posting episode, why then are they the ones to receive blame in this instance? There seems to be an awful lot of insinuation, condemnation and indifference circulating out there, and I, for one, can’t see a cognitive difference between scenarios one and two.

Are These People for Real?

I picked up comments like, “She shouldn't have had nude ‘pics’ if she didn't want them out in public”, in reading about most prominently, the Jennifer Lawrence situation in a variety of published articles. Really, that’s the logic? And no, I did not visit any of the sites to view the hacked pictures in question as in my opinion, that makes me part of this problem.

And my favorite, an apparent correlation that not only doesn’t make sense as a stand-alone statement, but is even more ridiculous as an analogy to our topic. This from a facebook response to an on-line article heavily weighted towards placing the ‘wrong’ on the hackers, not the famous people who were cyber violated; "You know what's stupid? Carrying money in your wallet. You really need to leave your money in your bank account. 


You are just asking for someone to steal it. Don't blame the person pick-pocketing, they are just trying to make a few dollars like a normal person." (I didn’t list this individuals name on purpose, figuring I’d save her the further embarrassment.)

Huh? What ‘normal’ people do you know that are professional thieves? And how the hell is carrying money asking for it to be stolen? It becomes awfully apparent that one of the real problems of the social media age is that people who have ‘no basis’ being heard on a national stage are quoted at will. And yes, I know I just became a victim of my own criticism, quoting two people who apparently were experiencing a moronic moment, but it was only to make my point here.

Look Better, Feel Better, Live Better

Wow, how much are we in need of some common sense? Maybe there’s plenty of it available, but because of the far reaches of social media we just hear from those without it more and more as opinions gurgle up from the depths of those previously not heard from before. And let me be clear, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and my name calling isn’t exactly nice (although I only refer to the nonsensical nature of what they said, not to them as people), but if you are going to publically make comments that appear to make you look ‘not so smart’ in the moment, then you open yourself up to others comments and opinions.

And, whoa, hold the presses, maybe, just maybe I need to learn to be more accepting of others opinions and thus, less critical. I just found a great quote on social media to finish with that kind of makes me eat crow for my harsh stance. Oh pooh and damn you, Joe Hill, I hate crow.

“Social media is teaching us that everyone (screws) up, everyone is stupid sometimes, and that this is probably part of being a thinking human being. The one exception are those who participate in the self-righteousness Olympics and they often turn people who agree with them against 'em.”                                                                                                                                                      Joe Hill

PS: So I just shot myself in the foot, lol – did you ever have to eat crow before? Tell us. Maybe I need to plan my final quote out in advance next time!