"I promise not to disappoint."
FEB 9 2011, 7:16 PM ET1 Atlantic
While high-minded sorts are tsk-tsking over what former representative Chris Lee's Craiglist flirtation means for the state of congressional marriages, Hypervocal's Slade Sohmer takes the New York millionaire to task for totally lacking any kind of game in his use of Craigslist personals. Sohmer writes:________________________________________
Lee can't be proud of the mistakes he made within the sanctity of marriage, but he should be more ashamed by the following three errors:
1. He used his real name: If the first rule and second rule of Fight Club are both "You do not talk about Fight Club," then the first and second rules of Craigslist is "You're a dumb schmuck who deserves to get caught if you use your real name." Not as catchy, sure, but just as important. The only reason he's on Gawker now is because he didn't either employ a fake name like "Rusty Hardstein" or use a moniker like "CapHillGunShow@excite.com." Christopher Lee may seem like a common name, until you realize that you're a sitting congressman, and that you probably rank higher in the Google search engine than some random college kid from Tulsa or a low-grade dentist from Texarkana.
2. The unprovoked shirtless pic: Despite the fact that for a 46-year-old man Lee's got every right to show off his ripped body, there are two major problems with his shirtless gambit. Firstly, it comes way too early in the e-mail conversation, so early that she even remarked out on it. If her original post called for body pics or cock shots, then it's excusable, but she clearly states "pic for pic only," which usually implies "show me your face and I'll show you mine."
More importantly, if you're going to send an enchanting temptress a shirtless photo over the Internet, don't do so wearing dress pants and a belt while semi-flexing your biceps. It sends mixed messages. There's only one man who could ever pull that off: Patrick Swayze, and he's gone (but not forgotten).
It's also, in my experience, quite difficult to be "relaxing at home," as he says along with the pic, in dress pants and a belt. It screams desperate liar.
3. He is a lobbyist in his fantasy: It's not like she says explicitly that she's looking for a long-term relationship -- in fact, she says she just wants a man who doesn't look like a toad. But according to Gallup's annual Honesty and Ethics survey published in December 2010, lobbyists are found to possess the lowest amount honesty and ethical standards of ANY profession (well, tied at 7% with car salesman). Maybe this lass was just looking for a quick romp, therefore maybe the wealth and power of a lobbyist would come in handy, but he certainly seemed like he was in it for the long haul, a slow play involving casual talk about past dates and divorce. Why would you try to pass yourself off as a man interested in a date when most people think your (fake) job means you're a dishonest, unethical dickbag? You could be rich and powerful without being a sleazeball -- heck, even lawyers and business executives rank higher than lobbyists for honesty and ethics in the hearts and minds of most Americans (ironically, even members of Congress rank higher than lobbyists).
C'mon, Congressman. If this kind of amateur-hour effort is indicative of your legislative smarts, it's a good thing you're walking away from a job that requires some forethought.
June 24, 2009
GUEST VIEW: Teen Internet safety must be a priority
Through the Internet, with a few keystrokes and the click of a button, a young person can call up information for a research project, make new friends or discover new hobbies.
At the same time, responding to what may seem like a friendly e-mail or an appealing marketing offer can have serious consequences. Private information and images can so easily be transmitted to friends and strangers alike.
Indeed, for as much promise as the Internet offers young people in the form of educational resources and social connections, there is great concern about the dangers and unknowns associated with a medium that is growing by several billion web pages per day.
A 2007 study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children documented a number of alarming trends with regards to teen Internet usage. For instance, the study found that nearly seven in 10 teens regularly receive personal messages online from people they don’t know. Sixty-four percent post photos or videos of themselves, while 58 percent post info about where they live. Nearly two in 10 teens say they have been harassed or bullied online.
It is not difficult for parents to feel helpless when their children know more about how to navigate the Internet than they do. This is a challenge communities should confront together.
That’s why I recently helped pass the Student Internet Safety Act (H.R. 780), critical legislation that gives schools the tools they need to educate students on the dangers of the Internet.
Specifically, schools will have the ability to educate students about appropriate online behavior, protect them from online predators and promote the involvement of parents in Internet usage. Preparing families for what they might encounter on the Internet will make it that much easier to stop online predators in their tracks.
This bill achieves these goals at no additional cost to taxpayers by allowing states to make use of existing federal grant programs to develop and implement Internet safety initiatives. What’s more, local schools will have the ability to tailor these programs to their students without intervention from Washington.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has endorsed the Student Internet Safety Act.
Protecting our students is one of my highest priorities. Earlier this year, I introduced the Student Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 781.) Also endorsed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, this legislation would establish uniform rules for dealing with accusations of sexual abuse by school employees and a nationwide database of those convicted of such crimes. Schools should be a place of safety and learning, not danger and abuse, for our young people.
The Student Internet Safety Act represents an important step in our efforts to crack down on online predators, and I will continue to be a very vocal advocate for this measure while it is pending in the United States Senate.
At the same time, responding to what may seem like a friendly e-mail or an appealing marketing offer can have serious consequences. Private information and images can so easily be transmitted to friends and strangers alike.
Indeed, for as much promise as the Internet offers young people in the form of educational resources and social connections, there is great concern about the dangers and unknowns associated with a medium that is growing by several billion web pages per day.
A 2007 study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children documented a number of alarming trends with regards to teen Internet usage. For instance, the study found that nearly seven in 10 teens regularly receive personal messages online from people they don’t know. Sixty-four percent post photos or videos of themselves, while 58 percent post info about where they live. Nearly two in 10 teens say they have been harassed or bullied online.
It is not difficult for parents to feel helpless when their children know more about how to navigate the Internet than they do. This is a challenge communities should confront together.
That’s why I recently helped pass the Student Internet Safety Act (H.R. 780), critical legislation that gives schools the tools they need to educate students on the dangers of the Internet.
Specifically, schools will have the ability to educate students about appropriate online behavior, protect them from online predators and promote the involvement of parents in Internet usage. Preparing families for what they might encounter on the Internet will make it that much easier to stop online predators in their tracks.
This bill achieves these goals at no additional cost to taxpayers by allowing states to make use of existing federal grant programs to develop and implement Internet safety initiatives. What’s more, local schools will have the ability to tailor these programs to their students without intervention from Washington.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has endorsed the Student Internet Safety Act.
Protecting our students is one of my highest priorities. Earlier this year, I introduced the Student Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 781.) Also endorsed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, this legislation would establish uniform rules for dealing with accusations of sexual abuse by school employees and a nationwide database of those convicted of such crimes. Schools should be a place of safety and learning, not danger and abuse, for our young people.
The Student Internet Safety Act represents an important step in our efforts to crack down on online predators, and I will continue to be a very vocal advocate for this measure while it is pending in the United States Senate.
