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Would-be NASA intern loses gig after vulgar tweet to NASA alum Homer Hickam, reports say
A woman may have lost a highly coveted NASA internship following a profanity-laced back-and-forth with a user on Twitter. That user? Famed former NASA engineer and current space council adviser Homer Hickam.
The exchange, reportedly captured in screenshots that rocketed across social media, began when a user identified as Naomi H. (@NaomiH_official) made an announcement to the world: "Everyone shut the f--- up," she tweeted, Newsweek and Buzzfeed News report, citing images of since-removed tweets. "I got accepted for a NASA internship."
After a Twitter user notes Naomi's "language," Naomi replies with a sexually vulgar tweet not at all suitable for publication. "I'm working at NASA," Naomi concludes. The user Naomi told off is Homer Hickam, the former NASA engineer and inspiration of the 1999 film "October Sky," based on his memoir. "And I am on the National Space Council that oversees NASA," Hickam replies, referencing his appointment to the advisory group earlier this year.
[...] Hickam said he takes no offense at the 'f-word,' but sought to warn her that NASA might. And while Hickam did not seek to influence the internship and had no authority to do so, according to the post, use of the NASA hashtag later alerted the agency to the irreverent tweets.
[...] Hickam later wrote about the incident on his blog, saying he had nothing to do with her getting fired.
“I'm a Vietnam vet and not at all offended by the F-word. However, when I saw NASA and the word used together, it occurred to me that this young person might get in trouble if NASA saw it so I tweeted to her one word: "Language" and intended to leave it at that.
Soon, her friends took umbrage and said a lot of unkind things but long after I was gone as I immediately deleted my comments and blocked all concerned.
Later, I learned she had lost her offer for an internship with NASA. This I had nothing to do with nor could I since I do not hire and fire at the agency or have any say on employment whatsoever.
[...] Naomi eventually reached out and apologized to Hickam. After the conversation, Hickam had kind words to say about Naomi. He also said he would help her find a better position.
She reached out to me with an unnecessary apology which I heartily accepted and returned with my own. After talking to her, I am certain she deserves a position in the aerospace industry and I'm doing all I can to secure her one that will be better than she lost. I have also talked to the folks that had to do with her internship and made absolutely certain that there will be no black mark on her record.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by tangomargarine on Thursday August 23 2018, @08:57PM (15 children)
Not really sure this is the lesson they want to be conveying...more "you done fucked up, better luck next time somewhere else", less "but that's okay, we'll hire you anyway."
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:15PM (9 children)
Remember, if you are a furry or a feminist, you can be as disrespectful and vulgar as you like, and get promoted for it.
Hickam is just trying to head off unwanted SJWs winging at him. Now he is the one that is scrambling to get on his knees before his masters.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:18PM
And he has deleted his twitter.
Hey, look who the bullies are now.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by VLM on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:52PM (4 children)
He's white knighting, LOL. Should be on THOT patrol and tell her she'll never work in the industry again. If the intern were a male, like Ethanol Fueled, perhaps, things would actually be enforced rather than glossed over.
Also unlike Naomi, Ethanol fueled would have at least been entertaining.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @10:42PM (3 children)
I thought the exact same thing, that he is being a sissy-cuck-white knight. I wouldn't hold a grudge against her, but definitely not help her get a better position when she was an ass.
Plus what does this teach others? That you can be a rude selfish vulgar jerk to complete strangers, suffer no consequences, and in fact be rewarded.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @02:43AM (2 children)
Worked for President Trump.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @03:25AM (1 child)
Quick, subpoena him to congress, make him invest $100k in legal counsel, and then perhaps indict him for felony picking up a seashell in violation of any foreign law, then lying about it, or both!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @03:57AM
I guess I parsed GP's words differently than he had intended, but the game is that anyone willing to work with Trump will be dragged into the meat grinder of politicized justice. Besides possibly getting fucked over by Trump too.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @10:20PM (2 children)
Yall are crazy. Crazy crazy crazy. She lost the internship but then "Naomi eventually reached out and apologized to Hickam. After the conversation, Hickam had kind words to say about Naomi. He also said he would help her find a better position."
Some people respect others that are able to admit they are wrong and demonstrate they are actually good people. You wackos can never admit when you're wrong and believe in the nuttiest versions of reality spoon fed to you by Alex Jones and a bunch of Russian trolls.
I almost feel sorry for you lot but then you open your mouths and spout off the usual bigoted horse shit, and poof my conscience is realigned.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @10:41PM
Still their are those, like this guy, who want to suck dicks and balls. Troll harder!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @08:26PM
This person didn't "admit that they were wrong" until they found out whom they were talking to and the fact that it cost them a great deal in life.
Perhaps go back to square 1: don't be an absolute asshole in the first place. The lesson should be that you can _not_ lash out without regard for others.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by krishnoid on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:25PM (2 children)
Sounds like he considers aerospace industry as a meritocracy. I'll bet he's also heard much worse through his military and professional careers, to the point where the language used was more a faux pas than a shocking incident.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:53PM (1 child)
Here is the 'reality' of the world. Piss off the wrong people and no amount of 'know how' will get you that job. Everyone likes to pretend they are in the upper 1% of the 1% in smarts. But if you are a complete ass and can not get along with others even before you start the job, that job is not going to happen. It is best for everyone involved that you do not get it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @03:28AM
Not being radical enough in SJW dominated orgs can get you PNGd in your entire industry.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by TheGratefulNet on Friday August 24 2018, @01:13AM (1 child)
college age is still very young. why have someone be punished for something so stupid, when you can forgive and she'll have learned her lesson well enough.
the whole thing could be made into a big positive, depending on how you handle it.
they used to call it a 'teachable moment'.
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
(Score: 2) by black6host on Friday August 24 2018, @02:34AM
Young? Yes. The best time to learn such a lesson. A lifetime to not make the same mistake. If she were to do this when she was later in her career the consequences could have much more weight. Wish I had learned, when I was young, what I know now. And some of the best lessons we experience in life are accompanied by great sorrow. Still, I don't regret learning from those lessons.