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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: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:02PM (5 children)
Unfortunately, Twitter is part of reality now...
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 23 2018, @09:48PM
The personal and the private are easily confused on a platform like Twitter. Case in point - the tweeter in chief. People using the platform to unwind and shoot the shit get to mix with people using it in a professional capacity; endless drama ensues.
(Score: 2) by SomeGuy on Thursday August 23 2018, @11:40PM
Whose reality? The marketoid's reality, trying to sell you a cell phone, download their free app/malware, and making sure their Tweeter logo appears next to the name of every news anchor on the 5 o'clock news?
Thankfully I see absolutely no requirement for me to ever use the Twitter(R)(TM) web site.
I have to use a car to get to some places, I have to use a (regular) telephone to call some people, I have to use a credit card to pay for some things, I have to send some things via US Postal Service, I have to use the internet to obtain/provide certain information. Not that long ago I had to send a fax. That is my reality. So far I have not seen any requirement for me to use Twatter(R)(TM).
(Score: 4, Insightful) by edIII on Thursday August 23 2018, @11:47PM (1 child)
Only if you accept that to be true. Part of reality? What does that mean? I can't live without Twitter, I can't conduct my daily affairs without Tweeting, Twitter is as important as air? I would argue that oxygen is a reality, water is a reality, eating every day is a reality.
Isn't there something like 25% of America that gets along just fine without most of the Internet (Google/Twitter/Facebook)? So far I've not been required to tweet anything to a government agency, and it simply doesn't come up in my daily affairs. Especially since I eschew marketing of all kinds, which precludes the constant demands that friend/follow somebody. I would never participate in social media for any reason really, and my daily affairs continue to not be impacted by it. All the important events in my life are communicated via other communication platforms.
I'm more upset about the reward cards for groceries being a reality, and that reality is the best prices only come with a suspension of your privacy. The workaround is to share one account with dozens of people, and/or keep shifting accounts.
You say that like I should just give up and get a Twitter account :)
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by black6host on Friday August 24 2018, @02:28AM
It hasn't been hard for me to find someone who wants the "points", or whatever else the stores are shilling. I do agree with you and I'm sure the grocery powers that be (and pharmacies, etc.) are thinking of ways to prevent people from doing that. The clerks don't mind that the name on the screen is a different gender from mine. I might get asked about it but I've never been refused. Hell, it used to be that the clerks would scan their own card for me. And they're the front line right now. Yes, it will change and all your fears (and mine) may come true.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @04:08AM
it's not part of mine except when I see this kind of thing on the news