This afternoon while scrolling on facebook a private local election facebook group I belong to had a very controversial post being discussed. As usual the conversation quickly became heated, and the post disappeared.
People began to question the admin why the post had been deleted. The admin replied that she had nothing to do with deleting the post and that the person who created the post must have removed it.
She then made a public plea for this person to repost both the pictures they had captured of the two people in question, along with her original comments or complaints behind the post, as she agreed that this was a problem that needed to be addressed.
She, the (admin) then began tagging the park district board members trying to get the board members to join in on the conversation saying that she believes all electrical outlets should have a locked cover to stop this misuse of the city's electric and prevent it from happening in the future.
The person who made the post and posted the pictures and comments hopped back onto the page admitting that she did in fact delete her own post after being made to feel foolish for posting the complaint.
Following the suggestions of the admin of the page, the woman reposted both pictures of the 2 people in question, along with a couple comments. These pictures were a full clear unobstructed view showing the identity or faces of both people.
The topic of the post was, and I'm paraphrasing, why are these people allowed to use an electrical outlet to charge their phones? How sick and tired they were of seeing homeless people sucking up free electric off of the city to charge phones they really shouldn't have in the first place, since they are most likely homeless and how they must have acquired free phones from some kind of government handout.
There were a few people who agreed with the administrator of the group about trying to get locked covers put on all the outlets.
There were also multiple people who were both appalled and disgusted over the lack of empathy and understanding for whatever reason someone may need to use an open outlet to recharge a cell phone, regardless of if it is a case of homelessness, or an emergency while out walking etc.
People went as far as researching the cost to charge a cell phone on electric use and the cost was under one dollar for an entire year.
How did we get here? Since when did we become so heartless and selfish? How could anyone deny a few minutes of electric to charge what may be the only lifeline to family, friends or first responders for a person who may be homeless? What kind of a person leads the charge on a crusade of this kind?
Since when did the current administration select or hire the administrator of that election page to be their spokesperson? She often answers many questions directed to the mayor or his administration as if she has been given this authority.
Here are the pictures the administrator of that page asked the original poster of that thread, to repost. This time the difference being, the faces have been blurred to protect their identity.
Can you imagine innocently sitting in a public area, minding your own business and being unknowingly stalked or watched and having your picture taken and then displayed and put on a very public blast by someone who many are under the impression, that represents the city or it's administration, and not even be aware of it? I feel bad for these people and their families that possibly read the comments and accusations and assumptions being tossed around on that page.