Top 12 Incredibly Stupid Things People Have Done on Facebook
By IzzyM
Millions of people sign into Facebook every day using their REAL NAME, with their REAL DATE OF BIRTH and many other personal details including what school they attended and in what year. In fact, Facebook themselves demand you use your real name to sign up for an account. The newly launched Google+ has already kicked off 1000s of new users for not using their real names.
The authorities LOVE Facebook!
They can track just about anybody on the whole planet through Facebook. Even if you are not a member,the chances are that you have family and friends who are. Don’t they ever mention you? You’re sure you’re not tagged in a photo from a night out?
It might seem unbelievable, but the number of people who lose their common sense when they use Facebook is incredible.
#1 incredibly stupid thing to do on Facebook - lark around while you are a police officer on duty, then post your snaps on Facebook
The police themselves are not infallible. They are human, just like the rest of us, and maybe just because they ARE police officers we expect a higher standard from them.
That is why we find those photos, posted on their personal Facebook pages, and taken during working hours, to be incredibly stupid, especially considering this particular police force have to deal with being in charge of an area with some of the worst crime rates.
These are all Metropolitan police officers attached to a London Burgh, and all faced disciplinary action afterwards.
#2 incredibly stupid thing to do on Facebook - befriend an accused when you are a juror!
The woman juror who decided to befriend a witness for the defence during a high profile drugs trial.
Joanne fraill, 40, from Manchester, England, was sent to prison for 8 months for befriending defendant Jamie Sewart, 34, on Facebook, causing the collapse of a high profile drugs trial which up to that point had cost taxpayers £6 million ($8m).
After hearing of how Fraille had passed on information about the trial to a defendant while the case was ongoing, the judge discharged the jury and the case collapsed.
In a separate trial, Fraille admitted befriending the accused because she felt "empathy for her". She was charged under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 for revealing details of the jury's deliberations, and also of researching the internet for information about a defendant whose case she was a trial juror at.
She was jailed for 8 months, despite having an exemplary previous record, while the defendant, Jamie Sewart was only handed a 2 month suspended sentence for her part in the Facebook conversation.
Fraille was only caught because Sewart reported the conversation to her lawyer, the following day.
In the UK, members of the jury are picked at random from the general population from among those who have exemplary criminal records. Jury duty is compulsory, and jurors are repeatedly warned not to discuss ongoing cases with anybody for fear of disrupting a trial.
To contact a defendant in the trial via Facebook is an astonishingly stupid thing to do.
#3 stupid thing - admit a crime (and a serious one at that) - to the victim on Facebook
John Ssewagudde, an illegal immigrant, was convicted at the High Court of rape this week after messaging the victim on Facebook admitting his crime.
"I admit it. I raped you." He said on Facebook. When those words were shown to the jury during his trial, in which he had pleaded not guilty to rape, he was found guilty and sentenced to 4 years in prison.
He is now fighting deportation from behind his prison bars, by seeking asylum, saying that if he is sent back to his native Uganda he will be stoned to death for being GAY!
What gay man rapes a woman you might ask?
Read more on this case on the Daily Record.
#4 post indecent images of children on Facebook
John Huitema, a 37 year old Dutch national living in Britain, had his sentenced deferred for six months after pleading guilty to child assault and possessing or making indecent images of children after uploading vile images of his activities to Facebook. Among his victims was a 2 year old girl. His two Facebook profiles were by the name 'Benwwantsit' and “Barrywwantit.”
While uploading child pornography to Facebook is incredibly stupid, knowing that it will be lucky to last 5 minutes there before someone reports it, I have no sympathy for sick twisted individuals such as this, and have in fact posted his full name, as reported in the newspapers, as well as his Facebook names, so that we can all keep an eye on this pervert.
#5 the most stupid craze yet - Planking - and on a railway line!
A 14 year old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons was found guilty in court of ‘trespass’ after posting photos of himself ‘planking’ on a York (England) railway line.
Sentence was deferred for good behaviour.
"Trespass" really just means he was on property that did not belong to him and where he had no right to be.
You'd have thought he would have known that before he posted his photos on Facebook for all the world to see!
#6 - Plank when you are police officer on duty
This unnamed Bermuda female police officer got caught up in the planking craze when it hit the island, and posted several photos of herself on Facebook.
Obviously she never took the photos which showed her planking on a police car, on a trash can, and top of a gas pump as well as an emergency police car with blue flashing lights.
All while in full uniform!
As the photos are long since removed from Facebook after Police Commissioner Michael De Silva got involved, i was only able to source one image.
#7 don't become a serial attacker while you have a Facebook profile
Scott Simmonds, 22, got him come-uppance when a court sentenced him to 10 months for a series of vicious unprovoked street assaults. One of his victims identified his attacker through his photograph on Facebook.
He had committed 6 offences within a 10 week period, randomly attacking strangers in the street, but he really picked on the wrong one when he attacked stranger Barry Machel as he waited at a bus stop.
Machel went home and scrolled through everyone from his home town on Facebook until he came across Simmonds. He promptly informed police.
Did you think he forgot he had his photograph on Facebook for all the world to see when he commenced his criminal activities? How stupid can you get?
#8 Don't post photos of yourself imitating a postman delivering a parcel bomb
Student Lee Dunlop,22, escaped a jail sentence after posting a photograph of himself dressed in a Postman Pat’s outfit and holding a package addressed to Glasgow Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Facebook.
He posted this just one week after two men were charged with sending explosive and hoax bombs to Mr Lennon.
This guy is just a numpty! Might have his idea of a joke, but not very smart in view of the seriousness of the letter bomb incidents which must have been extremely distressing.
The offending photograph is still on display on the web, so apologies go to Mr Lennon for re-opening old wounds.
#9 Don't try and defraud an insurance company and then post photos on Facebook
Graham Loveday, 55, was jailed for 9 months after posting photographs of himself and his wife, Susan, enjoying a camping holiday in Italy, on Facebook.
Mr Loveday had previously claimed a six figure sum from insurance company Acromas after being involved in a road traffic accident with their insured client, Edward Neild.
Lorry driver Loveday had claimed in court that he could no longer drive, was wheelchair bound, afraid to leave home and that he had had to give up his hobby, caravanning.
Insurance investigators watching his house covertly, watched as he effortlessly lifted his twin-axle caravan to attach it to his 4 wheel drive Landrover, prior to both Loveday and his wife leaving for a six week vacation to Italy, via France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Loveday then eased their workload by uploading all his vacation photographs to Facebook during his trip.
After his return, he signed a statement at his solicitor's office saying that he had been unable to drive and that the couple had actually flown to their destination and back, having used the airport's wheelchair service for disabled people.
Did he think all those photographs of himself and the missus on their caravanning vacation complete with photos of the caravan and his Landrover would not be seen?
This just beggars belief that anyone could be so stupid!
In addition to Loveday being jailed for 9 months for Contempt of Court, after being found guilty of lying to the court a total of 14 times, his wife Susan, who had backed up his statements, was given a six months suspended jail sentence.
#10 Libel a hospital when they misdiagnose your illness
Indonesia woman, Prita Mulyasari, emailed her friends to say that her local hospital had misdiagnosed her illness.
They diagnosed Dengue Fever when in actual fact she had Mumps.
One of her friends posted her complaint on Facebook, with the result that her local hospital sued her for libel.
In a case lasting 3 years and subject to media attention, she was finally found guilty and sentenced to a six months suspended jail term by the Indonesian Supreme Court.
#11 Don't solicit young girls for sex on Facebook when you are a professional footballer
Professional footballer Craig Thompson,20, groomed several young girls for sex on Facebook.
Despite knowing that one was only 12 years of age, he asked her to expose her body online.
To the other, aged 13, he engaged in chat of a sexual nature and sent photos of his private parts. He was found guilty of lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour.
Despite being a talented footballer, Craig Thomson is obviously not talented in the brains department, as his professional career now lies in ruins.
He was sacked by Scottish Premier League side Hearts of Midlothian after public pressure was applied.
#12 Incredibly stupid discussion - Your boss's shortcomings
In Australia, a group of 5 prison officers have gone to court to fight for the right to complain about their boss on the internet.
Now known in Australia as The Facebook Five, their jobs are on the line after they opened a private Facebook page to discuss not only their boss, but their general working conditions.
They discussed the short-comings of their boss in less than glowing terms, and are now threatened with dismissal over their comments.
Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham, their boss, is reported to be less than amused.
It is unclear how prison bosses gained access to their discussion.
But, would you be happy with knowing that anything you have described in a 'private' Facebook page could be seen by whoever you choose to discuss?
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Comments
Great stories! Lately it feels like there's a growing resetnment towards FB from all sides. It's not that Facebook is bad; FB is only a reflection of humankind: there are villains, fools, perverts as well smart, caring and lovable people; like in real life.
It is amazing how incredibly stupid some people are when it comes to social networking. Thanks for the interesting Hub!
Facebook is only a social networking site, but because it is so popular, it is being watched by the authorities. Everyone it seems has a Facebook profile, so everyone can be traced through it. If you don't want people to know who you are, you have to use a pseudonym, whether Facebook or Google+ like it or not.
I have to agree with what everyone's said before, I see some extremely stupid things on face book all the time.
Good article! #6 makes me think about how much information some people give out on FB about themselves and the children in their family. People don't realize that by skimming a person's info page and going through their posted photos, creeps can glean a lot of information about how to find someone - and their kids. What school did you go to? Where are you employed? Photos of the sports team, class mates, favourite toys, playgrounds, etc. Scares me how much information people share with 600 million strangers...
Oh! ... I have a #11 for you: Don't create a FB account under your dead Grandmother's name using her photo and then send friend requests to the family. Yes; I've had it happen to me :-s
Unbelievable! Sometimes people do really stupid things, indeed. :) Very interesting hub!
Or there was the guy who posted racist and sectarian comments about an international footballer. Police trawling the site came across them, got his name, date of birth and the school he went to from his Facebook profile, and went round and arrested him.
Great hub! That just goes to show that some people don't think twice when before doing anything.
I thought this would make me laugh - but actually, I feel bad for these incredible dummies and it isn't really good to laugh at their expense. However, this is a useful hub and I will remember not to make these particular mistakes - will probably come up with some of my own, though! good hub, Izzy
We recently had a family member post an awful remark about another family member. She has been cut off from the family because of what she did. How sad that someone could do such a thing. Another problem is pictures being posted that you would rather have no one see but your friend post every picture she gets her hands on.
I enjoyed your hub.
Great, interesting and really serious hub. FB and perhaps all social networking sites give a false sense of absolute privacy when indeed it's almost like standing on top of a pillar in a public square screaming your most private thoughts, feelings and many times, actions! It's amazing how anyone in this day and age can possibly think any 'part' of the internet is private 'domain'. We all get careless once in a while but when there is a criminal dimension to people's personalities and yet they get careless on FB and other like sites, then I'll say nemesis!
Good work! It was both interesting and thought-provoking
Thanks everyone for reading and commenting :) It is a really serious issue and people need to be reminded of just how open Facebook actually is. Not much, it seems, can be hidden, so watch what you say and do.
wow that is incredibly stupid, yet quite amusing :)
Oh my goodness how can these people be so wildly stupid. LOL. A juror befriending the accuser?? Come on now. I guess if you are as stupid as these folks then you are well deserving of the punishments. I've heard of people losing there jobs over Facebook but jail time is a whole another level. Thanks for the entertainment.
Very funny. People are ridiculous! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent article! People sure do some stupid things on Facebook. I really enjoyed reading this.
Great hub! It's really incredible what people are capable of doing, without considering the consequences at all.
I don't have facebook profile and don't have any wish to start it in the near future. So all those things you wrote make me wonder how some people can be stupid.
funny!
One the best, and definitely the funniest, Hub I've read since I joined the site. Very original and beautifully written. I enjoyed every single word from start to end.
These are very STUPID people indeed, not only their actions, but they seem to have no brain at all. From the criminals to the footballer, they should be whipped!
The last one isn't that bad but the previous 9 were pretty stupid.
It amazes me how much people divulge on Facebook
Great hub. Stupidity is infinite and sometimes hilarious :) They not only did one stupid thing, they have also to share it on Facebook to make memorable.
lol, stupid people and their facebook addiction :D
amazing hub!! just shows how people can be ruthlessly stupid and addicted to such sites!! great work! up and funny :)
I'm about _ this close to saying good-bye to Facebook. Yes, people act stupidly and many think they're not going to get caught. Then there are the folks who think that we their friends care what they are doing every moment of every day. Yet those aren't the reasons why I may say ba-bye to FB. I found out yesterday that my private home phone number was posted on my Info wall. This was without my knowledge or consent! Also, many of my friends political posts are being collapsed instead of being shown like all the others. As well as a post telling me so many of my friends have been posting about a particular politician, with a link to said politicians FB page! Now keep in mind, not one of my friends has 'Liked' this politicians page. I see bias where there once was none and I'm not liking it.
have you not seen Catfish, fellas!
This is an eye opener, just goes to show, you have to be very careful what you say and display on the internet. This hub was very helpful and scary. Is big brother out there?
People have lost their minds on Facebook. People have no boundaries. I will not let my kids have a face book page. Face book owns you and those photos. If you would not say it to someone in person, why in the world would you want everyone else to know. You can lose a job over someone tagging you. Ugh what if you don't even know the photo is taken.There needs to be better safeguards.
Fabulous.
Honestly some people have lost their "personal filter" on Facebook. Thank you for posting these! Outrageous!
I have seen people going through a divorce post pictures of themselves doing dumb things or saying something inappropriate that get made when it comes out in court. "That's private!" really? then why did you put it on FB?
great research, wonderful stories and a warning to all those who assume that Facebook is like their own personal journal....think before u write.
It is amazing how people think they are only posting to friends or families. I often think about closing my account, even though I mainly use it for games. Even the games ask to access to your information.
Even befriending an unknown is dangerous. But for the sake of business or pleasure people do so. There are ample instances of misuse which is part and parcel of social network where scrutiny of each and every contact is not possible. So the best thing if you do n;ot want to risk is to stay away.
Wow... I just don't know what to say...
The stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me.
Very interesting hub!
I always see my friends posting stuff when they're aggravated at other people they know. & I've warned several that the courts will find their Facebook and use whatever is on their against them, but nobody believes me!
Well... we are actually using facebook comments in a court case at this time. All need be done is 'print this page'.... Because it is a child custody case, my son is trying to get custody of his daughter he has friends who have given him their passwords (once he was removed and blocked) so he still can view said pages... The mother is choosing drugs over her daughter and her facebook pages will be used against her.
Ah! Life...where is internet going? Well- we cold not imagine ourselves on our "daily grind" without checking on missed calls, or questionable texts, or unsolicited emails- but mostly technology has gone way above taking about 2/3rds of our waking hours absorbed in google,yahoo, and facebook...fb when one checks in, or checks out, or fall out or in.....this article shares beyond what and what not to do when using fb...informative, hub-friendly, great hubber...
I Enjoyed a Lot while reading this
Thanks For this Awesome Hub :)
I just "loved" number 7. How stupid somebody can be. Unbelievable! This hub really reflects how important Facebook in our lives.
Thank you for the hub!
K this is funny. Stupid people do stupid things though, regardless of the medium.
Wow! Is all I can say. Facebook has become "Spacebook" for some, eh? Lol, how foolish and I guess it goes to prove that instant karma's gonna get you. Good hub!
I can't believe how stupid some people in this world are! This was a great read. Loved it immensely and thank you for posting it.
Thank you for the hub!
It's so true the stupidity people do on facebook is incredible. It is completely juvenile and is breeding a whole new generation (young and old)of stupid people doing incredibly stupid things incapable of any real communication. Facebook is not the only social site for this kind of behavior, there are others as well.I Totaly agree with jseven instant karma is gonna get you. Loved this article thanks for posting.
Thankyou for sharing this collection of silly goose stories. It still surprises me that so many people don't realize what facebook is all about. Of course now its a source of comedy for the rest of us! Lol - Great hub, very funny...
I find this extremely interesting, particularly being a worker in the wireless industry. I find it hilarious that people are so willing to post all of their information, whereabouts, thoughts, opinions, photos, etc. for the world to see and especially right from the click of their cell phone. In my opinion, the only silly point your forgot to mention are the applications which allow google to pinpoint your location and post your whereabouts at anytime. Thanks for reminding everyone how important it is to think before you link!
Funny but also quite scary! There was also the case of the young British woman who slagged her boss off on her Facebook page, having forgotten that he was one of her FB friends. Unsurprisingly she was promptly fired!
Wow!!! Very interesting post. Really enjoyed it a lot. thanks :)
Yes CMHypno, I read that one and considered including it, but I could only choose 10 for a '10 Most' type hub. The Australian prison officers story is similar except that theirs was a private exchange, supposed to be. But it still got them into trouble.
This was very funny. Great hub, actually LOL's a few times.
Nice Hub! Very funny and entertaining...it really is baffling how stupid people can be online with what they post on their Facebook accounts
Hi Izzy - I know how good this hub is - everybody wishes they had written it. It is interesting to read all the fascinating stories that people get involved in by posting at this site. I know you are good at SEO and your writing is very organized and entertaining. It certainly deserves a high score. You give good advice for Facebook users. Keep up the good work.
Wow how dumb are these people.
Funny hub. Loved it.
Common sense is something some people seem to have and some need to learn.;)
Outstanding!!!! Also never, ever post that you are on vacation....might as well leave your front door unlocked for any potential thieves! Don't tag everyplace you are, there might be a stalker you don't know about. Thanks for the hub, hopefully someone learns something from it!
It's frightening how unaware people are that everyone can see what they post online. They don't seem to realize that the anonymity is gone when you post your full name and picture.
Great hub. Very funny!
Funny, hub. People confessing their sins to the world.
Thanks for sharing this. I find it amazing how some people seem to forget how to think logically when posting on face book. Informative hub! Voted up and interesting!
IzzyM
This hub made for an amusing read. It is amazing how people don't think before posting on social media platforms. Some of these stupid things have a humorous side to them, like the picture of the cop posing with a banana. That was hilarious! But others which include indecent sexual advances and attempts at child pornography portray the dark side of human behavior.
Nice hub!
Princesswithapen
Yes there is a total mix of things in this hub that people do and have been easily caught for. That is the point though really, whether it is funny, serious, illegal or whatever, people are just plain stupid when it comes to Facebook. It is quite simply not private despite what people think.
Nice hub! Thanks)
This is hilarious... in a "one of my kids will likely do that" kinda way. Shared on FB. (Cause I like irony)
Great stuff - a very enjoyable read. People forget that the Web is accessible to just about everyone, and it has an incredibly good memory. Let these people's mistakes be a warning to others!
Hey thanks you guys! I just found your comments as I never got email notification, but I have been getting a lot of visitors from Facebook in the past 24 hours, so thanks a lot!!
This has been a very entertaining eye opener. I've just wrote an article about funny facebook pages =)
Really funny hub. I can't say that I have ever done of any of these things myself, haha.
Izzy, this is funny (although, like mega, I kind of feel bad for people who are THAT stupid. :) I'm kind of thinking, too, of the teachers, politicians, or professionals who are so stupid they post stuff that will get them fired or otherwise in trouble.
And still they continue to do these daft things. People really need to remember to mark their Facebook as private, or even better, don't post such stuff! Oh and I'm still not getting email notifications about comments here - so sorry I'm late in replying everyone!
Great Hub. The best story I've heard is someone, whilst burgling a house, decided to log on to facebook and have a browse then continued to burgle the house and left themselves logged in to the home's computer.
Spot on hub, brought a good smile to my face. Surprising how stupid people can be.
Had a nice chuckle here, thanks!
Simply hilarious. It's amazing how dumb some people really are. Thanks for the giggle!
This is a hilarious read, thanks for sharing!
I have seen some stupid postings online at facebook but these take the cake. Thanks for sharing them, I shook my head the entire time I read this. Voted up!
What a great Hub? Thanks for sharing! Happy Holidays to everyone!
And the thanks folks for all the comments! I think my favorite one is the insurance fraud- crazy people!
Oh my gosh! These are so funny. When will people learn?! The internet is anything but anonymous.
IzzyM,
I just cannot connect with Facebook but oh, I connected with your hub! Delightful! Voted up and funny!
Wow, this was great! Very humorous too -- my favorite was about Mr. Loveday. What an idiot!
I almost feel sorry for the guy!! If he hadn't posted it all to Facebook, he might have got away with it!
That's true for sake of getting more likes or to make showoff on facebook people post many things.
It is always worth think twice before we click on "Post" or "share" buttons.
Internet makes everything viral in no time if it is something interseting about you it is good but if it is very personal avoid bringing it to social sites. :)
Yes too many people don't seem to realise just what an open platform Facebook is.
Excellent eye opening hub for those not "seeing" what can really be "Seen" on fb!!
Thanks! People from all walks of life have been caught out by not realizing what an open platform Facebook really is.
That's a fact IzzyM! I use FB just to catch up with a few friends and family I don't get to see that often and keep my account private, however that doesn't mean it's a closed court out of preying "eyes".I feel to many think if they have it on "private" all should be ok, but I doubt that very much!
Shawn Scarborough 9 months ago
Great hub, very funny. It is amazing how careless people can be when posting to Facebook.