General Chat

I agree that for some teenagers this is the normal way of expressing themselves on social networking sites and a little bit of exaggeration too for effect and that there are others who would be so squeeky clean, they too would be inappropriate candidates.

The interviewer didn't necessarily get it wrong as it is difficult in the interview process to always hit on the right candidate but I bet she is now kicking herself that she didn't go for her second choice.

I'm backtraching a little on this because I do have some sympathy that this young girl who has now been exposed to a world that she is perhaps not able to cope with and I hope that she will be able to move on and learn from this.

Vera

Some young people were interviewed in the street about her actions after accepting the job, and they weren't impressed with her but didn't look like squeaky clean teens. I think the interviewers have to find a happy medium so that the right person is hired.

Lizx

I wasn't squeaky clean, but certainly didn't brag in public about my clandestine activities.

It’s a shame she had to resign, but it’s probably for the best.

There is another angle to her appointment as a Youth Commissioner – the Police Commissioner said that she wanted someone who would represent the Youth of the County with the implication that they would know what the ‘ordinary’ teenager did, felt, and worried about in terms of Policing.

A squeaky clean candidate would probably only have mixed with other squeaky clean teenagers and would have had little knowledge or social contact with others who had different views or experiences – a bit like the Prime Minister thinking he knew how people on Benefits cope ( or not as the case may be)

It makes me laugh - the media etc go on about teenagers being more 'mature' - and then this!!
They may have all the electronics, shame they don't know how to use them. The reality is, if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, or your mother, don't tweet it! She's admitted to taking drugs underage drinking and hinted at casual sex, on a public forum. What an idiot.
At this girls age, I was working, living in a bedsit and fending for myself.
If I went for a drink, I at least pretended I was 18 :-D

She was apparently asked at the lengthy interview by three people, if she knew of anything embarrassing etc in her past that could discredit her post, and said No so she lied as well. It's right that she resigned and I hope they will try harder with the next interviewees, as they are still going ahead with the post.

Apparently the Police are now looking into her remarks .... what a can of worms this has opened up. Maybe more people will be careful of what they add on fb or tweet, it's a known fact that most employers check these sites now before hiring staff.

Seems the scheme might be rolled out in other areas too, so they will all have to be doubly careful of the person they choose.


Lizx

Well I hope they leave that daft idea at that then........

so she's resigned - right decision

It has just been announced that she has now resigned.

Whenever she posted, I still don't think she looks or sounds right for the job.


I wonder how many people applied for the job, surely there must have been someone better suited.

Lizx

On Saturday night we went to the 18th birthday party of OH's Godson.

Most of the crowd were under 21. 8 of us "oldies"

Everyone had a great time.

Nobody got drunk (no silly drinking games either), nobody used foul language.

These "kids" have all finished high school, some are going to uni, some have their first job.

Kinda scary........ they're a lot more mature and confident than I was at 18.

:-D

We punish bad behaviour but rarely reward good behaviour. And this youngster shouldn't have to pretend to be what she is not.

Young & innocent, she was pitted against the dark harsh world armed only with optimism & shielded by naivety.

she's only 17 now and these comments were tweets were allegedly between 14 and 16, so last year then - not that long ago - to me she seemed totally inappropriate for the job and the person who appointed her will not back down cos she doesn't want egg on her face - before you appoint someone to a job like that you have to investigate thair background fully

It makes me laugh nowadays that people, not just this teenager, are given such high profile job titles. Years ago she would have been employed as some junior and she would have been befriended by someone in a department who wanted some free information.

In the 1960's the local bobby used to call at my flat, knowing that there were lots of young people there and he was simply keeping his ear to the ground. He even called in at my 21st party and mingled, in uniform. The only slip up he made was when I moved to another address,after a few visits he asked where my flat mates were. When I said I lived alone I never saw his heels for dust again..........j.

Don't have a problem with her being *real* but I have a big problem with the waste of £15,000 being paid out for her to have that post in the first place.

The Mail dug up stuff she posted when she was aged 14 - 16 I cannot believe that people here think that's ok.

Also, as someone who works with teenagers, I can assure you that the language she used on Twitter is used by most teenagers on that site. Although not so many use it in real life.

There is a large element of bravado in what teenagers post on social networking sites - a lot of it is fiction. Most reasonable adults realise this.

Not journalists at the Mail, though, who take pleasure in bullying a teenager brave enough to try to help society.

Groundbreaking journalism - making a 17 year old cry on national TV. Wow!

I was just about to comment Liz but I think you have said it all for me. I am glad she is not employed for my area. I'm pretty sure we could find someone more appropriate to fit the bill. Not all teenagers who use the social networking sites use that sort of language.

Vera

I didn't see any interviews previously to this latest news and knew nothing of Youth commissioners but seeing her on tv last evening, I was unimpressed and felt there must be far better teenagers qualified to do the job than she is.

Just wouldn't trust her to not repeat her errors the next time she drinks too much booze. She is no role model and I don't think she is right for the position.

Lizx

TheMail really is a piece of ****, isn't it?

Bad enough when they try to dig up dirt on adults but to pick on a kid is plain awful.

I saw the interview with her on TV and have to say I was very impressed with her maturity and ability to speak like she did .I know nothing about the MonS ,twitters etc.
Ok she has been partying or whatever,but that is what Teenagers do.The fact she is Youth Commissioner I think is beside the point.She will party ,she will have fun ,but could still be a darned good Youth Commissioner.I get so angry with papers and people who are too quick to put the mockers on someone.Shame on them
Give the girl a chance I say.