By Dennis L. Rubin
Many issues have a negative impact on thefire chief’s roleand responsibilities today. Among the most recent is the cyberbully, who can have an impact and adverse effects on this公共安全任务关键位置。我曾经担任过fire chieffor more than three decades in several very different communities in the Deep South as well as in major urban centers. During this work experience, I became the target of many Internet comments, negative blog entries, and personal attacks that far exceeded the First Amendment rights (freedom of speech) of the blogging cyberbully. These electronic attacks included threats of bodily injury.
The computer connectivity of just about everyone in the fire service has changed the instant-communication landscape, perhaps setting the stage for misuse or even abuse of this medium. Will the Internet blogs, social media sites, and other “anonymous voices” become an overwhelming burden for afire chief? We will look at some of the negative effects of a cyberbully on thefire chief’s positionand a few suggestions for preventing or at least minimizing the impact of these burdensome distractors.
即使“虚拟世界”已经存在了一段时间，但似乎仅几年前，互联网还是在消防服务中广受欢迎。大多数中小型消防部门通常在其他企业落后于采用计算机应用程序。由于多种原因，似乎我们已经被降级为第二名。通常，公共安全管理部门缺乏财务和人力资源。这些限制几乎不可能跟上我们的私营部门对手。这些资金和人员配备困境导致甚至最明智和验证的商业实践的缓慢适应，尤其是当它们花费金钱或需要人员来实施时。与所有趋势一样，前沿有几个部门。他们能够迅速进入技术，并使用它来提高部门运营的效率，有效性和安全性。但是，由于上述限制，大多数部门花了更长的时间来接受使用各种计算机辅助流程。到现在为止，在我们行业各个方面迈向技术的过渡已经进展顺利。 You could guess that the cyberbully phenomenon was bound to happen, and it appears to be in full bloom inside of many fire-rescue organizations.
退后一步
When I was appointed to the Fairfax County (VA) Fire Department in October 1971, the computer technology equivalent was a Royal™impact typewriter. This glossy finished, oily smelling, weighty monstrosity was the centerpiece on top of every watch desk and company officer’s work station. The keyboard was about the only element that looks the same on a modern computer. To operate this shiny, heavy-metal beast, the “key” operator had to master the terms “bond,” onionskin,” and “carbon paper.” This was no easy task, and most firefighters would rather calculate friction loss for three 2½ -inch and two 3-inch hoselines than type a report using this device. There was no automatic formatting, print button, or delete key. To erase a mistake, you were limited to using a product called “White-Out”, which stuck out like a sore thumb on the paper. Back then, to type a report or, worse yet, to complete a form (it was nearly impossible to line up a document in the carriage with the type face) was a long, drawn-out process. Thank goodness for the convenience of the modern computer with an attached printer. Not only is the work effort easier and more professional with a computer, it is also less expensive and less stressful.
The other technology advancement that has become a critical and transparent operational element is the cell phone. In the 1970s and into the 1980s, the chief’s aides (drivers) had to carry a pocket full of small change. On a routine basis, the field chiefs would have to make telephone calls from the streets of the city, usually to fire alarm headquarters, the shift commander’s office, and various fire stations. After the first few dimes were swallowed by the corner “Ma Bell” pay telephone, the battalion chief would ask the aide (buggy driver) for a dime to make the requested call from the coin-operated telephone. Although the cell phone becomes an “electronic leash” and adds a dash more of stresses into our lives, it and its supporting technology have been a marvelous invention. Based on the amount and type of information that a modern operations chief must handle, the cell phone has earned its place as a mission-critical workplace tool.
我们组织内外一直存在信息流。就像几乎所有内容一样，某些部门在交流方面比其他部门更好。但是，计算机，互联网和电池电话的使用已大大改变了速度和功能。这个精灵不会被放回瓶中。
Electronic Messaging from Department Members
Today’s fire chief has to contend with electronic messaging, including YouTube videos, also from department members. This is happening all over the country. It seems as if a different fire chief is under attack by a cyberbully’s poison keyboard just about every day.
Recently, a story emerged from Colorado Springs (CO) Fire Department that someone from within the department produced a YouTube video clip about the chief of the department, in which the chief was cast in the role of Adolf Hitler. The news story said many expletives were inserted into the “part” that the chief was to be portraying. I am not sure how this YouTube episode resolved, but the chief definitely had to be humiliated and embarrassed.
While serving as chief of the Washington, DC, Fire Department, a department trial board recommended termination for a misbehaving former firefighter of our department. After the termination process, I found myself, as the chief, the star of the YouTube video “Chief Dennis’ Used Condom Factor.” According to the video, the three highest senior ranking members of the department would search the streets for used condoms, which they washed and reused. Needless to say, although this animated video might seem “crazy” to some viewers, it was demoralizing and embarrassing for the chief officers who, in this case, carried out the will of the fire department trial board. The cyberbully struck again.
What Can Be Done?
首先，请记住，大约99％的消防部门人员是好人。只有少数Misfit的行为。不要亲自接受攻击。我知道这很困难。当攻击开始时，欺负者将尝试在尽可能多的观众面前活着吃掉您。不要发脾气。不要在他的水平上参与网络。让评论从您的背上滚下来。不要以电子方式发表评论，您可能会后悔。如果您在这一点上说什么，欺负者将利用回应，这将使情况变得更糟。 For me, this was the toughest part. The more you engage the bully on his terms, the more attention for the bully. This attention is the only twisted gratification the cyberbully can get. The more attention paid to the bullying, the more cyberattacks for the chief. The attacks will become more caustic as well. Not responding may break the vicious cycle before it gets out of control. If you respond to the attacks, many on the sidelines will find it entertaining. Stop the cycle as soon as you can.
Remember that the chief is always under a microscope, so don’t do anything stupid. Avoid behaviors that can end up coming across poorly. The cyberbullies will not have to make up stories about you if you give them one to report. Be on notice to properly behave on and off duty because someone is always watching.
仅根据国家入境标准选择最佳的消防部门候选人。我听过加利福尼亚高速公路巡逻队指挥官（Ret。）戈登·格雷厄姆（Gordon Graham）一遍又一遍地说：“永远不要雇用白痴和暴徒，因为他们永远是白痴和暴徒。”如果您雇用一个恶霸，那个人很可能有可能成为网络欺凌。如果部门可以过滤掉百分之一，那么每个人的生活都会更轻松。
Prepare your boss before the cyberattacks have time to get started on the Internet. In cases where you have terminated an employee, keep the boss in the loop, and make him aware of the personnel action you have implemented. I was able to survive four years in Washington, D.C., primarily because the mayor trusted me and communicated with me regularly. My goal was that there be no surprises about me for the mayor, whether about my performance or what was happening within the agency.
丹尼斯·鲁宾更deta写了一本书ils and case studies about being a fire chief in a fairly busy city–Washington, D.C that will be out with Fire Engineering Books toward the end of the year. If you enjoyed this information, you will certainly likeD.C. Fire: It’s Not Just a Job.
Dennis L. Rubin是消防保护公司D.L.的主要合作伙伴鲁宾和同事。他在消防和救援服务方面的经验超过35年。他曾担任公司官员；指挥级官员；以及包括多森，阿拉巴马州，诺福克，弗吉尼亚州，亚特兰大，乔治亚州和华盛顿特区在内的几个主要城市的消防局长。, and he is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officers Program (EFOP).
