He Tweeted What?

Wow. I’m really not ok with this. I read an article on BBC.com about an Attorney General who announced the confirmation of an execution of a man via Twitter. Am I the only one who shudders when they read that? I really hope not. Twitter is fine for friends and telling the world what you saw on TV last night or what you just said to your dog, but to confirm the execution of someone is not ok with me. At all. This has really crossed the line for me. I will admit that I have a Twitter account that I used maybe once or twice, but for the most part I think Twitter is a waste of time and therefore I don’t care to visit the site, but when stuff like this happens, it makes me want to strangle someone. Social media sites are not for this kind of news. This is what the post said:

"I just gave the go ahead to Corrections Director to proceed with Gardner's execution. May God grant him the mercy he denied his victims."

Not too long before that post, he wrote:

"A solemn day. Barring a stay by Sup Ct [US Supreme Court], & with my final nod, Utah will use most extreme power & execute a killer. Mourn his victims. Justice."

And then about 5 minutes after that, he posted this:

"We will be streaming live my press conference as soon as I'm told Gardner is dead. Watch it at www.attorneygeneral.Utah.gov/live.html."

So not only did he announce the death of a man twice, he publicized himself and his press conference that would follow the execution. Self publicity is fine, but not the way he’s chosen to do so. One man replied to the post saying:

"death penalty bad enough. Firing squad! And there's an absurdity to a man's demise being announced over twitter..."

And I couldn’t agree with him more. It’s all fine that this guy uses Twitter to tell people what’s happening, but when you tell people someone is being executed, you’re just a sick person.

I will be out tomorrow so you will have to read this post twice.