BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

Time and time again, people are continuously told to be mindful of what they post online because once it’s out there, there’s no taking it back.

On March 25^th, Daily Loud reported a story on a New York judge who lost his job for having an explicit OnlyFans account as a side hustle.

According to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Gregory Locke, 33, held a judicial role consisting of: supervising law clerks, presiding at pre-trial settlement conferences, and conducting formal hearings.

Locke has produced over 100 posts since opening his account in November 2020 and charges a $12 monthly fee.

He also has a Twitter account where he frequently posts NSFW photos and videos.

His now-former city bosses fired him when they became aware of his explicit side gig.

There was a mix of reactions to the story. Some: either had jokes to say, were surprised due to the main job Locke obtained, or saw no harm in having an OnlyFans.

The jokes were whatever to me, but those who saw no harm in what Locke was doing made me give them the side eye.

While some employers will say: “meh,” to employees posting NSFW content, most would prefer not to be affiliated with anyone who engages in that activity.

That’s what quite a few people continue to overlook.

Employers have a reputation to protect, and they don’t need to have someone ruin the reputation they worked hard to maintain.

We also have to think about how our relatives and friends would feel, because no one wants to see any explicit content of a relative or friend.

I understand we are going through a tough time with inflation, and more people are looking into getting a side job to avoid struggling. However, we must be mindful of the choices we make and the consequences for them.

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

Time in prison is the most common consequence for someone who has committed a crime, but that’s not the only consequence one can face.

On March 7^th, 2023, 21-year-old Genesis Escobar was shot and killed while attempting to rob someone in Chicago, Illinois.

Escobar, who was seven months pregnant, entered a car to complete a drug deal and attempted to rob those inside the vehicle. An exchange of gunfire erupted, and Escobar was hit in the shoulder, back, and hand.

A passenger removed her body from the vehicle, placed it on the sidewalk, and dumped money on her before the driver sped off.

Escobar’s unnamed boyfriend, who waited outside the vehicle, allegedly grabbed some cash and fled the area.

Witnesses went outside to find Escobar’s body and helped her before being rushed to the hospital.

Escobar was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her unborn child, a baby girl, also didn’t survive.

No arrests have been made in the case yet.

It’s sad that a young woman and an unborn child both lost their lives. I also have sympathy for her family. However, I’d be lying if I said the intended victims did not have every right to defend themselves.

Just a few weeks before Escobar’s death, Ali Mian, 22, shot and killed an intruder who broke into his home and attacked his mother in Milton, Ontario.

The suspect, 21-year-old Alexander Amoroso-Leacock, was pronounced dead at the scene. 20-year-old Romario Clarke was arrested at the scene and charged with breaking and entering along with unauthorized firearm possession.

Three other suspects fled the scene.

Mian is currently out on bail and charged with second-degree murder.

Many people feel Mian should not have any charges pressed against him, and I agree with that.

People deserve to feel safe in their homes, and the suspects attempted to rob Mian and his mother of that safety. So Mian (a registered firearm owner) defended his mother and their home.

Although I do not promote gun violence, people have every right to defend themselves and their property when being victimized.

I hope people will take both situations as a lesson and understand that incarceration is not always the only consequence of committing a crime. If a suspect involves themselves in an illegal activity and loses their life, unfortunately, it is the toughest life lesson they will ever learn.

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

While people continue to love and show appreciation towards their relatives, some overlook their loved ones’ wrongdoings out of “love.”

I came across a comment posted on Paris Milan’s YouTube page, and it caught my attention.

The comment discusses how dangerous it can be when one does not hold their loved ones accountable for their wrongs, because they think their family can do no wrong.

This issue has been around for a very long time, but it’s great to see people are willing to shed light on this issue, because it can help others understand the importance of holding a relative accountable for their wrongdoings and see why there is nothing wrong with doing so.

When someone has relatives who don’t call them out on their wrongs, it can lead to them being in for a rude awakening.

Over time, I have come across many news stories about people who have had to learn the hard way that their actions have consequences, and quite a few of them have relatives who will still come to their defence.

I understand it can be challenging for some to hold their loved ones accountable for their wrongs, but it has to be done so that people can realize they cannot get away with victimizing others.

We all have to understand that our loved ones’ wrongdoings don’t just only affect the victim(s), their families, and friends.

I recently came across a YouTube short created by Trell The Trainor on the lessons he learned while serving time in prison.

Besides sharing how there are consequences for every action a person does, he also touches on the innocent people who will be affected by any wrongdoing.

As I stated earlier, the victims and anyone on their end won’t be the only ones who suffer. Relatives and friends of a suspect will usually suffer from embarrassment for a crime committed.

If you are someone who cares about your family’s reputation, don’t turn a blind eye when it comes to a relative’s harmful actions.

Continue to show love to your loved ones but do so by not enabling their bad behaviour.