Sloane Reed serves as the Editor-in-Chief of JiLTED. She prides herself on having the coolest son ever [Adam] and cannot wait to meet her daughter [Tatum] in February. Cotton balls terrify her, cheese is her greatest obsession, and she has come to the conclusion that even if you take a girl out of Memphis, it's impossible to take the Memphis out of a girl.
Several months before his untimely passing two years ago, I interviewed my dear friend, Sean Krause. There was no eerie sense of foreboding or desire to have a lasting memorial....he never shared with me how truly sick he was and I chose to be in denial and rarely acknowledge the cancerous elephant in the room. I simply thought he was a brilliant soul, talented writer, crusader for justice, and amazing friend who deserved to be in the spotlight. While reminiscing with articles about him, I stumbled upon this piece by David Lohr [a renowned true crime writer], that I had not previously seen. It was such an honor to even be mentioned in the same paragraph as Sean and I know he would be so proud of David's many accomplishments. Rest in peace, Sean. You are loved and missed by many.
November 21, 2008
Sean Krause, 25, resides in New York and is the mastermind behind The Daily BS. His hobbies include writing, singing, karaoke, and comedy. He is a close personal friend of mine and has made some incredible contributions both with The Daily BS and his other site, a memorial to Caylee Anthony. His work is remarkable and it should not go unnoticed. What I appreciate most about Sean is the fact that he's informative yet blunt, but also the fact that he injects his personality-and sarcastic humor when appropriate-into every piece he creates. I jumped at the opportunity to turn the tables and interview him for a change.
Sloane Reed: Why did you start The Daily BS?
Sean Krause: I did TDBS because I got tired of seeing bad people get praised. The mainstream media wants people to feel remorseful for murderers, I don't. The news was never honest, so TDBS was born. People think it's the worst name, but never understand the meaning. To define it, BS is in the news every day, I report on it.
SR: What sets it apart from other news outlets?
SK: It's uncensored, it allows people to speak their minds freely, and readers can interact with myself. Mainstream media cares about themselves, I care about the readers & the victims of stories.
SR: Approximately how many page views do you have per day and what is your estimated number of regular subscribers?
SK: Usually, it was about 10,000 visitors we would have daily, since the
Casey Anthony case, obviously the final number increased. There are over 1,500 RSS feed readers & at last look, over 200+ subscribers (these are the people who comment). The others simply come by and get their news.
SR: Can you give me some information about your co-hosts, regular contributors, and anyone else who helps create the finished product?
SK: RAGIannie: She's written a few articles on child custody battles and other various topics.
Ricki: She offers her opinion on different news stories
Raechel Kitchens: She did a brief interview with Zenaida Gonzalez and helped in the spoof we did.
Let's not forget you, Sloane.
As for others, I've very wary of who writes on the site.
SR: What sources do you look at to get the news that is featured on The Daily BS?
SK: Often times, especially in the Casey Anthony case, I'll go directly to the source. Readers send in local news stories they want "Krause approved" and I state my opinions/facts.
SR: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
SK: Not everyone likes what you say.
SR: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
SK: The reward is that people can help find a missing kid, people can say what they want to say, and I get to talk to readers and people in general.
SR: We both know that you've had your fair share of haters. Do you develop a thick skin after a while? Are most people usually ignorant and stupid or do you ever get somebody who says something cruel and inappropriate?
SK: Sure, it used to bother me. I get depressed now that people have stopped calling me an "asshole." There are people who never understand why I do what I do, or families who don't like what I have to say. Some are cruel, such as people wanting me to die from cancer. At the same time, you 360 it and tell them, "I'm beating cancer and I'm going to be around for a LONG time." It upsets them.
SR: How much money do you make per month from The Daily BS and is this enough to cover your living expenses?
SK: As of lately, no. I run TDBS and the Caylee Memorial site and I'm losing money daily. I do alright though, I'm not like Tricia on Webslueths begging for donations.
SR: Do you you have any sponsors, donations, or revenue generated from ads?
SK: I don't do donations, ad revenue some, sponsors none.
SR: You design and maintain the website, correct? Have you always been able to do graphics so well?
SK: Yes, I maintain the web designs. Not really. Just years of training.
SR: What training have you had to get to where you are right now or are you self-taught?
SK: Without sounding like William Hung, there is no training. Sure, I took a writing class and a college class.
SR: What advice do you have for people who want to get started with their own BS type of endeavor?
SK: The formula works only for some. I mix humor, my personality, and my opinions of the news into one. Best advice, be real and be yourself.
SR: A major part of your job is recorded interviews. Who was your most memorable guest and why?
SK: As of recently, Leonard Padilla and Zenaida Gonzalez. They brought in new people, said a lot of interesting things, and I got to prove ZG was a liar.
SR: Are people generally receptive to your questions and willing to cooperate?
SK: At times, some questions may be omitted or subjects off limits.
SR: What's the worst interview you've ever had?
SK: In the past, I used to bring a lot of readers on. Worst idea ever.
SR: Do you ever get nervous while interviewing somebody?
SK: Sure, because I don't want to come off as being rude. I respect anyone who comes on, who doesn't lie. I'd roll out the brown carpet for anyone, but lying makes it worse.
SR: You inject a lot of your own personality, sarcasm, and humor into your news persona. Some may argue that news should be objective. What do you say to those people?
SK: Screw 'em. If you don't like I have to say, may I suggest CNN?
SR: Lately you've interviewed some pretty big names. Have you ever dealt with any imposters?
SK: No, usually I research the individual or speak to others before bringing anyone on. No imposters.
SR: What's your most embarrassing on air moment? I know you have the ability to edit things, but surely you've done a few silly things while conducting an interview.
SK: When we did the live show, I remember the show went completely dead. It was the worst moment ever. As of late, I caught myself saying "um" a lot, worst habit ever. Obviously, some things are omitted from interviews, such as my stance on politics and religion.
SR: Can you think of some of your stories that have generated the most controversy and/or feedback?
SK: Too many to list, but I've helped in many ways. I helped put a pedophile teacher away, brought national interest in a picture of a teacher who took a topless picture with her student, and got involved in the Caffey murder case, which I'm still involved in, and now the Casey Anthony case.
SR: One of the reasons I really admire you is your dedication to the Caylee Anthony case. Tell me about your side project, the Caylee Memorial Site. SK: A place to reflect your thoughts, generated by the thoughts of others, and I build on that. It's my personal reflection to honor the memory of Caylee.
SR: What drew you to this case?
SK: I had a crappy childhood, it effects me. I see a three-year-old as the victim, with a mother who cared about herself, and it's tore me apart. I also was shocked by the amount of people who have followed this case and their dedication to seeing justice for Caylee.
SR: How has the Caylee site affected your work with The Daily BS?
SK: It has its days. Costs are too high to run it and since I'm the lone individual, it takes away from my personal life. If people understood that when you deal with cancer, you're life can be taken away. I'm still alive, Caylee's not. That's my dedication.
SR: Do you know the statistics for the daily views and where you get your funds for the Caylee site?
SK: While I generally do not share stats, you're an exception. Since the Caylee site's debut, it has generated over 15 million views, with an average of 300,000+ a day. It varies. I pay for the site myself, a donation button was added, but as the site continues to get bigger, bandwidth costs have increased the sites costs and has become very difficult to maintain.
SR: Can you give me a general description of your target audience and the vast majority of your subscribers?
SK: The target audience has always been young people, 18-26. As of late, that has risen, with a mix of individuals, who like the brand that is offered.
SR: With your projects, what is the legacy you hope to leave on the world? When people read The Daily BS, look at Caylee Memorial, and hear the name Sean Krause, what do you want them to think?
SK: Your life can be taken away at any moment. I just want people to know that anyone can make a difference, no matter how small or big. I want people to understand why I do what I do, and hope that people learn, crime doesn't pay. Otherwise, feel honored you're being written about. The news media will kiss your ass, I won't. If I made an impact, great. If not, at least I know I've tried.
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My
(Internet)
Life
Scrolling through Facebook updates several days before the new year, I stumbled upon a furious status about a wrecked car. Riley, a popular on-air personality at Memphis radio station The Q, expressed her outrage regarding her damaged vehicle via status comment by giving the other driver a few choice words. It is worth noting that this is a drastic departure from her typical bubbly personality—she is cheerful, upbeat, and I have never seen her vocalize statements of this nature. Her choice of words launched an engrossing debate as to whether or not this sort speech was appropriate for public figure in the community. One of her most vocal critics, Matt, chastised her for setting a bad example for his little sister. A heated argument ensued and the status was ultimately deleted.
To think that such fallout emerged from Riley’s temporary outburst in response to her justifiable [in my opinion] bad day—especially when this sort of language/behavior is atypical for her—boggles my mind. Although I make several references to what transpired between Matt and Riley—and offer quotes and insight from both of them—if you think their dispute is the focus on this article you miss my point entirely. Whether or not you are a local celebrity, we can all relate to the double-edged sword of social networking, especially as it pertains to our professional lives. I know that their heated exchange served as a catalyst for me as I contemplated more general internet issues…and the multitude of ways in which cyberspace affects both my personal and professional lives.
It’s a dilemma straight out of SLC Punk: are you selling out by making the decision to tone things down or is it a necessary sacrifice for adulthood?
Does your role as a representative of your company stand in direct contradiction to your personal beliefs and the way you wish to express them? Should you be judged in the corporate world by the content of your blog? What if you alienate friends and acquaintances or future bosses with your views? Can you vent your frustrations with your own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day without being judged? How would you feel if the content of your profile was used against you in some capacity? Will your parenting be questioned if you post photos of yourself at a bachelorette party? If you post pictures of people’s minor children should you first obtain their permission? What’s the proper etiquette for friend requests with coworkers, other people’s parents and/or kids and younger siblings? Is it fair that getting Googled is indeed fair game to most employers—or anyone for that matter? Do you have difficulty reconciling your ‘real’ personality with your internet persona? Consider these very real questions.
Much of what I said involves the work you do for a paycheck…but what about that other critically important job many of us have? Becoming a parent changes everything. This is not to suggest you need to delete every photo you took from your glory days as a freshman in college, yet be cognizant of what’s out there and when it occurred. Knowing that those epic photos of you doing keg stands, making obscene gestures with your tongue hanging out, or bumping and grinding with your friends were snapped while a babysitter is home with your sleeping infant suddenly doesn’t make them seem so ‘fun’ anymore. Every parent is entitled to take a break once in a while to cut loose and have a good time. Just be mindful of the statuses and photos associated with your night on the town…and don’t think that everyone scrolling through your pictures notices the dates. Very few people will notice that the guy nibbling on your whipped cream bikini was taken three years before you gave birth—but the image and the lifestyle associated with it will be seared into their brains and the damage done. Everything you say can and will be used against you.
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Some work environments are considerably more lenient than others when it comes to how employees portray themselves on social networking sites. Those who find themselves in the creative field, service industry, and retail typically enjoy greater freedoms than, say, a teacher or a policeman. How much do you truly represent your workplace and how much are you expected to? Not to suggest that anyone is expendable, per se, but certain people have copious amounts of ‘face time’ with industry related clients and also the general public and it is of the utmost importance for these people to not only present themselves in a way that aligns with company values—but make sure their internet personas do the same. If your 9 to 5 is with Focus on the Family, it is probably in your best interests to eliminate from your Facebook the fulfillment you get from your weekend volunteering at Planned Parenthood.
My day job consists of serving as the administrative assistant for a local church. I absolutely adore what I do, both the people I work with and the church itself, and would never want to jeopardize that by my online behavior. Most of the changes I’ve made are minor—refraining from foul language, deleting a photo here and there, etc. I’ve also become increasingly aware of the things that people say to me over the internet [and subsequently eliminated countless individuals], the impact of my attitude, how important it is to count my blessings, and how my behavior coincides with the mission of the church. Above all else I’d say that’s due diligence on my part and not any radical personality transformation.
Do not operate under the erroneous assumption that stringent privacy settings protect you from overexposure and information potentially being used against you. A temporary setback for unwanted interlopers, perhaps, but definitely not a foolproof solution—and you have very little control over what others post about you. Additionally, it simply isn’t feasible for some people to have a private profile. Take Riley, for example, whose success depends on her popularity and community presence. If the public is interested in her, that means Riley’s done her job, and she does not see this as a violation of her privacy. She’ll always keep her profile public but will not hesitate to delete somebody the moment they step out of line.
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Matt’s primary concern with Riley’s diction involved the effects she has on her audience. “Younger kids look up to her,” he says. Although the minimum age for Facebook is thirteen that certainly doesn’t guarantee that every user is a teenager. Parents need to communicate consistently with their kids and teens regarding the internet and the adult figures they emulate…but let’s not deviate off course with the age and parental control argument.
However, Matt makes a valid point when he says that Riley is both a role model and a public figure. The line becomes blurry when determining what exactly each of those responsibilities entails. Riley recognizes this and takes it seriously: “I do think that people consider me to be influential and that makes me proud. Almost daily I get messaged from people asking me what I think about everything from fashion to relationship advice. It sort of blows my mind every time it happens. I feel really honored that people respect what I think. I am just a girl behind a microphone, but behind that microphone a lot of people are listening and I’m aware of that…In my life I have had people that I've looked up to that have shaped who I am as a person and if I can be that for someone then I have accomplished something big in life. However, I am not Mother Teresa. I respect the fact that a lot of the time people of all ages have their eyes on me because of my job but I am a person a not a robot. I would never conduct myself in a way that would offend people on the air or at an event. And trust me, when you work in an environment where there is often alcohol involved it would be easy for me to pull out my inner Puerto Rican but I don't. I learned that lesson the hard way. I am also careful to NEVER give my opinion on other people updates unless I know them personally.”
Let’s return to my example of working at the church. It’s not an inaccurate statement to say that my many aspects of my personal theology and beliefs about faith are more liberal than some may be accustomed to, as my strong connection to Unitarian Universalism tremendously influences my spirituality. The teachings of my workplace [where I also attend as a congregant—so obviously there’s not a conflict of interest as I would never affiliate myself with a religious organization that didn’t reflect the things I consider valuable] are not identical to UU. Oftentimes there is ambiguity and room for interpretation within UU whereas those ideas are more clearly addressed at my church here. I feel as though I am lucky to have the best of both worlds—in a way that is not offensive, contradictory, or sacrilegious to either belief. I focus on the similarities, particularly the importance of giving back and being a good person, and feel so spiritually blessed that I have this incredible gift, instead of fixating on any differences. [[Editor’s Note: Expect an article for the next issue regarding my ‘blended family’ of faith and its countless rewards.]]
Having to dilute opinions isn’t easy for anyone. Religion and politics are two of the most controversial subjects—ones that I love to debate and discuss—and it just so happens that I work in one of those realms. While I would never tell a lie [“I just love being a Republican!”], it becomes my mission to respectfully convey my personal opinion—if and only if I am being explicitly asked—within the criteria for what is appropriate at work. Somebody asked me point blank if I felt conflicted. Au contraire. I learn valuable lessons daily that transcend the work environment about how to present myself in a manner where people take me seriously, understanding the art of tactfully disagreeing with somebody, and ensuring that who I am as a whole person is not lost in one small part of my ideology.
As with all potentially heated situations, it’s an exercise in restraint. “I have a pretty quick tongue and can be pretty feisty in my personal life. But over the years in radio I have trained myself to bite my tongue. In the beginning of my career I fought that idea tooth and nail. I was really headstrong and wasn't going to edit myself for anyone. Now I think that a part of growing up professionally and personally was learning to breathe and move on. I wouldn't say that I’m a totally different person in my radio life but there are certainly different shades of my personality that I reserve for the right occasion,” says Riley. I cannot think of a better way to summarize this concept: there comes a time in all of our lives where we have to put on our fancy shoes for an important event instead of running around barefoot without a care in the world.
There are instances where I probably need a muzzle—I’m totally guilty of what I call ‘internet word vomit’ and I’m guilty as charged when it comes to passionately speaking before I think—so in all honesty it can be quite difficult and I do struggle at times. Regardless if I’m Mama Sloane, Church Employee Sloane, JiLTED Editor Sloane, or any of my other identities…my greatest hope is that I can stay true to myself in a way that is mature and professional while still being sassy and opinionated.
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“Any job in the public eye should be taken with respect for all walks of life,” maintains Matt. Yet he adamantly insists that the fact she’s a public figure isn’t the only reason he spoke up, insisting that he would tell even a close friend to calm down if they had said something of that nature.
Have you ever had words with a friend about how they conduct themselves online? Definitely not an easy conversation to have in many circumstances, but a true friend [and we're talking offline relationships here] who genuinely has your best interests at heart will find a way to convey the message in an appropriate way, which often involves a private dialogue. Let me reiterate that this refers to an exchange between two friends and not necessarily one's response to a public figure.
Riley summarizes the fine line of public notoriety perfectly: “The kindness of others makes having a public Facebook worth it. It’s really nice to have people go out of their way with their words to make you smile. But I have a thick skin that took years to develop…and I know that most people don’t know me enough to judge based on a Facebook or Twitter update.”
Social media proves both a blessing and a curse when it comes to your personal life…or lack thereof. Always be true to yourself but utilize discretion. Don’t let criticism deter you. Remember that it is a part of being an adult to take control of your online situation. Find a way to strike the perfect balance.
