Technology Creating a Whole Lot of Tattletales

Enter the Monthly Sweepstakes Click Here

Technology Creating a Whole Lot of Tattletales

Mindy Seriah, Staff Writer

No one appreciates a tattletale, or so I thought.  It used to be that being a tattletale was not considered a compliment.  How often you may remember a parent or teaching chastising a child over being a tattletale unless, of course, it involved something that was considered dangerous, even life threatening?

 

With today’s technology, the internet is being used to promote vigilante justice.

Some of these sites are being used in a positive fashion, allowing you to identify child predators and anonymously report in crime tips. But, I must admit, some of these sites are quite amusing.  Here are a few of the more popular and amusing tattletale sites.

 

HollaBack NYC

 

The site, which has gained recent national press, dates back to 2005.  It is a blog-style site where mostly women can post photographs or videos of men they deem to be harassers, exposing their distasteful cat calls and/or harassments on the Internet.  While most popular in New York City, the site is continually expanding into other regions and countries including Boston, Chicago, Canada and Tokyo. 

 

All of the sites are independently run with no actual association other than catching “harassers” in the act.  As for whether postings to the site, under the Frequently Asked Questions section of their site, HollaBackNYC states that they are “… a collective comprised of men and women who believe in building communities where everyone feels comfortable, safe, and respected. Many people, particularly men, are unaware of the frequency and severity of disrespect and intimidation that numerous folks, especially women, experience in public spaces on a daily basis. HollaBackNYC aims to expose and combat street harassment as well as provide an empowering forum in this struggle.”

 

Caughtya.org

 

Caughtya.org went live in December 2005 and was created by people with disabilities, families and friends of people with disabilities, colleagues of people with disabilities and people who were bothered by those they deemed to be inconsiderate by illegally parking in parking spaces dedicated to those with disabilities.  Covering many countries, the site is privately owned but does accept donations.

 

On any given day, the site posts photographs of offending vehicles with details as to the license plate number, make, model and color of the vehicle, the location and any other interesting facts.

 

While the site does encourage “tattletalers” to put their own personal safety first and avoid any dangerous situation, their main objective is to educate and expose disability parking offenders.

 

Isawyournanny.blogspot.com

 

Dedicated to ratting out bad nannies, the site went live in September 2006.  Set up as a blog site which allows the site to offer a disclaimer that the site does not investigate, arbitrate or endorse any postings made in this public forum while offering them a degree of immunity from the postings made by third parties.

 

The intention of the site is to offer a public forum where bad nannies are ratted out with specific details as to the location and infraction witnessed by innocent bystanders. 

 

Who Needs Big Brother

 

Other tattletale sites include platewire.com and irate-driver.com, which allows users to post complaints about other drivers along with their license plate as well as a photo of the offending motorist (irate-driver.com).  Litterbutt.com exposes offenders who use Mother Nature as their personal garbage can while the RudePeople.com site allows users to tattle on everyone from your boss to people who take items out of your shopping cart.

 

Much of what we read today addresses Big Brother watching you and criticism of invasion by our government into our private lives; however, the internet has produced a whole genre of vigilante sites exposing child predators, America’s Most Wanted™ criminals and missing persons.  These new sites allow some degree of anonymity and thus some protection from those who do not take well to their being exposed.

 

With so many camera-phones in circulation, better take care of where you park, what you throw out the window, what you are doing while on the job or what you are saying to other people or you may find yourself or your vehicle the object of a tattletaler.

Enter for a chance to
Win the Monthly Sweepstakes*

Terms & Conditions

Advertising Technology Corporation ("ATC") Terms, Conditions & Privacy Policy for All Sweepstakes and Contests

ENTERING ANY CONTEST ON ATC IS ACKNOWLEDGING AND AGREEING TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

These terms and conditions, including privacy policy, describe the sweepstakes rules and regulations, including requirements for gift redemption sponsored by Internet Advertising Group, Inc. ATC is conducting an incentive based promotion to assist in the collection of data for use in connection with the Internet. ATC, Inc is solely responsible for the administration of this offer. The owners of trademarked names and merchandise used in our promotions do not sponsor and have not endorsed this promotion, nor are they affiliated with the promotion in any way. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners with all rights reserved.

To participate in ATC promotions, you must be at least 18 years old and a US resident. If you do not meet these requirements, we ask that you do not register with us. Receipt of the free gift requires completion of offer terms, including; age and residency requirements, registration with a valid email address, completion of offers from sponsored offer groups and shipping address verification.

Specific Terms and Conditions for ATC Promotions:

These General Contest Rules apply to all ATC contests or sweepstakes. They may be amended or varied from time to time by ATC. Special Terms and Conditions may apply to particular contests, in which case an addendum to these General Contest Rules will be made for that contest. Please enquire at ATC for any special Terms and Conditions for contests you wish to enter.

Unless otherwise specified in special contest Terms and Conditions, no person may enter any contest more than once.

All prizes must be collected within 3 months from the date of winning. After that time, unclaimed prizes will be dealt with according to legislative requirements. ATC will not notify winners of time remaining. It is the sole responsibility of winners to collect their prize.

Prizes must be claimed in person unless winner is otherwise advised. Identification which includes a photograph will be required (examples include drivers license/passport/student card where photo included). Where ATC elects to post a prize to a winner no responsibility will be accepted by ATC for the safe and effective postal delivery of the prize.

In special situations, and subject to the absolute discretion of ATC, a winner may nominate a designated representative to collect a prize. The representative will be required to present written authorization from the winner and identification which includes a photograph for both the winner and their representative.

In the event that a winner chooses not to accept a prize, they forfeit any and all claims to that prize, which will be dealt with according to the absolute discretion of ATC subject to legislative requirements.

Winners under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when collecting their prize. Both the winner and the parent/guardian must sign this agreement and show identification which includes a photograph.

A copy of these General Contest Rules must be signed and endorsed by any winner upon request by ATC.

Prizes are non transferable, must (where applicable) be used on the dates specified and may not be redeemed for cash.

All prizes are accepted entirely at the risk of the winner, and ATC excludes all warranties in connection with any prize to the extent permitted by law.

ATC, its agencies, affiliates, sponsors and representatives are not responsible for defective prizes or misuse of any prize, or for any claims, liability, loss or damage arising out of or in connection with any contest promoted by ATC.

All contestants release from, and indemnify ATC against, all liability, cost, loss or expense arising out of acceptance of any prize(s) or participation in any contest including (but not limited to) personal injury and damage to property and whether direct or consequential, foreseeable, due to some negligent act or omission or otherwise.

If a specified prize becomes unavailable, ATC may substitute a replacement prize at its absolute discretion.

Unless otherwise specified, the class of travel for any travel prize incorporating an airfare is economy class.

Registrants and winners may be required by ATC to participate in a photo, video and/or film session and acknowledge that ATC has the right to use such publicity photos, videos and/or films in any medium and in any reasonable manner it sees fit, unless that person advises ATC at the time of entering the relevant contest that he/she wishes to retain his/her anonymity. Copyright in any such material becomes and remains the sole property of ATC.

A failure by ATC to enforce any of these General Contest Rules in any instance(s) will not give rise to any claim by any person.

ATC may terminate any contest at any time at its absolute discretion. In the event of such termination, ATC may at its absolute discretion elect not to award any prize in respect of the terminated contest.

Special restrictions or qualifications may apply to particular contests, in which case an addendum to these General Contest Rules will be made.

These General Contest Rules may be changed at any time by ATC.

ATC may publicize, broadcast or otherwise disclose a contestant/participant?s name, character, likeness, statements or any recording of their voice in advertising or promotional activities concerning a specific contest, or ATC contests/sweepstakes generally. ATC may promote or advertise that a winner has won a contest.

Winners are responsible for any and all taxes payable as a result of a prize being awarded or received.

ATC is not responsible for errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects in part or whole, delays in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for any technical or non-technical network, telephonic, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate or partial transmission of or failure to receive entry information by ATC on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet, at any web site or any combination thereof. ATC is not responsible for any injury or damage to contestants or any other person's computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any materials in the ATC sweepstakes or contests. All entries become the property of ATC and will not be returned. ATC is not responsible for any claims, liabilities or damages in conjunction with the prize of the contest. ATC is not responsible for any claims liabilities or damages in conjunction with the process of meeting the contest rules. ATC reserves the right to disqualify contestants for any reason we deem fit and at any time. Contest rules and guidelines are subject to update and modification at anytime and for any reason.

Any intent by the entrant to misrepresent themselves through the use of aliases and e-mail addresses will be disqualified. Family, friends, and employees of companies (parent as well as subsidiary) that are sponsoring a contest are not eligible to enter. This Contest is void wherever prohibited by federal, state, provincial, municipal or local law.

Except where legally prohibited, acceptance of any prize constitutes permission for Sponsors to use the Participants' name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials, in printed, broadcast media or new media, in perpetuity, in any manner they deem appropriate in connection with promoting this or any other Contest and/or promotion sponsored by them, without further compensation in connection with this Contest or the prize awarded.

ATC is based in the United States. Contests hosted on ATC are open to international residents unless noted, but legally binding to United States law only.

By participating, entrants agree that the Sponsors, those involved in the development, production (including prize suppliers), implementation and distribution of this promotion and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, service providers, and agencies, and their directors, officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any other person or entity associated with such entities and/or promotion shall not be liable for any and all claims, damages, losses or injuries, including any third party claims, arising from or relating to, in whole or in part, this Contest, including entry and participation is this Contest and acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prizes. All entrants further agree that in the event of any third party claims, damages, losses or injuries, arising from or relating to this Contest, they will indemnify Sponsors from any and all such claims, including the attorneys' fees related thereto. Sponsors shall not be liable for entries and winner notification responses that are delayed, lost, misdirected, mis-delivered, marked postage-due, illegible, mutilated, incorrect or incomplete, and such entries will be not be eligible for this Contest. The Sponsors shall not be responsible for any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Contest. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Contest will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. TheSponsors further reserve the right to modify the rules of the Contest in any way or at any time, as long as reasonable notice is given.

By participating in this contest, entrants agree that Florida courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to these sweepstakes and contests and that venue shall be only in Broward County, Florida.

This offer is available to US residents only. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. To receive the free gift you must complete all of the steps outlined herein. Participants, must: (a) register with a valid and deliverable email address; (b) submit accurate contact and demographic information.

ATC reserves the right to require individuals to provide documentation demonstrating they have completed the advertiser requirements prior to gift redemption in cases where that information is unavailable from the advertiser.

Updates. ATC may revise this Policy at any time in the future to (i) improve or modify the ATC Service, (ii) reflect future developments in ATC data information gathering, storing and release practices, (iii) comply with applicable laws, and (iv) reflect changes in ATC business structure. Accordingly, you should review these terms and policy from time to time to check for updates. Your continued use of the ATC website shall evidence your acceptance of any changes.

User does not need to register for any offer or advertisement to qualify for the prize. All users who enter their email, phone, and postal information will qualify.

If you do not accept the terms of this Policy, we ask that you not register with ATC. Your registration with ATC constitutes your acceptance of these terms and privacy policy.

By entering my contact information above, I certify that I agree to the privacy policy and the terms & conditions of this site
View full screen: Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

You must submit accurate and verifiable contact information and be 18 years or older to claim your proceeds.
Must be a valid resident of the USA.
If you change your mind, you can remove your information from our active database by clicking “Global Unsubscribe” at the bottom of any page throughout this site.