Z gave an example, so I'll give one too. Family background questions are asked every single time when the applicant is required to obtain a security clearance, so good luck with the legality and ethics angle, imo. Family background is a major part of the investigation, and not only do they ask you all about your family, they ask your family, then they get references from THEM, and ask THEM about you AND YOUR FAMILY, in addition to getting references from your references and asking THEM about you and your family.

That's right-- They would have asked you if your crack dealing mom was a hooker (when you replied that my dad is a pimp) . Then they would ask mom and dad if they were a pimp and a hooker--and asked them to elaborate, no doubt- (they would have obviously known about the crack dealing) Then they would have asked the pimp and crack dealer for references, then they would have asked THOSE people about the pimping, whoring and crack dealing, in addition to the "references of the references" you provided.

Believe it. Happens on virtually every single investigation. (Not the hooker/pimp/drug dealer part, the part about how they go about getting your background...I think that's why they call it "background" in the investigation)

I have had several of them. I remember the first time. I still chuckle at this---

Two of my friends called me from home when I was stationed at Lejeune. Fred says, "DUDE---that's totally fucked up man... The fucking FBI was here, they asked me if I fucking smoked pot and I said ya. I didn't know what to say. They asked me if you (me) ever smoked pot and I said no. Then they told me that Greg (another friend) said that sometimes you were in my room when I smoked pot, so I didn't know what to say, so I told them that it was true. Am I in trouble or anything, what the fuck did you do, dude?"

Greg calls me same weekend:

"Fucking Fred thinks he's going to prison. He's been freaking out all weekend. What was that, a security clearance thing? I should have said Chuck, (another friend) but I wasn't thinking."

I laughed, but it can get shitty, quick, as my small example shows.



I have never smoked pot in my life. I have been present when it is smoked, (and no doubt influenced by residual/passive smoke) but I was never asked that. Nor had I ever given Fred as a reference. I hadn't given Greg, either. I used employers when I was a teen as references. My PARENTS (When THEY were interviewed) gave GREG as a reference, and GREG not only told them that I was present when Fred smoked pot, he had already used him as a reference (Fred) to be interviewed. They BOTH were asked many questions about my parents, and my old man was a FEDERALLY in the friggin' JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, lol..and my step-mom was a private investigator.

...And I got polygraphed, too, and during the polygraph, the examiner specifically excluded the "being present in a friend's room when HE smoked pot" when they got to drug use questions.

I would possibly not have been given that 1st clearance if I had LIED about it in any way---actually far more important, even way back then...

I know Dez's INVESTIGATORS would have had a GD NIGHTMARE on their hands if he was going for a clearance, lol lol lol

The way I see it, is Jeff Ireland and the Fins (or any other team for this matter) should be allowed to ask a question as such.
First, I don't think using the word prostitute is horrible, if that is how the questions went down. If Ireland said something along the lines of "Is your mother a whore or ho?" then that is crossing the line.

Dez Bryant is walking into one of the biggest opportunities many men dream of. Dez Bryant has a troubled past and unfortunately, it looks to deal directly with mommy and daddy. Lets be real, if your dad is a pimp...you aren't growing up a normal child. Would you agree?

Everyone sees it time and time again...child with horrible past makes it BIG TIME...horrible past slowly creeps up on the kid.
"Hey, Dez...remember me? I used to run tricks with your mom and pop on the street."
Also, problem is...Dez is already known as a problem so there is no saying he wants to "get away" from that life.

Honest to God...him answering PIMP to his dad's occupation would have been enough for me to say PEACE Dez, good luck on another team.

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Why cant they ask what his parents do? If this were a job interview, this would be an acceptable question. Isnt playing in the NFL a job? Since they are paying him a lot of $ shouldnt they be allowed to ask what his parents do? I think this is a case where he didnt want to give an honest answer and the dolphins guy trying to joke with him. If you cant give a serious answer to a simple question then you aint worth the $, IMO.

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I'll be honest. I've never quite understood why so many questions are viewed as verboten in job interviews.

Frankly, I'd rather we allowed assholes to ask asshole questions. I'd rather know that a company is willing to give assholes decision-making power over me BEFORE I went to work for them rather than find out afterward.

Were I Bryant and I took offense at something Ireland asked, I would have responded in a way that *decreased* the odds that Miami drafted me. Something like, "And is it true that your mother was Dollie the test-tube sheep and you want to ...?"

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Last time I checked.. Dez wasn't being given security clearance in the military.. but I digress..



I am surrendering the argument.. I disagree that it is a legitimate question to be posed to these young men.. but much like religion.. opinion are formed and cemented..

Moving on.. 😉

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This may be the first time in the history of this board I am categorically agreeing with Foster -- not only his conclusions, but his rationale and arguments as well. I was even going to bring up the security clearance issue myself.

My guess as to how this situation went down: Mr. Ireland asked Bryant what his father does for a living, and being the immature dumbass that he appears to be, Bryant snapped off a flip answer (along the lines of "He's a muthafuckin' pimp, yo"), and Ireland returned with an equally flip question (along the lines of "What, you mean she's a prostitute?"). Dez got butthurt at the ribald repartee, and the rest is history.

As for Wade's point, I wholeheartedly agree. I hope the people who are offended by this question never have to apply for a job in Germany. Most of the questions that HR personnel are forbidden to ask in this countries are free game in Germany -- and in some cases, even required. Prospective employees are actually required to provide marital status, religious affiliation, and even a clear mug shot on their resumes. The reason is quite simple: It's very hard to fire employees in Germany, so companies want to make extra certain that they're hiring quality candidates. The interview process in Germany is grueling to say the least.

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First off.. Holy balls this thread blew up since the last time I looked at it.



In your work situation, I agree with you.

But Dez is a public figure. And due to the constitutional right that grants Freedom of the Press, he looses some of his privacy rights. It's the nature of the beast.

I wouldn't condone this type of questioning in high school or in FCS college football. FBS is borderline.. but those kids still get A LOT of press.

But this is the NFL. The biggest professional sporting league. As an employee/contractor of the NFL, you become a public figure instantly.

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Formo raises a fantastic point. The courts have been steadfast in their determination that public figures are entitled to a much lower expectation of privacy than the rest of us. The question in my mind, then, is when does one become a public figure? Is an NFL prospect a public figure? Or must one have maintained some degree of tenure in the league before public figure status is conferred? Is a certain amount of media exposure sufficient to confer public figure status, or must one occupy some sort of official position?

Perhaps our resident lawyer, Wade, could enlighten us on the intricacies of this issue.

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This has prompted me to re-think my position on the matter. Obviously I have fucked up in my thought process somewhere along the way. I'll get back to you on my new and improved revised perspective. I think I'll repair to my family room and watch some Fox News to get my head right.




j/k :tongue3: :sign5: