Should I hire this carpenter when I don't like his FB feed?

[TheOrigRightsofwomen]

Guy I sort of know from my running club was recommended to me by a friend to do some fencing and decking work in my garden.

I 'friended' him on FB and see that he's a bit of a twat - posting 'cheeky' pics of women having their bums groped, or pulling a moony etc.
Daft memes about sex and stuff.

I don't feel like he would be some sort of threatening predator or anything, but he just seems like a slime.

AIBU? Obv I can hire who I like, but am wondering if I'm being a bit up myself!

I think YANBU.

I refuse to use many businesses as I don't agree with their ethics, and avoid using tradesmen if they exhibit certain views.

It is peoples choice to think how they like, but it is my choice to decide who I pay money to.

I have recently changed driving instructor, as the person I started with started to share racist and misogynistic views after a few lessons. I refuse to spend my money on services from a person who feels it is right to share those types of views.

The point is that if you hadn't friended him then you wouldn't have a clue about his views.
Too many people it seems are too reliant on snooping on SM to find out about people. Even it seems potential employers.
It's a ridiculous system used when there's a chance that not everyone has accounts. Not everyone actually posts their views. Not everyone uses their own names and have multiple accounts.
Relying on SM to do your vetting is madness, and how did people manage to avoid situations before FB?

And like I said. He holds some fucked up views hence nc with him. But unless you are within his circle you wouldn't be aware.

You really think sex offenders are stupid enough to post on FB or wherever that this is what they do?

Again....I wasn;t vetting him! We are in the same running club, I had a look around his FB feed and came across all the stuff.

I wasn't trying to check whether he was a sex offender!

theworldistoosmall - you are struggling with this.

The OP wasn't vetting. She doesn't rely on social media to get an insight into other people's views. She knows she won't get an insight into the views of other people she crosses paths with. You know, because she doesn't use SM to vet.

She does know the views of this particular person. As such she can make an informed decision about whether or not to hire this individual.

OK?

Good call OP, I would have walked away from him too.

To other pps, It's hardly snooping if he accepted her friend request, is it?

I think that if you have the option to check someone out before having them on your premises then go for it. Better warned than not.

Hire who you like. That is your prerogative.

I've had loads of tradesmen in my house over the years. I've never had the advantage of being able to suss out their private views beforehand as it would not occur to me to check them out on social media first. I imagine very few of them would have ended up doing the work for me if their personal views had to first agree with mine. Does that mean they did a bad job or were unpleasant in my company? Largely speaking, no.

Which is not to say you should hire him regardless. But, when I have work done, I am looking for competence and value for money rather than someone who agrees with me over women's rights or anything else.

Whereas the OP is looking for incompetence and to be ripped off.

She happens to know the views of this one person. There are other tradies out there that she would prefer to go with, because this eejit has shown who he is.

Seems like a sound decision to me.

We all have the right to surround ourselves with the people WE want to. So, like OP I would prefer not to invite someone into my Home who’s views I find abhorrent. You employ who you wish op it’s your home, your cash...

I had a quote for bathroom work from two local plumbers, before I'd decided one of them posted some anti immigrant rant on our town Facebook page. He didn't get the work. Didn't want him in my house. I get to decide who comes into my home and I exclude racists. Well done OP.

TheDowagerCuntess, I didnt say she was looking for incompetence or to be ripped off. Jeez! I actually said it was her prerogative not to hire the man.

But do you really think every person you have ever had dealings with has agreed with your opinions? Would you check out the opinions of the doctor operating on you? Or would you care more about their skills?

In my experience, tradesmen are often at odds with my way of thinking. And if I meet one at the quoting stage and don't like them, I don't use them. But equally, sometimes other considerations come into play.

I was being heavily sarcastic - I appreciate that doesn't always come across in text!

People are oddly fixated on the fact that we don't usually have this level of information about people we might be considering using.

Well, yeah, so what?

In this instance, the information is available - why wouldn't you use it to inform your decision making.

Of course, I appreciate some people are completely apathetic about this sort of thing and don't care if people are sexist or racist. Other people do care, and that's ok.