Country Stars React to the Shooting Tragedy in Colorado.

Several country stars hit up the social network with their reactions to last week's tragic shooting in Colorado. Most of the posts found were respectful and sympathetic. Here are a few posts . . .

BRAD PAISLEY wrote, quote, "There are no words to describe how terrible the Colorado theater shooting is. I'm so sad. Praying for these families."

REBA MCENTIRE said, quote, "My heart and prayers go out to the folks in Aurora, Colorado.  I'm so sorry this has happened. I don't understand it."

Here's what RANDY HOUSER posted, quote, "Sickened by what has occurred in Aurora, Colorado.  Let's do our best not to let the culprit have an ounce of fame for this gross act on humanity."

You'll find more reactions here . . . and here.

Debt Collectors Have Been Going After People Who Owe Money By Harassing Their Facebook Friends. But a Court Ruled It's Illegal.

Apparently, debt collectors have been trying to "talk" people into paying up by tracking them down on Facebook then harassing their FACEBOOK FRIENDS! In Florida, one collection agent was trying to get car payments from a woman named Melanie Beacham, and when she kept ignoring his calls, texts, and emails . . . he went on Facebook and started sending messages to her friends and family. Melanie sued, saying he was violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which only allows a debt collector to get in touch with a person's friends and family if he doesn't know where the person is. The debt collectors have been using social media to dance around that policy because the FDCPA was established in 1978, so it only covers things like phone calls and home visits, not a brand-new technology like Facebook. Well, a judge at the Pinellas Circuit Court in Florida ruled that even though social media isn't specifically covered in the FDCPA, it's still illegal. It's being called a landmark case, because it set a precedent that debt collectors can't harass your Facebook friends.

(The Consumerist)

Brad Paisley Does *Not* Use Twitter for Monetary Gain!

Social networks can be a great marketing tool. But according to BRAD PAISLEY, that doesn't mean people are always going to buy what you're trying to sell. Brad tells "Billboard", quote, "(Twitter) is not as effective as people thought at selling product. That's not why I do it. They found in studies that it depends on the person. "People following CHARLIE SHEEN may not buy things because he tells you to, but people following OPRAH would be more likely to run out and do it if she tells you to do it. I don't know where I fall in that. Probably somewhere between Charlie and Oprah. I don't use it for monetary or career gain. People see through that. I use it for observation and I use it in a way that my fans can see a little bit of my personality."