Beyond the childishness of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling some users "Dumb f**ks," does Facebook = Equifax? Do these two privacy violations basically equate? Most reasonable people would probably feel that way.

And consequently, the only decent thing for Mark Zuckerberg to do is to step down as Facebook's CEO.

As many may remember, back in September 2017, Equifax CEO Richard Smith stepped down after the private data on 143 million Americans had been compromised. In doing the honorable thing by resigning, Smith claimed that it was "in the best interests of the company to have new leadership to move the company forward."

This is a similar lesson Zuckerberg must learn.

But to his credit thus far, Mr. Zuckerberg has generally taken the road of accountability, accepting responsibility for Facebook's current scandal. But when you "mess up" in life, there are usually associated consequences, irrespective of all circumstances.

If someone runs over and kills a schoolchild in a crosswalk, does the defendant giving the judge in court the Zuckerberg line get a free pass? Your honor, "life is about learning from the mistakes" we make; sometimes, "you mess up." Saying "I'm sorry and I didn't mean to do it, can I go home now?" won't cut it. While the judge may grant some leniency, there are surely consequences to bear.

By failing to step aside, Zuckerberg can only degrade Facebook's already-damaged brand. Fair or not, Zuckerberg's continued presence will serve as the symbol and face (pun intended) of that marred Facebook brand.

If an enterprise were in fact "unprecedented in the world," as in Zuckerberg's dramatic and self-serving description, stepping down would be a natural and expected growing pain/consequence of such a gross violation.

On a positive note, Zuckerberg doesn't have to totally go away either; he can still operate in the background as a positive force, providing valuable insight and counsel gained from his latest learning experience (remember that other learning experience, dumb f**ks?).

People in the systems of Facebook and Equifax had a reasonable and fundamental expectation of privacy in both instances. Equifax CEO Richard Smith did the right thing by resigning; so too should Zuckerberg . . .