[Robodog]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

You've answered your own question.

Things said behind closed doors are behind closed doors.

A lot of people just don't think of things like Twitter and Facebook as what they are... a PUBLIC DOMAIN.

So, yes when you're posting things on them, it's as good as physically saying it in public and then getting a reputation based on that.

You are right. There is a difference between private and public speech.

Social media is a relatively new phenomenon (only been around about 10 years) and lots of people still haven't quite adjusted to it yet and how it all works.

Many people still treat it the same as their private text messages or e mails without understanding the differences; social media has far greater reach and ramifications than normal private talk and they forget all that.

People are so used to speaking freely and saying what they think and feel. In most 'real life' cases, a rude or racist comment would either be ignored or challenged directly person-to-person.

Social media is a different ball game. Because of the public element of it, people are judged and punished much more harshly and seriously for their bad words than they would be in private chat or when talking face to face.

People like Ellie are fools - not just for saying bigoted stuff on there in the first place, but for not realising how social media comes with a whole world of judgmental baggage.

Still it is sad to see young lives potentially ruined by these errors. We all make mistakes and say horrible things about other people (especially when we're young).

Maybe in a few years time the net will be widened and the people today who make death threats against Trump or make derogatory remarks about celebrities, politicians etc - will get the Ellie treatment and perhaps be ejected from a gameshow or lose their job for offensive things they said years ago.

Maybe one day we will all be forced to be nice, to everyone, always;

Won't that be fun.