[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Robodog

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.

Again, you're defending her right to be racist under the guise of "God, you can't do anything anymore. I wonder if people will get the sack in future for saying Janet Street Porter has funny teeth!"

No. She's not a victim of "Evil Internet", she's opted to do a stupid teenager thing on the internet, rather than in life where it can be forgotten. There's a difference.

It's not about being "nice to everyone" it's about not being racist, and not being racist in public where, guess what, people will judge you for that.

Yes, making a racist joke to your mum or friends is something that could just be forgotten or not ruin your life, something you can regret and move on from. But this isn't about that, she made it online next to a profile identifying her to the whole world. BIG DIFFERENCE.