This is the moral of the story. Twitter is a public record. You’re saying things into a microphone cranked to the max for the whole world to hear, if it wants to. If you’re not savvy enough to understand that what you say in a public forum, no matter how long ago, can have massive consequences... you will learn, and you’ll learn the hard way.
Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. It’s all the same. You are responsible for what you post, and the consequences that come with it. Then, now, and always. It’s a big responsibility.
People only "learn the hard way" because sick and wicked people relish causing pain and suffering to other people who they don't like, and the people employing them are scared of having their heads placed on the chopping block if they don't offer a sacrifice to appease these lunatics. There is no law or moral obligation to harshly punish people for merely saying stupid shit on the internet that doesn't pose any threat to others. This is a stupid argument (unless you are advocating to control what people are allowed to say of course), and it's time that the world flushes this twitter lynch mob mentality right in the shitter where it belongs. There is no requirement that we burn witches for saying witchy things. Only happens because sick people get off on it, feeling all smug and morally superior.
And its beyond hypocritical coming from the same side demanding criminal justice reform. I mean really, by the logic of say stupid things online and learn a harsh lesson, why shouldn't every criminal transgression cause massive pain with long prison sentences or beatings from the police? Play stupid games win stupid prizes, right? It's not the fault of the people overreacting when sentencing offenders or arresting them, its merely the fault of the person who made a mistake, right? (Of course not)
People screw up. Every single person will make mistakes. Every single person will say things they regret. This is a guarantee in life. We cannot change that, and demanding perfection by condoning this nonsense is not right. It needs to stop. S T O P.