306) Jump To Tweet

There have been some major cases of tweet backlash in the news recently. Kenneth Cole got into trouble for his insensitive tweet about Egypt:


(Photo from Jezebel.)

And just today, NYU fellow and now-known douchebag Nir Rosen resigned over several completely cruel jokes he tweeted regarding Lara Logan (because rape is HILARIOUS, no?). His response to the backlash:


(From Mashable.)

Rosen's shame spiral via Twitter can be viewed here. (Actually a fascinating read. To see it all unfold! Though, the most tasteless tweets have been deleted.)

"I, of all people, should know the power of words and the power of social media. In a few minutes of insensitive and sadistic banter meant to childishly provoke a few acquaintances my thoughtless words were seen by many thousands, and hurt many thousands."

(Read the rest of his damage control interview here.)

Without excusing either gentlemen from their actions, most of the tweets that incite a backlash response from the interwebs seem to be the result of just that - a thoughtless joke. In an effort to capitalize on a (inappropriate) situation, and prove how witty and clever they are, both jumped to tweet. In the end, whether this is a manifestation of true ignorance or an ill-judged slip matters little - the quickness with which the Internet records and reacts to it brings immediate repercussions.

So without social media, these tasteless quips wouldn't be made public (the fact that they are made voluntarily public kills me - we really have no one to blame but ourselves), and we would know less about people's insensitivity/true nature. If Twitter and Facebook didn't exist and Rosen said his oh-so-inappropriate comments straight to the brosephs for which they were intended, none of us would be the wiser and he would still be an NYU fellow, for better or worse.