* apologizes for offensive tweet.

[Jesus Malverde]

Steve Martin apologizes for offensive Twitter joke
http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2013/12/23/steve-martin-apologizes-for-offensive-twitter-joke/

‘Ashamed’ ex-PR executive apologizes for AIDS in Africa tweet
http://kdvr.com/2013/12/23/ashamed-ex-pr-executive-apologizes-for-aids-in-africa-tweet/

Wash. lawmaker apologizes for 'desert racist wasteland' Tweet
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wash-lawmaker-calls-Arizona-racist-wasteland-after-Seahawks-loss-237044051.html

NFL Player Tweets Racist Joke
http://www.buzzfeed.com/joelanderson/nfl-player-tweets-racist-joke-and-refuses-to-apologize

And that was just the last couple of days...

[defacto7]

1. It's a new fad.

Say what you mean then take it back as a public apology like it erases the hurt... but you still get to say what you meant the first time yet you get away with it. It's a ploy going around for a few years. It will pass.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. therefore, Twitter's the DEBBILL!

[Jesus Malverde]

3. If you're a careless...

It could ruin your career, cause your spouse to leave you, ruin your political chances or cost you a quarter million when tweet the wrong address...

For some twitter is indeed the debbil.

For me it's a great aggregator and a lot of fun.

[Skittles]

4. I can't figure out if social media is making people more stupid

or just proving how stupid they are

[Jesus Malverde]

5. I think it's a combination of people being sloppy or stupid...

Compounded with the rapid "viral" nature of tweets. It's like stupid on crack...

The tale of the PR exec was amazing. She had two hours left on her flight to joburg. The whole twitter-verse knew she was fired...

The protagonist overwhelmed by the now dramatic audience. Where DU delivers Pizza, twitter seems to deliver real life pestilence.

[Skittles]

6. I've long thought that "Be yourself" is the worst advice you can give most people

I believe Twitter is proving me correct