*The following is in no means a defense of being an asshole or bigot of any sort. It is just an observation due to current events.
Back before recording devices were ever invented people could say things, just to test out the argument. Those with a spouse know that these tests didn’t always end well, but it allowed a person to think out loud before it was added to the consciousness of humanity, via writing it down. With the advent of recording devices, especially now with everyone having some sort of recording always on their person, we now have to worry that anything we ever said has been recorded.
The problem with smart phones, drones and things like Google Glass is the use of these to harm reputations, while exposing private unsocial activity or thoughts. Whether surveillance is done by the government or a close friend, it is a major breech of our private personality.
If things are taken out of context, or in a heated situation something is said or done that you regret later on, should it be held against you? With the combined private/government surveillance is there anywhere we can just be ourselves without the fear of offending someone?
Let us take the word “retard” for a moment, and use it as a catch all for all derogatory statements. If this word is said, in whatever context, people get upset, because it is derogatory towards people that have a brain developmental problem. So, if you want to tell someone that they did something “retarded” you have to use stupid or the phrase “not very bright.” Otherwise the people who find the word “retard” offensive will lay into you, and will want some sort of retribution. Which is odd, because no matter the words you are saying the same thing. (Of course this is ignoring the fact that if you say any of the three you are also being a ‘bully.” So you are still screwed.)
So you take the above, and then add drones or things like Google Glass, and then what do you have? You have a world where you can’t be a drunk idiot, or a loud mouth jackass, even in private amongst your friends, since you never know when one of them might turn on you by releasing a recording of something. If this is the world we live in, where are we supposed to let off steam? Where are we supposed to argue for the sake of arguing, can we no longer play “devil’s advocate?” Where are we supposed to discuss opinions that are not fully formed, and so are said in harsh way? Where are we supposed to let our inhibitions out and make poor decisions?
Even if the intention is to castigate those with fully formed offensive opinions, you will stop those that are are just forming well thought out arguments. Beyond that it leads to humiliation of boys and girls who make poor decisions, when the videos are uploaded to social media. And this last one can lead to some poor kid being branded a sexual predator for all of perpetuity, even if it was for peeing in an alley.