I think people need to remember that Twitter is, by its nature, a very public platform. If the board chair made these idiotic comments on a non-public Facebook profile, I would say that’s no different than talking to a roomful of friends and is nobody else’s business. But if you say it on Twitter, you might as well be standing in a crowded public area speaking through a megaphone. I’m not sure if it’s right to fire him, but he did pick up the megaphone.
Anyone who thinks they are only talking to their friends/followers on Twitter should read the story of [url = <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html%5DJustine”>http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html]Justine Sacco. Google her if NYT blocks you with a pay-wall. Whether you think it’s fair or not, what’s happening to this guy is nothing compared to what can happen. And if you’re really interested in the whole internet-shame phenomenon, pick up Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – it’s a great read.