Ruin Your Holiday With Just One Tweet!

A couple of friends have been denied entrance into the US after a tweet they posted. The tweet in question read:

Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America.”

But is over zealous security and gripping fear actually misinterpreting and getting in the way of the normal progression of modern language?

Natural Progression And Youth

As the years progress and cultures are subject to change, speech and off the cuff remarks change and update to suit the times. Today we use words and expressions that our grandparetnts would not have dreamed of using. On the flip side, we wouldn’t use their expressions today either.

Where as in the 1950′s a night club may have been referred to as a “Frolic Pad” or the desire to have a good time would have been “Smooth” today, we use more cutting, hard hitting language. When I was at uni, expressions such as “going to rip it up” or “lets smash it” were a Saturday night normality. You thought nothing of it, they were off out to have a good time, plain and simple. Easy to understand, if you are of a younger generation.

So when someone of my age says “I’m going to destroy it” when leaving for a holiday, I would naturally assume they were going to get drunk, have a good time and thoroughly enjoy themselves, not that they were going to actually physically destroy something.

Irresponsible Language But Over Zealous Security

By no means am I saying that this type of language is big or clever or even appropriate. Yes it is irresponsible. It’s is even more so when you are actually in an airport trying to get somewhere for your holidays.

However, is it fair to not give someone the chance to explain themselves? This type of language is common place today and one flippant remark cost them their holiday. Is security in the face of terrorism and 9/11 getting too much? I understand why it was flagged. It has all the hall marks of what they would be looking for in terms of security. But they had no devices or suspicious things on them. They had no history of unlawful activity or terrorism. They were clearly no threat, just stupid with their wording.

Key Take Away

Whether it’s over the top or not, the world, particularly America, have to be careful. Better safe than sorry. And yes, people need to think twice before tweeting such expressions. However,  it is the way of the words today, so is it time for people to accept the new language and adjust to suit it? Bearing in mind these people had no history of terrorism and threats? It’s a tough call, maybe there is no right answer.

~Articles: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312

~Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salihan