I believe the proper libshit term is "we started a conversation".
Indeed. And I will actually apply that across the political spectrum, at least on the social media. This is another good point as to why I think the Twitters and Facebooks have become more evil than good. People threw their hate on these kids based on false information, and they did so on platforms where thousands or hundreds of thousands of people saw it.
They threw out a strong opinion on something that turned out to be mostly false - opinions that "everybody" saw. Now they (because human nature) have to somehow defend themselves from looking wrong in front of all those people, because sincere apologies are too hard. It's easier to apologize and "look like a fool" on APS ( I have done this at least a few times here
) in front of dozens, than to do so on a platform where "everybody" sees that you were wrong.
Had this not been "immediate news" thanks to an edited social media video, you wouldn't have all these people covering their tracks. Of course I care less about these people trying to save face than I do about the death threats that are now pouring in for the one kid and his family.