Why are Olympic athletes posting inappropriate comments on Twitter?

[Cooper]

It seems like every day, since the start of the Olympics, we hear of yet another athlete that has been banned from participating. There was some media attention to this Olympic games being the first social media Olympics. Any thoughts as to why they are posting inappropriate comments on Twitter, a public forum? What happened to the idea of keeping your thoughts to yourself?

[thedamnmushroom]

Because they can. (And shouldn't.) Twitter and Facebook give everyone the ability to say something stupid to the whole world where they can and will read it.

[roundeye150]

Where does it say "keep your thoughts to yourself" and how does that apply to free speech?
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While I don't condone what they say, the only thing wrong is that they currently are representing their countries. Being a great athlete (or great anything) does not mean you are intelligent.

People who are great at one thing are usually total idiots at everything else.

I applaud their right to be stupid.