Adults don't have the luxury or excuse of youth to say, "it was a stupid thing to say, but my thoughts were immature and my mind and self are still developing".

Adults don't have the luxury or excuse of youth to say, "it was a stupid thing to say, but my thoughts were immature and my mind and self are still developing". Perhaps we should, at least more than we do in practice today. I'm not sure enforcing conservative views or limiting open debate on controversial subjects is good for either the individuals involved or society as a whole.