>Plenty of people have done or said insensitive stuff, especially when young, without being violent or mentally ill. Also we don’t really know anything about this particular case.

What differentiates boys like this from plain bigots is they think they can put it next to their resume. A gut feeling is all you need to tell. It's the "quiet kid in class" energy.

>The other option you mention is they perhaps grew up in a red state? Do you suggest this as a legitimate reason for firing a person?

I was suggesting that being around accepted hate may make one feel more comfortable putting this thing out there.