Compare this with the treatment of Paula Deen by her sponsors, who are dropping her products left and right, because of her speech years ago. She is being labeled a racist, and of course nobody wants to be associated with a racist, do they?
In this case, the video gamer is being labeled a terrorist because of his speech. It's almost a preemptive charge. Better to charge and try him for terrorist threats now than have him actually harm anyone sometime down the line.
Of course there is a vast difference between corporations' political correctness and the criminal justice system, but both instances show the importance and interpretation of speech.
I don't really understand how you're connecting these dots, so I suspect that I'm getting trolled here, but your comparison makes no sense. Paula Deen spouting racist nonsense does not show anything about "interpretation of speech" unless she claims that her racist nonsense was somehow misinterpreted. Was she being sarcastic with her slave-themed event? Seems shockingly implausible (and she certainly hasn't suggested as much.)
But you're correct, there is a vast difference between corporations showing her the door (though while you call it "political correctness" I would call it "the free market rejecting some old racist speech") and this kid who very likely didn't mean what he said literally.
Well racist thoughtcrime is still "only speech", just like violent thoughtcrime is "only speech", no matter how you interpret it.
What you can say about Deen vs. this gamer is that a business is free to do what they want, but the government must respect the First Amendment.
But at the same time making threats against others has also been considered wrong to do. I personally wouldn't actually press charges against this guy (despite the spattering of school shootings recently) but I also wouldn't fault the state for taking a very close look at whether he was serious or not.
In this case, the video gamer is being labeled a terrorist because of his speech. It's almost a preemptive charge. Better to charge and try him for terrorist threats now than have him actually harm anyone sometime down the line.
Of course there is a vast difference between corporations' political correctness and the criminal justice system, but both instances show the importance and interpretation of speech.