Communications technology, human nature, and law

25 August 2026 Some things change, some things stay the same * Any commentator on human affairs has to reckon with two things: that certain things do not change, and that certain things do. The job is to work out the difference. In one way – perhaps the X-axis – there is nothing new under the sun. And in another way – the Y-axis – there is always something new. Pundits will also have preferences: some prefer the old and will disparage the new, and some will prefer the new and disparage the old. Some pundits will be small-c conservative and others small-r radical. But all commentators have to wrestle with the two same things: continuity and change. * Internet-based communications are new, at least in their technology and availability and reach. For those who grew up before around the year 2000 it was actually quite difficult for most people to communicate outside of your own circle. You could write a letter to the newspaper or someone on the telly or print a pamphlet and hand it out,…