The online dark ages

All we can offer in our future defence is that showing off is an opioid-grade addiction, as is putting others down.

- JANE CLIFTON

Through modern eyes, past practices like sheathing shapely table legs in case they inflamed lust and planting a rowan tree in the garden to ward off witches are viewed with amused scorn.

What's the bet that's but a shadow of the derision today's social media use will engender in decades to come? The enduring histrionics over sportscaster Gary Lineker's political tweeting is, among other ripples, causing some social media habitués to take stock of how comprehensively this undeniably valuable communications tool is making idiots of them and of people who haughtily disdain it but are nevertheless caught up in the feedback loops of conniption it causes. It's the most wondrous communication resource, yet it's distorting both communications and communicators.

Imagine the incredulity of people a couple of generations hence. You mean to say, future humans will exclaim, that most people used to tell the entire world every passing thought that popped into their head? And that even when they grew up and acquired a bit of sense, their ancient gormless blurts were held against them in perpetuity?