00:00 Social media, including Twitter, has a long history and can be traced back to the Reformation, with Martin Luther as a key figure who utilized the same tactics seen on social media today, such as spreading fake news and engaging in Twitter spats.

04:35 The Reformation, enabled by the new medium of printing, allowed Martin Luther to dominate the airwaves with his aggressive and scatological language, generating abuse from both Catholics and other reformers.

08:50 The Reformation can be considered a culture war driven by high stakes and the destiny of people's souls, similar to the culture wars of today, which are intensified by technological changes that amplify voices and expose people to opposing views.

12:48 The Reformation and social media both have the effect of obliging people to have strong opinions on everything, even if they know nothing about the subject, and while social media may amplify minority voices, it is still a small group of impassioned individuals that drive social and cultural change.

17:03 The impact of Calvinism in the 16th century reverberated through Europe, leading to the convulsions of the British and Irish civil war in the 17th century, and eventually being exported to America, but not all groups that embark on crusades for change succeed or make it into the history books.

21:02 The transformation in values and ethics, particularly regarding sexuality and gender, has been as rapid as the Reformation in terms of its impact and societal change.

25:35 In ancient Rome, there was no concept of anonymity for politicians and doxing wouldn't have worked because everyone knew where they lived, while trolling and reputation blackening were common in Roman political discourse, with Cicero being particularly skilled at it. Aristides the just may have engaged in virtue signaling about being ostracized for his own virtue signaling, and Socrates had reservations about children learning to write, similar to the disapproval of smartphones today.

29:52 Short and snappy phrases have always been important in politics and culture, as brevity is often more memorable and impactful than long-winded speeches or arguments.

34:07 The potential future orthodoxy could be vegetarianism, while a surprising culture war from the past was the decriminalization and acceptance of homosexuality.

38:28 The podcast discusses the perspective of people who feel left behind by rapid societal changes and how education and technology play a role in driving these changes.