> In a way, I feel social norms are like a gas in a multi-dimensional parameter space; they expand to cover all the volume allowed by the technology we have. I

> In a way, I feel social norms are like a gas in a multi-dimensional parameter space; they expand to cover all the volume allowed by the technology we have. I'd say if anything technology is a gas that fills a space restricted by both what is technically possible (both generally and for us in particular), and our social norms [0]. The (lack of) prevalence of rape is not just a result of the technical possibility and the efficiency of law enforcement. Most people don't want to do it, just like most people don't want to be terrorists, and like at least some people genuinely don't want to spy on others (which is hard to believe for some I know). [0] that is, our individual choices - since individuals are the only place where things like norms, laws, societies, nations and even technology actually exist, as fragments that together with other fragments in other actually existing people form shape the emergent patterns and behaviours (in the context of technology: hardly anyone, if anyone, understands everything involved in making a CPU, and that involves medicine and food and infrastructure for the workers required, I really mean everything, which for even things much simpler than a CPU is a lot). To consider technology or other things actual agents is just false IMHO, technology doesn't do anything, and it can be pretty much be forgotten within one generation. In that sense, it's not like gas at all, it doesn't just "march on" or "expand".