Listening to that section on the Roman crowds calling out punishments and feeling empowered because they have input into destroying someone, I kept thinking about twitter mobs. Other bits made me think of the way people tend to react to political differences, or the way some view our justice system.
I don't think we've changed much in wanting to see other people hurt and deriving satisfaction from it, or even in the excuses we use to justify that desire ("they're bad and deserve it" "deterrence!" etc). We've just changed in what's acceptable to do to people.
Some sort of progress, at least, even if our desires are the same as they always were.
Kind of a depressing episode. :P
