Being handy works both ways, and limits work both ways.
I'm developing courseware that runs on the web. I'm fairly familiar with how to make stuff happen in a browser, in other words I know how to use paperclips and ductape in javascript and html.
So I can see the strict limits imposed by the web. Back in the 90s my courseware began as a Windows program, only runnable on Windows. In that setup, with a fixed and unchanging set of external rules, I developed some powerful interactive learning techniques. After I moved online in 2014, I had to eliminate most of the interesting stuff. Each browser has different requirements, and each browser constantly updates to CHANGE the requirements. Most of my good stuff was immediately impossible, and more of it had to be cast off with each new "flexibility" of the outer world.
The same rule works in civic life or a live classroom. When culture or teacher enforces a highly restrictive and unchanging external universe of manners and civility, free exchange of ideas is possible. When culture is constantly changing and enforced by dozens of competing forces, you have to say only what the most powerful force allows as of this minute. Any violation of some previously unguessed standard will be pounced on and annihilated by bullies.
The idea of limits is powerful.
Being handy works both ways, and limits work both ways.
I'm developing courseware that runs on the web. I'm fairly familiar with how to make stuff happen in a browser, in other words I know how to use paperclips and ductape in javascript and html.
So I can see the strict limits imposed by the web. Back in the 90s my courseware began as a Windows program, only runnable on Windows. In that setup, with a fixed and unchanging set of external rules, I developed some powerful interactive learning techniques. After I moved online in 2014, I had to eliminate most of the interesting stuff. Each browser has different requirements, and each browser constantly updates to CHANGE the requirements. Most of my good stuff was immediately impossible, and more of it had to be cast off with each new "flexibility" of the outer world.
The same rule works in civic life or a live classroom. When culture or teacher enforces a highly restrictive and unchanging external universe of manners and civility, free exchange of ideas is possible. When culture is constantly changing and enforced by dozens of competing forces, you have to say only what the most powerful force allows as of this minute. Any violation of some previously unguessed standard will be pounced on and annihilated by bullies.