I think it's become a case of "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

> But my conclusion is that cancel culture is nothing new.

Probably as old as time.

Definitely not a new thing, it always amazed me that people genuinely believe so, but I bet there are more witch-hunts thanks to the internet than ever and that is what makes it feel like it's a new phenomena. There's more, spreads way faster, always someone new to "cancel" or "protect".

Big parts of the internet are like constant reality tv dramas.

It used to be called excommunication for heresy, but the behavior is identical.