Unfortunately, it turns out the global village really is a village, complete with narrow-mindedness, unfounded gossip, and rigid thinking. Such ignorance forms the foundation, solid, impenetrable, for truly puritanical behavior. Intolerance and Hypocrisy. Not just free to do it, but really compelled to do it. Because the little territory is actually quite fragile, and anything which threatens the puritan's integrity must be countered with force.
Ignorance builds the walls.
Fear and hypocrisy defend them. Anyone different, that is, anyone not inside, is a threat. It doesn't matter what form the difference takes. Classically, in the good old days, the differences were religious, moral, and to some extent, political. And, as I noted above, we still have plenty of proto-puritans who make good livings castigating all us religious and moral and political backsliders.