Really, it is the price of unmitigated stupidity more than freedom.
That is to say, stupid should hurt... and it no longer does.
I don't mean (just) physical pain but the much more effective societal pain.
People who did stupid things used to be ostracized by the community. Kids were raised with standards and if they didn't abide by them, the parents were *rightfully* embarrassed... and the kids punished.
Parents who raised kids without standards were known and to anyone with sense, it was embarrassing and a strong incentive to not be stupid, or let your kids do stupid things, or to embarrass your parents.
Certainly, this system was not always perfect, or even right, but it was effective, and it no longer exists.