It's probably pretty much the same now, as then.
1. Children can be vicious little things, they aren't adult yet.
2. We're just so fucking bored and lacking in direction that we look for offense.
I think South Park did a brilliant job of lampooning the anti-bully bullies of the intolerant Left...
1. Agree.
2. I think the Far Left political fad is present mostly in the US and the UK, from what I noticed on the GB and online.
Here, if you see exaggerations you're more likely to see them from those who lean more Right. Liberal leaning people are pretty cool here.
Here, you are more likely to see those types of dynamics (attacks under the PC mantra) mostly in workplaces in state owned or large institutions.