I propose a more banal explanation for the spontaneous parade element: it’s against the law.
Parades require permits and extensive logistical planning.
Noise ordinances
Curfews
There are no cannons left to fire, and few bells left to ring
These things have steadily eaten into even long established holidays or other celebrations, like Halloween, the Fourth of July, or the Woodward Cruise.
I also am inclined to finger the attention economy; a huge civilizational accomplishment is unlikely to contain any particular surprise by the time it is completed, because it will be preceded by years of predictions, missed deadlines, scandals, conspiracy theories, etc. All of these will be just as accessible to the public at large as the event itself; I feel like there is probably some effect where people’s interest is sort of smeared over all of these and therefore the success announcement falls short of the jubilation-in-the-streets threshold.
I feel like this has unintentionally brought us closer to Petrov’s actual experience.
This tradition has so far consisted of leaving the button alone, with no incentives to push it beyond the ubiquitous temptations of pushing buttons and/or trolling. But that is not what happened to Petrov.
Petrov received a message telling him to push the button or the Bad Thing would happen.
Petrov thought the message looked legit, but noticed there were clues that it wasn’t.
Petrov had little time to make the decision.
He went with the clues and we lived. Chris didn’t and we metaphorically died.
We are still unequal to Petrov, for now.