are we still able to be shocked??

Question

with all the terrible things that happen in our society, i may feel upset, angry, digusted - but im never shocked by anything i read or hear anymore

does anyone else feel like this?

Answer 1

You are right I am never shocked at what people are capable of anymore - when 21 yr old lads can rape 2 yr old babies it doesn't get any worse........

Just protect your own is all I can say.....

Answer 2

You've hit on a loaded subject. It would take a book by someone trained in psychology to really probe, however I would like to add to the conversation.
I think the development of media technology and the trends we've seen in the industry have conditioned us to this end. Instant access and a constant flood of information, coupled with the sensationalism of some of the news industry in their clammor for ratings has thrown the amount of global violence in our faces almost constantly.
In the Leave It To Beaver world of the 1950s, the kind of violence we have certainly took place, as it had 20 years earlier during the Holocaust. The difference was that society was much more ashamed of it than we are. We can look to the cultural revolution of the 1960s for that. Individual values shifted and we became so much more brazen about the things we had been, at least, somewhat ashamed of like having a baby outside of wedlock and the like.
These different social systems are connected in one big ball of wax: this is why it needs a book to do it justice.

Answer 3

Hmm, you would think that after 9/11 we would all remain shocked forever, but not so, we are conditioned to instant shock and awe, (because the media are there waiting to show you it over your evening meal,) reference to Baghdad there. But we don't live with the smell of blood and cordite so its easier to take it on board without puking on the floor every time we see something that looks like a pile of meat wrapped around a bombed out vehicle. The knock on effect in society must be the same as experienced in war torn countries, where 'things' have to go on regardless for those who are walking the roulette wheel of life. So called friendly fire shocks me most of all, cowboys in multi million dollar A10 tank busters shooting at anything that is moving in the direction of the enemy? Our Prime Sinister minister keeping his mouth shut, conveniently. And the idiocy of allowing these gun ho idiots to train others at the same job. You are right nothing shocks me anymore

Answer 4

I think after 9/11 and the Tunsami - man made and a natural disaster on such a large scale - I assume that we wouldn't be as shocked if a similar scale disaster (of whatever cause) happens again.

Of course we would be angry and saddened by the incident but unfortunately I suppose we subconsciously prepare ourselves for these events and learn to kind of toughen up.

It is sad that we become this way but I suppose we need to, to protect ourselves.

Answer 5

Yes I also feel this way-no matter how bad the things I hear about on the news are I'm not surprised.I'm 25 but have felt this way since my early teens.I guess I learned early that people are capable of anything.

Some people are still shocked-my mum for example as she insists on believing all people are good deep down.Sweet but I feel naive on her part.

Answer 6

I'm afraid of feeling that way. There's always something worse that can happen.

But there's always something better that can happen. I'd find it shocking for, say, even a single oil company to embrace renewable energy, or for folks to stop fighting over religion.

Those things won't happen, but it's nice to dream.

Answer 7

No, I am no longer shocked by what I see or hear anymore but I do get confused as to why some things happen...

Answer 8

wow! This is a great question. I've long been concerned about how disensitized people (and children) are to today's happenings. It's kind of scary if you ask me. But it's a reality. Shouldn't we feel something in order to maintain our morality and empathy? We need to pray!

Answer 9

I agree with you. Dreadful things happen too often for one to be shocked. What is even worse is when you start to become numbed by it all. One more dead soldier, one more dead child, one more old lady treated abominably in hospital, one more old man terrorised by feral youths, so it goes on That is when we lose our humanity if we are not careful.

Answer 10

i think that with the whole internet boom and hungry media intent on getting the most disturbing facts out possible, we have became somewhat systematicly desenitised to these things that happen in our society today.
I feel the same as you do mate.