Do you think that we have become too emotionally numb?

Question

as a society in general

Answer 1

Yes, as a society in general, we have become emotionally numb toward the big things, but we find ourselves emotional over puppies, whatever,and not emotional over starvation, war, etc. We are bombarded with so much bad news that we are on sensory and emotional overload,which in turn causes us to become numb and possibly uncaring.

Answer 2

As Pink Floyd said..."Comfortably Numb." i think we have an "oh, that's just too bad" attitude when we hear about random murders, kidnappings, rapes, etc, but when something like 9/11, the Columbine shootings or the recent Amish schoolhouse shootings occur, we awake from that numbness and our shock and anger momentarily redifine us as humans until we once again become complacent until another truly tragic event shakes our very soul. It's a vicious and sad, sad cycle and I am as guilty as the next person for not becoming more emotionally connected to other people's misfortune.

Answer 3

The world is a cold, numb plave to live in this day and age. People refuse to help people because they are too busy, they are the wrong color, or plain just don't care. What ever happened to giving your shirt off your back for another? Where are people's hearts?

Answer 4

I do about some things. Many people reach out and help during national/international disasters, but it quickly becomes just background noise to them once they have helped a little. I can't help but wonder if that is some kind of emotional defense mechanism, like a way to keep it from affecting us too much.

Answer 5

I think so. The Internet isn't helping. It detaches people. I teach, and see the effects of technology in my students... their skills are lower than they would have been fifteen years ago. Teachers have to compete with computer games, Internet, cell phones, ipods and a general sense of apathy in today's youth. And honestly, their parents aren't much better! I cannot tell you how difficult it is to get a kid to read a BOOK these days. Very scary stuff!

Answer 6

Nah, we've just become emotionally dull.

As for numb, nah, if you see a murder you get freaked out, if someone breaks your heart you feel hearbroken.

We've just become dull in our lazy society, and don't bother with doing enough that triggers our emotional reactions. We just tend to watch other do it in movies or tv.

Answer 7

absolutely

we see so much negative stuff so that it's become almost trivial for some people. To them it's like passing over the cartoon section in the newspaper because they think only of their own "struggle for survival" and block everything else out

Answer 8

I think - as a society in general - that we have become greedy, of emotions too

Answer 9

Desensitization spread like a cancer years ago. I think it's caused from television, video games, broken homes, sensationalism in the media etc..
Human nature is intrinsically able to "shut off" pain and trauma we cannot bear. It's a coping mechanism.
We've evolved (devolved?) enough as humankind that we are now able to intrinsically able to "shut off" EMOTIONAL pain and trauma we cannot bear. Would you agree?

Answer 10

i think now does people are more selfish and people dont have time to care because they are to busy with talking on the phone and mb3 players etc . so i think people have a trust issue especially after 911 people just dont trust anyone because they could have been hurt so much it easyer to put up a block wall