Why is it so hard to shock people nowadays?

Question

As a performer myself, there's really no way to make people say "wow." anymore. Twenty years ago, if you swore in public, people looked down on you. Fifty years ago, you couldn't even say the word "pregnant" on television. Why do you think it's so hard to shock people nowadays?

Answer 1

we have been desensitized

it's sad really

Answer 2

Because people have seen it all.

Answer 3

Because 50 years ago, we were a repressed culture.  The 60's and 70's loosened things up a bit, but we are still pretty repressed.  It's easy to shock people.  Heck, just take a look at the last 10 websites I visited if you want some shock value.

Answer 4

I think it's the old sayings that rings true. Been there done that, Got the tee shirt and went back for the hat. Society has become shock proof due to a laxed freedom.

Answer 5

Overload.

People have learned what humanity really is like.

And humanity really is despicable.

Answer 6

everything shocking has been done before really....plus people now a days are somewhat boring

Answer 7

Everything is accepted by the media nowadays. Homosexuality, swearing, s*x everything is accepted and pretty much over seen today so it's so much harder to shock people

Answer 8

it is hard because we make it hard.

everthing is done, it has to be outside of

moral/cultural standards to surprise people and to go that next step

to shock them you must be orignal.

and with the constant death and doom advertisements/common media

putting out garbage people get anesthetized to it

if this make sense

Answer 9

Why is it so hard to shock people nowadays?

With all the political correctness and banning

of words, what's left to say that would shock

anybody, guess it must be working, " wow "

peace instead of pieces . . .

Answer 10

Agree with 1st post. I am disappointed to see how desensitized we have all come. Things were kinder somehow just 30 years ago. Done with more taste.

Could you do a show like that? A retro show? One  that captures a time more tasteful? You might be surprised how many people would love to have a performance we can see with every age.

Answer 11

The amount of TV which is here and is available I guess everyone here has more than 200 channels right. I think we seen more on TV than in our own lifes reason why nothing really new no more

Answer 12

our culture is probably more acceptable and act more like realist.  

Answer 13

As an American teenager, I have been desensitized to certain things.

I curse more than before, however, I try to limit my usage. My friends also curse as well. I think it's the fact that teenagers are growing up faster than ever.

Violence is ever-present in the images we see on television and in video games. I used to be squeamish at the sight of blood, but many of the games I play now have ever present quantities of it.

Music also presents an audible desensitization. Many artists now a days use cursing in their lyrics and talk about sexual activities.

It's mainly a combination of the fallout from the 60s, the media, and the unavoidable aspect of being a teenager and then translating into adult life.