Have we become a Nation of desensitized people?

1. 65

   SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years ago

   Have we become a Nation of desensitized people?
   
   There have been so many shootings of the innocent in the past year most of us are no longer surprised to hear about another one happening. Why did this one in Newtown, CT touch the hearts of our Nation and world? Was it because children were involved, or that elementary school is supposed to be safe? As a New Yorker I felt for Katrina Victims but even though Sandy didn't destroy my home I am devastated for the victims. Why do we feel differently about different situations?

   replyreport
2. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Yes, because of video games that are played where the more people you kill, the better you are considered at the game. Also movies and television shows that children watch, and also movies where people are killed in every other scene has desensitized a generation to human life. There are no reset buttons in life, nor can you just push reverse and act like it never happened. Life is not a game. Life's decisions are for keep.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My generation watch Fred and Bam Bam beat up and the Coyote tried to kill the Road Runner daily. Also Tom & Jerry.  We still had compassion and empathy.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely SEXYLADYDEE.

      replyreport
3. 61

   eternals3ptemberposted 11 years ago

   Considering the volume of stuff on HubPages devoted to this shooting, I'd say we care. On the other hand, can we really feel that bad about people we don't know? If we did we would cease to function because people get shot everyday, dozens die everyday....

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Being sympathetic to every disaster might lead one to shut down. While training to be a drug counselor we were taught to empathize with our clients and their situations. We would become ineffectual if we allowed ourselves to drown in their sorrows.

      replyreport
4. 66

   safiq ali patelposted 11 years ago

   I'm not sure I have become desensitized. All the bad new still hurts. Some times the bad news hurts more than every before. I don't think we are becoming desensitized I think we are being hurt as people more than I have ever know. It feels like we live in very painful times..

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      After watching the news all day lat Friday and not learning the truth until around 3-4pm I couldn't stop the tears or my sorrow. My grandson is 4 I don't know if I could go on without him. So yes some of us feel more & some don't seem to feel at

      replyreport
5. 0

   Justsilvieposted 11 years ago

   I used to think we were becoming desensitized and using it for self preservation, because with modern media, almost every horror is being committed on this planet is accessible in minutes and it is all too much for us to take in.
   
   I have had some thoughts about it and wonder if brain is changing to allow us to be able to process violence and horror in a manner, that won’t completely wack us out. By the reaction and tears of the multitude to the latest horror I really would say the majority of people are not.
   
   Do wonder if we have a Gene that generates our Empathy and if some people are born without it?

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have worked with a few sociopaths and I do believe that there is some defect that causes some people to be born without it. Their lives must be so empty to have to pretend to have what they can never feel. Dee

      replyreport