Desensitization

From the movie NOVOCAINE

There is a movie out right now entitled NOVOCAINE and it is apparently about a man who can't feel anything. As a result, falling through a ceiling to land on his head does not elicit the proper response; he seems to, in fact, be casually talking on the phone. THIS IS NOT NORMAL!

Desensitization

The definition: a process that reduces or eliminates an organism's sensitivity to a specific stimulus over time.

The mechanism: repeated exposure to a stimulus gradually decreases its ability to elicit a strong response. This occurs through a physiological and psychological adaptation process.

Yesterday, I attended an event hosted by some old friends and acquaintances and found that I was grievously offended by the 'entertainment.' But, I thought, 'I am not easily offended or prudish.' Then I paused to rethink that thought, practically speaking. I have sat in meetings at work, or over lunch where jokes were told in poor taste, or stories shared with a bit 'too much information', but not wanting to be one of those 'overly sensitive' people, I readily put it in the not offended column. I don't typically swear; I have, but it is rare. (Though I remember a time that I did, all the time, to be 'cool.') I have watched movies with swearing in them, and can turn a deaf ear. However, as my adult children make their way through life I have said, quite emphatically, that some words are just not necessary in the songs or stories they write. We have even debated the use of language in a casual setting, just talking with friends. My position is, if you are intelligent and have a vocabulary, then use the appropriate words to convey your thoughts and don't pepper your speech with common foul words. It creates a particular vernacular that people will begin to automatically associate with you. So, use your brain, and don't grasp for the easy reach of common profanity.

Considering this is the guidance that I give my children, then it is clear I have opinions on the subject, so why do I instinctively think I am not easily offended? The answer is, desensitization; which, I believe, based on the mechanism outlined above, comes in degrees. For example - in my 20's the sitcom FRIENDS was brand new and I used to watch it every week with my group of friends. We would have dinner and drinks, and watch the show together. It was very funny, and I loved it. But then, I got rid of my television.

(That is another story, but for now it is important to establish that I have not had a television in my house since 2000 (24 YEARS). I don't subscribe to any of the other ways people watch TV now either. I don't watch from a phone or iPad. I ca, and do watch movies from time to time on my computer but that is often using an external DVD player. I think I was one of the last REDBOX users.)

Now fast forward to 2021, we took the family on a weekend getaway and one evening for a couple of hours, everyone was doing something independently, and that left me and my (then 17 year old) son with an hour or so to kill, and we decided to see what was on TV. I turned it on and FRIENDS was on, and it was an episode strangely that I had not seen before. I told my son how funny the show was and that I used to watch it every week. So we settled in to watch. Within a very few minutes I was kind of embarrassed to be watching with my teenage son, because the sexual innuendos were not so subtle, and actually made up most of the dialog. I turned it off and convinced myself that the earlier episodes were not like that, but we all know they were.

When we visit Nana and Papa's house we sometimes turn on the television, and I am appalled by the commercials (I actually love the Great British Baking Show). Commercials today are...shocking! It seems there is no such thing as an inappropriate subject, or any mindfulness in programming for the time of day. When I was young there were considerations as to who might be watching, so before 8PM the commercials were G rated. They got PG after 8PM when most children were in bed. But now? My goodness! All over body deodorant (and they illustrate all over), medications for countless ailments (some applicable to a very small percentage of the audience and more than a bit scandalous) and other bodily functions that you would not, or should not, discuss at the dinner table. The bar continues to be lowered and nobody notices. Pretty soon people will be downright naked and children will grow up thinking that is normal. We are being DESENSITIZED and don't even realize it. Skeptical? Reread the definition and mechanism.

Now let's get back to last evening's entertainment, (which included well over 100 guests) it was profane in the extreme. I sat politely observing, but wanting to leave. The name of God was taken in vain too many times to even count. But, we didn't leave because we didn't want to offend anyone. Ironic isn't it? I had a hard time believing I was the only one taking such offense, but by the response from everyone else at the conclusion, I think I was. References were made about the inspiration behind it and I was at a complete loss. In the discussion that followed, profane words were used like any other noun, verb or adjective. I could only conclude that they, as a whole, did not have ears to hear. However, the thing is, I expected as much, so why go? I have come to realize I live in a very controlled environment, which can mean there are many things I do not see/know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but sometimes you need to be better armed. Which is why I write this today.

Societally, we have allowed others to shape our character, our tolerance and our indignation. The things that get us all worked up have been skewed by media largely, and have distorted what tolerance really means. This didn't happen overnight, but it has happened and is happening still. Where will we be if we don't pay attention now? How much is too much? There was a short story called The Stranger, I read years ago, (you can view one retelling of it here) and it only becomes more prevalent as time and technology march on. I, for one, am not against technology, but I certainly know I want to be the one in control of who, how, and what shapes my character. I don't believe I am inordinately sensitive, but by pulling away from media my barometer has returned to normal when it comes to being appropriately indignant to scandalous situations.

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Solemnity of St Joseph means no soup today and we had to be in LA by 6 so we grabbed Chipotle.