Horrific…
The thing about shocking is, it always gets attention.
I’m certain this PSA about child abuse was noticed. It’s brutal. Shocking! Even knowing these are actors, that it’s not real, that he’s not really being hurt, the first time you see it, it’s incredibly effective on an emotional level.
We all slow down to look at the damage inflicted in a bad car wreck.
Howard or Bubba or Rush or “insert name here” use shock to get you to listen. Frankly, shocking isn’t all that difficult.
Except that after a while, normal shocking doesn’t shock. It requires escalation.
And eventually, inevitably, that leads to alienation except from the most die-hard wannabees and ditto-heads.
It’s much more difficult to engage me every day without shocking me.
But it’s the path I hope you choose.