Are You Numb to Horror? Why That’s Not a Problem
It’s perfectly fine to be numb to horror. If horror is your thing, and you enjoy it, then keep engaging with it. It doesn’t matter if you find all horror content entertaining and non-intimidating. In fact, if it leaves you feeling unbothered, you’re doing you a favor.
The Harmless Effects of Horror
Watching, listening, and reading horror does not have to be a scary experience. Horror is often designed to entertain and engage, rather than to scare you into a fit of nightmares. Many people find that horror movies, stories, and literature don’t have any more profound effects on them than they do on me. If horror doesn’t bother you, it simply means that it’s not what your mind finds terrifying.
Signs of Desensitization and Their Significance
Have you ever known someone who boasts about their ability to watch horror movies without being bothered, even falling asleep with no nightmares? Some people do pride themselves on this, as if it’s an accomplishment. However, the question is, what is the point of watching horror if it has no effect on you? True horror should provide a shot of adrenaline or a thrilling experience, not leave you completely indifferent.
The adrenaline rush and the thrill of horror are often what people seek. They watch to relish the fear, the suspense, and the spine-tingling moments. These stories are crafted to evoke a certain feeling, and some viewers don’t take them seriously because of their ridiculousness. Horror literature, for the most part, doesn’t delve into deep ideas or require much introspection. It aims to entertain and sell more books and movies.
Why Desensitization Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
Being desensitized to fear-inducing content doesn’t mean you’re no longer capable of being scared. Desensitization to societal fears could mean that you have either discovered what truly scares you (such as being buried alive, dying alone, or alien abduction) or that you are not easily frightened by anything. The latter is a rare trait; if you are not scared of anything, you might come across as somewhat unsettling to others.
The craze a few decades ago of blaming horror fiction for affecting people's emotions negatively was largely debunked. Those who spread such claims often did so to evade justice for criminal acts. Unless you are particularly disturbingly entertained by torture porn and envision building your own dungeons, it’s more likely that you find horror stuff unbothering because you don’t take it too seriously.
Many horror novels and films are so absurd or ridiculous that it’s difficult to fault anyone for not being deeply affected. Horror is meant to be entertaining, and if it doesn’t scare you, it’s just not your cup of tea.
Conclusion
Ultimately, being numb to horror isn't a bad thing. It simply means that you find it entertaining rather than frightening. If horror movies, videos, or literature don’t bother you, it means they aren’t tapping into your emotional or psychological triggers.