I lost the ability to be shocked when I was about 18. That was a very, very long time ago.
I think several different things keep me from being shocked:
I rarely believe that what I see on the internet or other news is true, or the whole truth, or a balanced, unbiased report.
I keep in mind that everything that gets said, there's a motivation behind saying it and a purpose, rather than say, strictly, a 'fact'.
I keep in mind that anyone can create the reality they want by manipulating statistics, by ignoring 'other facts' or by being rabidly committed to some fanatical cause that causes them to be all or partially blind to any other point of view, whether their stance is obviously fanatical or not.
I keep in mind that everyone has something to sell, whether they realize it or not.
I keep in mind that everyone has 'an ulterior motive', basically, themselves and their interests and defending their own choices, even if that means interpreting current events in a completely irrational, non-informed way.
I keep in mind that everyone has fears, ignorances and biases that affect how they interpret what they see (including me and thee).
I keep in mind that people make their choices of who or what they support, based on emotion most of the time, not based on facts they have validated.
I keep in mind that people rarely consider any other point of view, except very briefly, to discard it, make fun of it or shoot it down based on some 'key fact' they are very sure is ironclad and excludes all other facts. People are generally convinced they are right and there is no other 'right' point of view other than theirs.
I keep in mind that when people hear news stories, they make emotional decisions of who is right and who is wrong, and that those decisions are usually exactly what the media wants them to decide.
The old story of the two old Indian woman watching the little boy walk down the path in front of their house, with new varnish on it.
