A public is shockable or offendable only to the extent that it is already uncomplacent and uncorrupt—to the extent, in other words, that it is a community or remembers being one. What happens after the audience becomes used to being shocked and is therefore no longer shockable—as is apparently near to being the case with the television audience? What if offenses become stimulants—either to imitate the offenses or to avenge them?
