Are we more conservative?

As a nation we seem increasingly unable to exercise common sense and make our own judgements; everything is prescribed and legislated.

It sometimes appears to me that the only youngsters learning how to use their initiative are chavs, yobbos and feral kids.

"I, Claudius" and "The Singing Detective" were just as racey in their time, if not more so, than today's programmes

Maybe but "I, Claudius" didn't feature full frontal nudity. And 'mainstream' films didn't feature real sex like 'Nine Songs'.

I'm not disputing what you are saying, I'm just exploring an idea.

plays and TV programmes are ever more explicit

I'm not sure about that. You get more reality bollox with birds desperate for "fame" getting their tits out for the braindead masses, but things like "I, Claudius" and "The Singing Detective" were just as racey in their time, if not more so, than today's programmes.

On the other hand, the TV portrayal of violence has gone completely the other way. You could not show a programme with the violence content of "The Sweeney" in an 8 o'clock slot now, but you can show "Casualty", presumably because that's "reality" gore and violence.

Weird.

At the end of the day, "it's not my fault, it's the government / school / society / voices in my head" that are to blame.

Some recent posts have got me wondering; are we more or less conservative than in previous years?
Prima facie I'd have to say we are less conservative; men and women walk the streets wearing next to nothing, films, plays and TV programmes are ever more explicit, hardly anyone is upset by sex outside of marriage.
However, there is also a trend of growing conservativism. A good example of this is the incident some years back when that newsreader was arrested after taking photos of her children playing in the bath to Boots for development.

As a nation we seem increasingly unable to exercise common sense and make our own judgements; everything is prescribed and legislated. Watching certain films or playing games are blamed for any act of crime or deviance.

What do others think?