have standing ovations become meaningless?

Not meaningless.  But absolutely … inflated.

Here’s what happened.

The Inflation Problem

Once upon a time, a standing ovation meant:

• The audience was stunned.

• Something transcendent just happened.

• You physically could not remain seated.

Now?

It often means:

• “That was worth my time.”

• “The lead actor is famous.”

• “I don’t want to be the only one sitting.”

• “The show ended and that’s what we do.”

• It's the first step to heading out the door.

It’s like the standing ovation got upgraded to a default setting.

Who Stands?

Tourists stand.

Subscribers stand.

Friends of cast members stand.

The couple who paid $379 per ticket and need to justify it stand.

And then everyone else stands because social gravity is real.

It’s a cascade.

The Psychology of It

There’s real behavioral science here:

• Social proof — if others stand, it must be good.

• Norm signaling — you don’t want to look cold.

• Emotional contagion — energy spreads quickly.

• Sunk cost rationalization — you want the experience to feel worth it.

The first five people determine the outcome.

So … Are They Worthless?

Not exactly.

There are still moments when:

• The room goes electric.

• People stand instantly.

• Applause is chaotic, not polite.

• You feel slightly stunned.

That kind of ovation still means something.

But the average post-show stand-up? It’s closer to a cultural reflex than a judgment.

My hot take:

Standing ovations didn’t become meaningless.

They became democratized.

And when everything is exceptional, nothing is exceptional.