When we shout in the town, the guard will come and complain that it makes people nervous, but if we cast magic, of course the guards complain but not to the extent that ask us to stop. When we cast magic, some kids will come and ask us to show some magic. Some guards will give positive comments on certain magic such as restoration and Illusion. But shout is clearly something that people fear, even Ivarstead people fear Greybeards because hearing them shout everyday. Why is that?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch the magic!"

"That spell looks dangerous. Keep your distance."

Probably because the Thu'um is more powerful than any spell ingame.

"Did you hear? Ulfric walked into the King's throne room and shouted him to death, literally ripped him to pieces!"

Yeah... I think the thu'um is to be feared the most...

But magic also kills, does it not?

Not to mention it's much more unknown to everyone. Magic is more widely used, whereas most people have never heard/seen someone shout, so they don't know what kind of power it really holds.

I think it is because of the sound, everyone fear loud sound isn't it? It give a shock like cannons, fire crackers, thunder sound

Strun Ba Qo!

It's bound to make people A LITTLE nervous.

we get some compliments if mastering certain magic such as

"Hail, Summoner! Conjure me up a warm bed, would you?"

"You're the one that casts those illusions. Impressive."

It means Skyrim people don't mind if we summon things or rise zombies, making illusions, but they fear shout instead

because people dont know the power of the Thuum. shout in the streets people will say "What was That" "How did You do that" thats bound to make someone nervous

I think it's rather clear that lashing out in an ancient Dragon tongue, would be less accepted than casting spells.

I mean, the High King recently got shouted apart. I think it's a safe assumption that people get a bit on edge around it.

Shouts are more powerful in lore than ingame.
U-Force can bring down city walls. I would fear someone who could do that by shouting.

Well lets put them into a scenario...

PC casts Flames

does 3 fire damage

does 4 fire damage

does 3 fire damage ...

does 2 fire damage ... ...

and so on...

PC casts Unrelenting Force shout knocking a giant over a very high cliff and killing it by fall damage...

Shout wins.

My 220 damage impact Thunderbolt says hello!

You can freeze time, freeze people, call a dragon,

And I imagine that many Nordic myths used to profess just how incredibly powerful the Thu'um was. They brought down entire cities using only the voice. Compared to summoning the dead (which the Voice can do), throwing fireballs (which the voice can do), etc. Using magic that bends reality and shakes the earth, now that's a magic even the Dominion would want to get their hands on.

I always figured the Greater Nordic power "Battlecry" was a simpler, more savage and primitive version of the Thuu'um.

So does a sword. I believe it's mainly because magic has been around for a long time and it's widely known by everyone. However, it's rare to see anyone mastered with the power of the Thu'um even more so someone who isn't Greybeard.

I've never noticed that before...Even while throwing random townsfolk in various directions throughout various periods of gameplay.. Once shot a fireball at a beggar and nobody did anything about it..except maybe one guardsmen, no one else was nearby at the time..

The same thing could be said about magic, like magic can sunk a city, making the whole race disappear, sea of ghosts coming out from nowhere destroy everything, the Eye of Magnus threaten Skyrim but look like no one care

Yes i also think Battlecry is a weaker form of Thu'um of a sort