News Trigger Warnings Becoming A Fad?

[OrganicRobot]

I'm concerned that trigger warnings are becoming a go to cop-out for much needed healthy discourse and exposure to the realities and difficulties of life. And I find that the senseless use of trigger warnings devalue my actual experience as a person with PTSD.

During my college years, in an English course I actually was 'triggered' by a short story that had rape in it. I read the story first, then decided to email my professor. Explaining that I was not emotionally able to handle the content at the time. I also requested if I could write an essay on a different short strory as an alternative. However, sadly the professor was quite condescending to me and my suggestion... most likely because of the increasing sensitivity to everything these days. And there has been much discussion about the affects of such on college campus.

The professor denied my request and I ended up writing the essay despite my queasiness. Even if I didn't write the essay and took the hit grade wise... I still wouldn't have complained because the professor's attitude and criteria were fair and just. And today I would be able to read the short story without reacting so strongly because I have worked through quite a bit of my issues.

If we don't deal with and face the hardships of life head on, we are never going heal and grow from the situations. That doesn't mean we shouldn't rest, find a safe area for the time being and recuperate either. But sometimes we don't have that luxury of rest and respite and that is part of life too.

However, with that said there is pretty much trigger warnings for every little thing these days. Which is insane because you can't cater to everyone without becoming paralyzed in a sense. Anyways, I was wondering about others' thoughts on this subject?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I agree, 100%! I welcome a lot of triggers as after the tailspin, i usually have more self awareness, more clarity, and can take steps foward.

Im glad trigger warnings arent here and can write anything trauma wise. It makes things so much easier!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I agree with no trigger warnings because I see a movement that is becoming out of control on this topic growing and it infringes on my right to free speech thus I love being able to communicate here without the trigger warnings.

I have grown because I remember a time in my life when I was unable to cope with certain topics yet pushed through and worked hard and outgrew the need for them.

I understand that this may be the case for some people, yet I see it as being abused over silly things more and more. I choose ultimately whether or not I can read something, and if what I am reading is not for me I go on to the next things easily.

Just my opinion and please toss if this is not useful.

 

[anthony]

Trigger warnings suck... waste of time, politically correct bullshit, IMHO.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Well said anthony. Thank you.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I only know one site that has them and its mental health forum like this one. Im not on but the two. Can anyone tell me like where else trigger warnings are? I dont see it on social media though not on it often.

I wonder if coming to staff/owner of site/contact us etc, and explaining in detail why they suck and henders you?

The other site i showed one of the staff anothoy's article about it but a HUGE difference is theres not age cut off and ive talked to so many kids on there so maybe thats it? Basically it was like "i now know anthony's stance on it but we arent going to stop using them."

Certianly it shouldnt be used if there is an age limited like here and i think it henders us more than helps us. I can easily stop reading and leave the thread if triggered, ignore a person that triggers etc and i think if that was decions made for me and i didnt read something that wouldnt of triggered me, there is that less of help for that person and for myself too as other's threads often help me too. And i dont have a chance to work through something if avoided.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

In colleges. Do some research on college policies of safe places or feminism currently on college campus and check out their policies.

 

[joeylittle]

'Triggered' has become almost synonymous with 'upset', and it's used everywhere. As @gizmo said - on college campuses, it's big. Students will refer to material as being 'triggering', and are asking for 'trigger warnings' to be assigned to certain kinds of content.

I think it's frustrating enough that people with actual triggers often misuse the term. Not everything is a trigger, as is well-articulated in this post: Stressor vs. Trigger - What Is A Trigger? . Having the term be co-opted into general use pretty much renders the word trigger meaningless.

I have used something similar to what this person describes in this op-ed - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/opinion/sunday/why-i-use-trigger-warnings.html?_r=0 - but I think it's very different to give someone a notice of content (the following contains graphic material, or such). That's being respectful of all the different experiences that might be in peoples' backgrounds.

But individuals, not in a mental health context, saying, 'there should be a trigger warning' on this, that, and the other - it's really frustrating.

It's also a good example of how trying to speak on behalf of others' issues usually doesn't go very well. Person A believing that something shouldn't be taught because it talks about rape, because they are worried about all the people who might have been raped (even though Person A has never been raped)...just, stop. Ugh.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

but I think it's very different to give someone a notice of content (the following contains graphic material, or such). That's being respectful of all the different experiences that might be in peoples' backgrounds.

Thank you @joeylittle for expanding on the subject and I agree with you. The article was very interesting and thank you for that. Much appreciation.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

but I think it's very different to give someone a notice of content (the following contains graphic material, or such). That's being respectful of all the different experiences that might be in peoples' backgrounds.

It is, it def is. Like when someone asks if i have a diary, I dont know if that first post is going be like "hello" or not and have had many suprised so i only advise that its my full past and very graphic. I dont advise its "triggering", ever, because there are many that not only isnt triggered but had taken the time to read every single one of my early threads and werent triggered. There are some that would be but thats not on me to determine.

There was a time that i had this site and the other, that has trigger warnings which i sorta got at the time, and were comparing them and not only did i often wanted to post here rather then there as its easier to not have to figure out if its triggering or not and if should just have a trigger icon or also be inside of the trigger code (works just like spoiler here), but i also was wanting to be here rather then there. I thought it was because this site is much smaller as to why i felt more cozy here and why i got more reples here but i dont feel that way today. I think when someone sees "trigger warning" and this thing inside of the trigger code, they are less likely to read it, most especially if they are afraid of being triggered or whatever they call "being triggered".

Ive not been in college but if I had heard of a professor editing his content based on possible upset, Id be upset and Id also speak up.

Also, if I ever hear someone saying "triggered" in place of "stressed" or "upset", Id also correct them.

It actually took me a long time to start even refering to triggers as triggers and tailspins as tailspins, caused by a trigger. Before then i was just majorly upset and then reacting poorly to that upset. With that came a ton of self judgement. So finding out that triggers are triggers, that triggers cause a tailspin and after the tailspin i have more self awareness and clarity and can make steps foward; to name that was huge in my healing.

I still dont think i name all triggers by their proper classified name but stressors arent triggers and i dont get why people want to call them as such. Like whats the appeal? I dont get it. Is it to not upset people? If thats the case you are climbing an uphill battle!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Lost I rather like the spoilers here and read them without being stressed out and I think that is good enough.

In the colleges and universities it is so politically correct for this movement of women using the I need a trigger warning that in my opinion they have infantilzed themselves and their massive groups. I think it is so wrong in my opinion.They seem to want to dictate free speech at this point in my opinion.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

In the colleges and universities it is so politically correct for this movement of women using the I need a trigger warning that in my opinion they have infantilzed themselves and their massive groups.

Thats so retarded! Apparently its why this seems new to me, im not in college nor know anyone that is. As a victim of incest, it would very much upset me if i learned the professor was filtering out content like this. I want the decision and even then, its a college course and i dont get to choose if i want to do the assignment. I deal with what i need to to get it done.

Ugh, its so retarded and I dont get it.