You monster!
A monster killed my brother.
…dropped a piano on him…
To me, the strangest thing about ‘trigger warnings’ is the word ‘trigger.’
The radio and TV give plenty of warnings about graphic violence, sex, etc etc etc. They usually say something like, “A warning for our listeners, the following story contains descriptions of [insert subject here].” Makes sense, and is totally effective.
Labeling things ‘triggers’ implies that there are people out there reading the internet willy-nilly, who are going to go into some sort of PTSD-related-event if they read what follows.
Anyone who is going to be ‘triggered’ by a surprise reading of something probably should not be on the internet reading blogs and facebook newsfeeds.
A ‘trigger warning’ is different than a ‘warning’ in that it assumes that you are so fragile that you will fall victim to mention of the word ‘rape’, and it also lets you know that I am oh-so-sensitive to your special needs.
‘Trigger warnings’ are part of the new vocabulary (along with ‘-shaming’) of the smarter, more compassionate, and more correct than you left-wing social activist. I say this as a pretty lefty guy myself. But, it’s language that labels and makes assumptions, and is not, in my opinion, helpful in any way.
Put a warning. Don’t assume that it’s a ‘trigger’, or that you even know what is or is not a ‘trigger’ to your diverse audience.
I usually see these on creative writing and fanfiction sites, as a warning about the content of the story or poem. I appreciate these, although not for the intended reason – many of them might as well say WARNING: TEENAGER TRYING TO BE EDGY! But the intended reason does also make sense, as many of the people reading these sites are pretty young and without such a warning there would often be no way to tell in advance that a story included rape, suicide, or other elements that might be extremely upsetting to those who just wanted to read a nice romance about their favorite fandom pairing or something.
Several places I go to have changed the wording from “trigger warning:” to “content note:”. I think this advises people of what they may wish to avoid, and sidesteps some of the issues with calling them trigger warnings. Someone who is not triggered by it may still wish to avoid something that discusses graphic violence.
Content note is also much less sensational. I can understand “content note: link contains pictures of spiders” on several levels. First, maybe I’m one of the 30% of internet users still on dial-up. Second, maybe I’m a bit squicked out by spiders, and have no interest in looking at them. Lastly, maybe I freak out at the slighted visual of a spider and don’t want to be screaming and climbing my chair or whatever any particular arachnophobe does when facing a spider.
The idea behind “trigger warning” is a good one. However, like any good thing it can be overused.
I’m pretty sure majority of WARNING labels on fanfiction sites are meant as enticement, not actual warnings. Most, for instance, are in ‘tag’ form, so people looking for stories about rape or domestic violence or eating disorders can click the tag and get a whole listing of stories featuring their favorite warning subject matter. At least this is how many of the sites I visit have it set up, or at least did. I don’t read quite as much fanfic as I used to.
I see where some of you are coming from, saying that the phrase TRIGGER WARNING is infantilizing, in that it seems to assume the reader will have a nervous breakdown at the mere thought of their trauma, but I really don’t think that’s how the bloggers and poster intend it. “Reading this link may cause you to feel bad, bring up negative memories, or trigger cravings for drugs/alcohol/self harm/whatever you’re trying to stop.” What’s wrong with warning for that?
BTW, TRIGGER WARNING does not impede on your freedoms. You have all the freedom in the world to avoid typing it, but not to avoid seeing it. I wasn’t sure if those posters who said as much were serious, or if I’ve been whooshed.
My fanfiction reading is limited primarily to one fandom and two different sites, so I don’t know how things are handled elsewhere, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen trigger warnings used in this way. The only tags available on these sites are for genre, character, and rating, and the trigger warnings are often at the top of a chapter rather than in the story description.
I just did a search on “trigger” in the story summary for one of these sites, and while I am seeing a few results where the author appears to have included the warning to indicate that this story has X-TREME CONTENT! SEX! VIOLENCE! VIOLENT SEX! SEXY VIOLENCE!, most authors seem to be adding them out of genuine concern for sensitive readers…or maybe fear of getting bad reviews if they don’t provide fair warning. It does look like trigger warnings are sometimes also used as a more general content warning. My search results include a story with a trigger warning list that includes “mild swearing”, which I’m sure some people dislike but doesn’t seem likely to cause anyone serious psychological distress.
I agree “trigger warning” is sensationalist. I don’t mind content warnings when they are reasonable- NSFW is a great example of a needed content warning. And I appreciate: contains graphic description of rape. Or graphic violence described.
But when it gets to spiders, or we need a warning because we mention that she was a victim of domestic violence, and since this is directed mostly at women, its patronizing and insulting. I think women who are patronizing to other women need to spend MORE time learning about women’s history and should have their feminist cards revoked. Because the rationale for not having rights has usually included we need protecting. The more we demand we deserve respect by being swaddled in cotton, the more handicapped that cotton will make us in being equal where it matters - law and employment
As others have mentioned I’ve only seen the prolific use of “Trigger Warning” on message boards with a culture heavily influenced by feminist. I don’t mean to imply that all feminist are like this but those message boards are places where people like to discuss privilege, patriarchy and rape culture and disagreement with the status quo isn’t generally tolerated.
And feminists can be patronizing and insulting to other women. I’m not accusing MEN of being patronizing here - I’m accusing a certain brand of feminist of being patronizing. Ladies, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen and let the grown ups represent women. Because this shit doesn’t fly in corporate America or a courtroom, and that is where I want my battles fought.
Or, do you think that when Alice Paul was locked up in a straight jacket and force fed trying to get us the right to vote, she was worried about “triggers?” Do you think that Hillary Clinton or Sandra Day O’Connor got to worry about having their feelings hurt in their jobs? We’ve come a long way, and we are so darn close - lets not throw it away on trying to prove we are the weaker sex.
(And because its a favorite of mine: Sufferage through the eyes of Lady Gaga Suffrage | Soomo Learning Trigger warning: Alice Paul being forcefed in a straightjacket)
There’s a LiveJournal fandom community which has to do with bad behavior in RPGs, mostly the play-by-email/message-board variety. Nothing to do with feminism, but nearly all the posters seem to be female, the user info has warnings against “privilege”, racism and sexism and many of the posts have trigger warnings. Lot of fragile little snowflakes in fandom.
Now take what you’ve said and apply it to rape, and see if you still feel the same way. Because, as far as I can tell, the main problem with rape is a PTSD-like syndrome that happens afterwards.
I know it’s tempting to be mad at people who don’t do what you figured out how to do, but it’s extremely counterproductive. Use that huge empathy you’ve developed and imagine someone who doesn’t know what you know.
And, frankly, if you aren’t in control of your exposure levels, exposure therapy isn’t going to work. You’re going to automatically reach for avoidance behaviors that will just make things worse. There’s a reason why psychologists wait until you are old enough to discuss the concept of exposure therapy rather than just trying to scare children.
As I like to point out, my current fear of water is due to an overzealous attempt at flooding when I was a kid. In fact, that seems to be the spot where normal youthful anxiety started to become an actual psychological problem.
TRIGGER WARNING: BigT
Rape isn’t any different. Trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma. There are different factors going into each trauma, but the basic problem - the trigger/avoidance response - is the same. Being reminded of a trauma is not the same thing as experiencing the trauma itself, any more than Pavlov’s bell is the same thing as the food that comes after. Flashbacks are the brain confusing the trigger with the actual thing. Until the brain gets better at distinguishing between the two, PTSD symptoms will persist.
I’m not mad at anyone but the so-called ‘‘experts’’ who successfully shill their crap because they’ve given a few people the warm fuzzies over the course of their career. I’m not even going to deny I have an axe to grind there. I want everyone, everywhere who suffers the way I did to know that there is hope, and it is in the last place you’d expect - not in running away from what happened but in facing it, feeling it, letting it hurt, and learning you will survive the pain.
This is true, which is why anyone dealing with ‘‘triggers’’ and ‘‘flashbacks’’ should be in the care of a mental health professional.
Warning: Trigger Warning
This is a Trigger Warning. If you have anything that makes you freak out just by reading about it;
Please Freak The Fuck Out Right Now.
Thank you.
What if TRIGGER WARNINGS are triggers for me and get me thinking about all the horrible, horrible things they refer to? This thread is insensitive! 
Consider it done.
Yep, that is what I do apply it to because that is my trigger. And I agree with Olive’s regarding the internet.
Now, I think that when sexual harassment training is given at work, it should not be sprung on me (I was raped by a boss), but surfing the internet - really? If life that that dangerous for you, maybe you should rethink the activities you CHOOSE to do.
This works best if you first hear that hideous scratchy beeepp beeepp beeeep sound and then some half coked up (because he knows the nukes are now coming in) monotone dude from the Emergency Broadcast System reads it out loud.