Trigger warning

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(I read the linked article and while the phrase "trigger warning" does appear in it, the Tom and Jerry cartoon has a content warning rather than a trigger warning, which is not the same thing.)
(Section exists as a form of criticism. Please see RationalWiki's section on SPOV for more information.)
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==Actual triggers==
 
==Actual triggers==
 
Multiple mental disorders (including PTSD) can become more activated by what psychological professionals frequently call "triggers". However, these triggers are often unique to each individual and experience, deeply tied to specific sensory experiences. While trigger warnings were initially intended to be used in specially designated safe-spaces (such as [[feminist]] blogs) for victims of [[rape]], sexual abuse, and [[domestic violence]], they have evolved into something that has become a living parody of all three.
 
Multiple mental disorders (including PTSD) can become more activated by what psychological professionals frequently call "triggers". However, these triggers are often unique to each individual and experience, deeply tied to specific sensory experiences. While trigger warnings were initially intended to be used in specially designated safe-spaces (such as [[feminist]] blogs) for victims of [[rape]], sexual abuse, and [[domestic violence]], they have evolved into something that has become a living parody of all three.
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==Danger of omission==
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By far, the most dangerous consequence of failing to include a trigger warning in written material is the possibility of PTSD-related trauma. Typically speaking, once a trigger is set off, the events that follow are outside of the triggered person's control. For example, suppose Bertha, an [[obese]], diabetic, trans-ethnic [[otherkin]] [[demon]], has accidentally stumbled upon an article talking about salad that did not contain a trigger warning. She will immediately flash back to [[Vietnam]]. She will then hear bombs going off, warplanes flying overhead, gunshots, explosions, and the sound of human screams. In most circumstances, Bertha will be found twitching on the floor having a seizure, muttering to herself about how she's been triggered but how this should not affect her plans for dinner later on, so please don't cancel them.
  
 
==Issues behind triggers==
 
==Issues behind triggers==

Revision as of 17:47, 11 March 2015

A trigger warning is a short warning, usually at the top of an article, short story, or discussion, which aims to reduce Post-traumatic stress disorder-related trauma possibly activated by reading certain words or phrases.

Though its effectiveness is completely unsupported by science, the use of trigger warnings has become more prevalent. In some cases, trigger warnings are being used on college campuses to protect young, impressionable students from the possibility of accidentally encountering opposing viewpoints or learning something that poses a sincere and grave threat to exposing them to materials that may not conform to their pre-existing views.[1] Trigger warnings have even been employed on articles discussing calories, weight, food, drinking, drug-use, and spiders. Novels, textbooks, and entire courses of study are increasingly being given "trigger warnings" despite the fact that, to date, there is absolutely no scientific data whatsoever that supports the use of "trigger warnings" as being an aid in dealing with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[2] Experts recommend progressively confronting triggers as part of a program of prolonged exposure therapy,[3] though there is no data indicating that "trigger warnings" are a viable way of managing this progression.

Contents

Actual triggers

Multiple mental disorders (including PTSD) can become more activated by what psychological professionals frequently call "triggers". However, these triggers are often unique to each individual and experience, deeply tied to specific sensory experiences. While trigger warnings were initially intended to be used in specially designated safe-spaces (such as feminist blogs) for victims of rape, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, they have evolved into something that has become a living parody of all three.

Danger of omission

By far, the most dangerous consequence of failing to include a trigger warning in written material is the possibility of PTSD-related trauma. Typically speaking, once a trigger is set off, the events that follow are outside of the triggered person's control. For example, suppose Bertha, an obese, diabetic, trans-ethnic otherkin demon, has accidentally stumbled upon an article talking about salad that did not contain a trigger warning. She will immediately flash back to Vietnam. She will then hear bombs going off, warplanes flying overhead, gunshots, explosions, and the sound of human screams. In most circumstances, Bertha will be found twitching on the floor having a seizure, muttering to herself about how she's been triggered but how this should not affect her plans for dinner later on, so please don't cancel them.

Issues behind triggers

The issues raised by many of the most benign trigger warnings are genuine problems. Fat-shaming, for example, is a genuine issue. But it is likely not the cause of PTSD. Attempting to conflate fat-shaming (among many other trigger warnings) with causes of actual PTSD makes an unintended mockery of people who suffer from traumatic sexual abuse, rape, and domestic violence. It also does not help address the root cause of the issue due to it being wrongfully attributed to an entirely separate problem.

Trigger warnings and feminism

Although trigger warnings did in fact originate on feminist blogs, it is a very common misconception that trigger warnings, as they are used now, are feminist-supported. What began as a tool to be used in safe-spaces specifically designed for female PTSD victims has in recent years morphed into something that has undergone extensive feminist critique.[4] Trigger warnings were meant to serve a specific purpose, and that purpose has largely been lost amid a growing number of seemingly random and foolish usages, thus rendering it useless and unsupported by most of the feminist community. In other words, this is all Obama's fault.

Footnotes

  1. http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116842/trigger-warnings-have-spread-blogs-college-classes-thats-bad Trigger Happy: The "trigger warning" has spread from blogs to college classes. Can it be stopped?
  2. http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/hazards-ahead-problem-trigger-warnings-according-research-81946 Hazards Ahead: The Problem With Trigger Warnings, According to the Research. Five studies you should read before you deploy a trigger warning.
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolonged_exposure_therapy
  4. http://mic.com/articles/87283/9-feminist-arguments-against-using-trigger-warnings-in-academia 9 Feminist Arguments Against Using Trigger Warnings in Academia
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