-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
"stop triggering me!!" - this statement said by certain folk is ridiculous
- Thread starter Kraftwerk
- Start date
- Status
One of these things is not like the other...
I think there's a pretty short list of legitimate uses of the word "slut." Most usages would probably be triggering!
Triggering how? The person called a slut gets offended?
meltingparappa
Member
NPR's On the Media summary of a lot of the trigger issues in this thread, in short podcast form.
Touches on it originating as a word exclusively reserved for anxiety attacks on the mentally ill, applying the word to college syllabi, and how it stifles discussion rather than moderates it, giving the ideas in question more power.
Fair warning though, begins and ends with the lamest low hanging dad jokes ever recorded.
Touches on it originating as a word exclusively reserved for anxiety attacks on the mentally ill, applying the word to college syllabi, and how it stifles discussion rather than moderates it, giving the ideas in question more power.
Fair warning though, begins and ends with the lamest low hanging dad jokes ever recorded.
I imagine people can actually be triggered by certain words. To get outraged just because someone uses it is dumb though. You can't expect everyone to be super careful, especially when it's on an anonym forum that isn't focused on certain traumas.
Wouldn't every usage be triggering? If it depends on context then I'm not really sure I'd call it a trigger word.
Sexist language hurled about around people who navigate dealing with constant sexism?
Vermillion
Banned
That's not PTSD-triggering in most contexts.
I think there's a few things going on here:
- The OP is upset about the word "triggered" being devalued.
- The OP is somewhat confused that people don't actually say things like "stop triggering me!" or anything like it and that it's mostly used as "trigger warning" which is like saying "if you're easily offended/grossed out, don't come in."
- People do have strange things that make them (sometimes severely) uncomfortable, particularly with phobias or OCD.
- Some people have more dubious issues like particular words, phrases or viewpoints they overly dislike and this is often the group targeted in jest by such warnings.
- The OP dislikes the latter.
I guess we should all clarify which thing we are addressing.
- The OP is upset about the word "triggered" being devalued.
- The OP is somewhat confused that people don't actually say things like "stop triggering me!" or anything like it and that it's mostly used as "trigger warning" which is like saying "if you're easily offended/grossed out, don't come in."
- People do have strange things that make them (sometimes severely) uncomfortable, particularly with phobias or OCD.
- Some people have more dubious issues like particular words, phrases or viewpoints they overly dislike and this is often the group targeted in jest by such warnings.
- The OP dislikes the latter.
I guess we should all clarify which thing we are addressing.
If someone brings it to your attention it's a learning opportunity. Yes, even if you think someone's being irrationally offended. Does you no harm at all to listen to their grievances, because the worst that could happen is you're a little more mindful in your future actions.
Getting uppity about trigger warnings is an even worse kind of whining IMO, because all it says to me is resistance to tolerance and mindfulness.
Getting uppity about trigger warnings is an even worse kind of whining IMO, because all it says to me is resistance to tolerance and mindfulness.
It's absolutely a rude word, but I really doubt anybody gets triggered into a flashback by Lindsay Bluth t-shirts.
Unless it sets off a traumatic memory, I don't see how they would be "triggered".
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
jesus christ man keep it in spoilers im legit breaking up here
Bubbavelli
Banned
These things are all over
-
-
-
This is triggering me for how fucking dumb this tumblr shit is. I'd be pissed too if I went through some severe PTSD inducing shit and see stuff like this
Depends on your definition. Certainly GamerGate has more than a few things that set off certain people into a tirade or get them to distribute death threats (though a warning isn't going to help). Interestingly, even opinion based triggers can be extremely serious. People have been mass murdered over a cartoon so I don't know that it makes sense to completely discredit them either.
That has nothing to do with "triggering" and everything to do with fanatic nutjobs. Extending the "triggered" definition to include "may plot terrorist attacks in retaliation" is beyond ridiculous.
I've seen people use trigger warnings for things like fat-shaming. Can't help but feel that's a little ridiculous.
Browse the top posts in /r/tumblrinaction
Browse the top posts in /r/tumblrinaction
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Being on the Internet nowadays is a bit stressful...I think I'm a relatively sensitive person, and try to be open, but lately...I just don't know anymore if I'm being insensitive when I see stuff like this that I find ridiculous.
I don't use racial slurs, I don't use gendered insults, I don't use homophobic terms, I don't use "retarded" or "autistic" as an insult, all of which are obviously insensitive and rude, that makes sense. But now I worry that I'm gonna get tripped up on something I legitimately didn't know was offensive, and I'll be honest, I always feel horrible when I upset someone without meaning to. I'm really easy to guilt.
I guess my problem with these "trigger" words are that a lot of them seem to be basically traps set to yell at people who didn't know they were offensive, especially when they're traditionally not considered offensive by the general populace. I don't think it's right either for the other side to then mock them and purposefully try and trigger them further, but I think the side that has a "trigger", or what they feel is trigger, needs to be a bit more realistic that not everyone is going to instantly understand how triggers work, and shouldn't fly off the handle either. That doesn't accomplish anything, and just furthers the notion that trigger warnings are a cry for attention. Now this obviously doesn't apply to legitimate "triggers" (although perhaps there is no universally accepted trigger), like rape scenes, domestic abuse, extreme gore, war scenes, that are obviously troublesome to a wide range of people.
I don't use racial slurs, I don't use gendered insults, I don't use homophobic terms, I don't use "retarded" or "autistic" as an insult, all of which are obviously insensitive and rude, that makes sense. But now I worry that I'm gonna get tripped up on something I legitimately didn't know was offensive, and I'll be honest, I always feel horrible when I upset someone without meaning to. I'm really easy to guilt.
I guess my problem with these "trigger" words are that a lot of them seem to be basically traps set to yell at people who didn't know they were offensive, especially when they're traditionally not considered offensive by the general populace. I don't think it's right either for the other side to then mock them and purposefully try and trigger them further, but I think the side that has a "trigger", or what they feel is trigger, needs to be a bit more realistic that not everyone is going to instantly understand how triggers work, and shouldn't fly off the handle either. That doesn't accomplish anything, and just furthers the notion that trigger warnings are a cry for attention. Now this obviously doesn't apply to legitimate "triggers" (although perhaps there is no universally accepted trigger), like rape scenes, domestic abuse, extreme gore, war scenes, that are obviously troublesome to a wide range of people.
I agree with this post wholeheartedly. I think we are hitting a point where browsers need to start incorporating this information into what they show and not. E.g. the user can set preferences -- even specific ones -- and when it comes across an article that it determines is likely to have content specified, the browser blocks out that content with spoiler-like tags and a warning for the user. Kind of like AdBlocker but for sensitive topics.
I.e. the idea being that I don't want to force people to read about specific topics that make them uncomfortable, but also don't think the idea of socially enforcing "trigger words" will ever be that effective or necessary.
meltingparappa
Member
Every social medium platform has its derogatory stereotype.
Tumblr is a haven for hyper-sensitive privilege checking by people who wear underwear made by slaves in China.
Twitter is where you can commit civilized society's greatest shame - getting into a twitter argument that everyone is guaranteed to lose.
Facebook is a festering hive of clickbait links and where you go to abandon friendships due to unexpected racist rants.
GAF is where you go to get into internet fistfights about whether Snowpiercer is a good movie or not.
smokeandmirrors
Banned
It makes me laugh when people are aghast at the clearly fake tumblr profiles that routinely get posted here and on the fucking cesspool that is /r/TumblrInAction
Not that there aren't people like that on tumblr but come on guys you gotta see through the bullshit.
Not that there aren't people like that on tumblr but come on guys you gotta see through the bullshit.
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
i challenge you to an internet fistfight
If a friend of mine is triggered by watermelons, I'll avoid bringing them up because I care about them. It's just being considerate. Of course it's silly if they expect random people they don't know to abide.
I've got a big problem with gore (needles, breaking bones, etc.) I've even passed out from people just talking about their bloody experiences. So I really appreciate when articles and videos warn their audience by either putting a "trigger warning" or the title is telling of the subject matter. It makes me feel more comfortable about reading more articles / watching more videos from the same people.
I've got a big problem with gore (needles, breaking bones, etc.) I've even passed out from people just talking about their bloody experiences. So I really appreciate when articles and videos warn their audience by either putting a "trigger warning" or the title is telling of the subject matter. It makes me feel more comfortable about reading more articles / watching more videos from the same people.
A Fish Aficionado
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
only in counseling and mental health clinics that I've been to:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
Otherwise, I assume it's just:
I know the feeling. I have a friend that is extremely into social justice gendering etc... And while I understand it is wrong to misgender someone. Sometimes I feel like she draws me into conversations among her friends just to make fun of me for not finding some extremely common things offensive. Calling a person biologically female she unless corrected shouldn't be something that's offensive and making fun of someone being ignorant over it.
Clockwork
Member
The problem I have with this is that the term has become greatly misused and abused. It's quite unfortunate that people have come to equate things that offend or make then feel uncomfortable to legitimate triggers in someone suffering from PTSD.
It becomes even more of an annoyance when you realize that statistically of those that suffer from trauma at some point in their lives, only a small percentage will actually develop PTSD. Most commonly this occurs in victims of rape or those that have been in combat.
It becomes even more of an annoyance when you realize that statistically of those that suffer from trauma at some point in their lives, only a small percentage will actually develop PTSD. Most commonly this occurs in victims of rape or those that have been in combat.
I have, but only after we were well into a discussion about something unpleasant and personal.
Probably the worst thing about the meme-ification of "TRIGGERED!" is that it takes away from the impact that a conversation has on someone. It's pretty interesting how a term that is mocked from being associated with "SJW's" and such has basically become a reflex for telling people to "man up" or "suck it up", challenging people's sense of masculinity, regardless of actual sex or gender.
When you compare it to the conversation had about gendered insults, it really makes you wonder if society is starting adopt the idea that masculinity doesn't always equate to being strong and femininity doesn't always equate to being weak, and thus we need new insults that are designed to make people feel bad regardless of their sex, color or creed.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream may becoming a new, albeit perverted, reality.
I'm still really confused how the whole gender movement nullifies phrases like "you throw like a girl" but there are people in the movement who get offended when strangers unintentionally misgender them. There really isn't a rhyme or reason to it except for what they personally choose.
Geez it's like they want them to evolve into a gender or something
Is there anything wrong with gendering the kid as long as they're open to the kid changing their mind in the future? Kind of like you name your kid but at some point they have the right to change it themselves. The world hasn't warmed up to gender neutrality yet and I feel like I'd be making my kid some sort of political statement if I demanded everyone use gender neutral language for them.
LiveFromKyoto
Member
There are no obnoxious people on my Facebook feed who write "trigger warning" before anything that is not about cuddly puppies. There are people who demand trigger warning labels be written all over classics of literature ("this would legally be considered rape in our day!") and advocates demanding alternate university course reading lists be offered to avoid reading MacBeth because somebody might have had a shitty family life growing up.
I've studied enough psychology and mental health to want to take this sort of thing seriously, there are people with real issues out there, albeit nowhere near as many as there are people who are just avoidant and/or incapable of stepping outside their own self-orbit.
When I encounter this stuff it often reads as a grab for status, unearned sympathy or both. Many would be far, far better off being encouraged to develop actual ego integrity and sense of self-efficacy to deal with life issues than making sisyphean demands that the world be transformed into their own personal pillow-padded playpen of safety.
Honestly, read The Odyssey. You'll survive the experience.
I've studied enough psychology and mental health to want to take this sort of thing seriously, there are people with real issues out there, albeit nowhere near as many as there are people who are just avoidant and/or incapable of stepping outside their own self-orbit.
When I encounter this stuff it often reads as a grab for status, unearned sympathy or both. Many would be far, far better off being encouraged to develop actual ego integrity and sense of self-efficacy to deal with life issues than making sisyphean demands that the world be transformed into their own personal pillow-padded playpen of safety.
Honestly, read The Odyssey. You'll survive the experience.
Clockwork
Member
True cases of gender dysphoria is so low that arguments like this should be a non-issue anyway. Statistically speaking it's a pretty safe bet that one's biological sex will match their gender identity. At least enough where announcing a child's sex as boy or girl should be considered harmless.
(that's not to say that we should ignore the fact that societal issues around gender exist, I just feel that in addressing them we shouldn't take it to the point of absurdity.)
I think the idea is that the world should be ready to embrace a child that wants to be a different gender than they were born with. Many transgender individuals are shunned by their own family and it would be good to spread the message that it is nothing to be shunned. But I also feel like introducing the newborn heir to the English throne as "not a boy or a girl", while well-meaning in concept, would probably bring them a lot of unwanted attention for being different. Not sure if that's ok to impose on a newborn child anymore than a gender.
hobblygobbly
Member
The funny thing I always find about tumblr is that they don't stop for a moment and realise how ridiculous the privilege culture there is and how inherently they are privileged to begin with. You're complaining about privilege, yet you're more privileged than the majority of the world who can't even post on the Internet complaining about lack of privilege because their governments are fucked up in terms of such freedom or live in dire poverty conditions, and you tell other people to check their privilege? It's definitely the hub for people that like to complain a lot but also not take any action seriously. It's in the same vein of them doing that yet wearing and using products made by slaves in poverty struck countries/communities.
Eh.
Almost all of the triggers are about phobias. If you want to avoid "triggers" then why are you on Internet sites like that? Why is there an expectation of people who make posts that they might consider every type of trigger and tag it in their posts so those that might be triggered by it can avoid it? It's ridiculous.
At least tumblr gives you the ability if you want to just run a normal blog site that you can "detach" it from the tumblr community in its entirety. Tumblr as a service isn't bad but that reblogging shit + that crazy core culture surrounding it is insane and oblivious most of the time. The problem is that you can't really tailor your experience other than detaching from it entirely. What I like about reddit is that you can tailor your experience totally by subscribing to good subreddits of your interest, deleting the default subreddits and so on and you will never see the shit side of reddit at all.
Eh.
Almost all of the triggers are about phobias. If you want to avoid "triggers" then why are you on Internet sites like that? Why is there an expectation of people who make posts that they might consider every type of trigger and tag it in their posts so those that might be triggered by it can avoid it? It's ridiculous.
Triggers are my trigger.
At least tumblr gives you the ability if you want to just run a normal blog site that you can "detach" it from the tumblr community in its entirety. Tumblr as a service isn't bad but that reblogging shit + that crazy core culture surrounding it is insane and oblivious most of the time. The problem is that you can't really tailor your experience other than detaching from it entirely. What I like about reddit is that you can tailor your experience totally by subscribing to good subreddits of your interest, deleting the default subreddits and so on and you will never see the shit side of reddit at all.
Great article, thank you.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
So "trigger" is the new form of spoiler whining. Fun.
That is something else jeez.
You can get silly triggers from those kind of trauma.
I read an example of a girl whose trigger was breakfast. Sounds silly right? Turns out this was because she was raped and did not know how to deal with waking up in the same bed as her rapist and therefore made breakfast for them in the morning, and after breakfast was the thing that triggered her memories of being raped. But she was not one to scream at people for not putting a trigger warning on the term as she understood how obscure it was.
This is one of the easier ones to see why would be triggering. Past as a serial raped prostituted, having experienced/experiencing an abusive relationship where slut is one of the words used to hurt and keep you under control, the word your friends starts hurling at you because they think you are lying about rape and so on.
I'll even give you one for rabbit too: the person was raped/the rapist was wearing a play bunny costume for Halloween or some other kind of costumed event, raped on a rabbit farm/shelter and seeing the rabbits during the event.
But one thing I have been wondering about, what if the word trigger in trigger warning is triggering to victims of gun violence? Seems pretty inconsiderate fore something that is meant to be a considerate way to give a warning.
Some really good points being brought up about how triggers can in fact be seemingly "trivial" things only obscurely related to the traumatic event. It's easy for people on the outside to sit back and mock it when they're not the ones experiencing that trigger.
Obviously, it's basically impossible to include trigger warnings for everything that could potentially be emotionally disturbing, so people shouldn't be made to feel like an inconsiderate jerk for not covering all the bases. (However, I think if a friend were to personally tell me that they were actually triggered by something like a pomegranate or whatever...then honestly, I'd comply with their wish and be careful not to mention the word around them or show them pictures of one. It's no difficulty for me to do this, after all.)
Obviously, it's basically impossible to include trigger warnings for everything that could potentially be emotionally disturbing, so people shouldn't be made to feel like an inconsiderate jerk for not covering all the bases. (However, I think if a friend were to personally tell me that they were actually triggered by something like a pomegranate or whatever...then honestly, I'd comply with their wish and be careful not to mention the word around them or show them pictures of one. It's no difficulty for me to do this, after all.)
HOMEBOY OVER HERE
Banned
op's complaints couldn't be more overstated.
no one over uses trigger warnings. literally have never seen anyone on gaf say trigger warning except jokingly and the only time i've seen them stated seriously is on tumblr over stuff that is deserving of them
trigger warning for op:
you thread sucks
TheGraykid
Member
This shit probably isn't even that overused, remember that when you see this shit 9/10 times it's in the context of someone posting extremely over the top versions of this to say it's dumb. For every one of those there are probably hundreds of reasonable uses of trigger warnings which you don't ever see or come into contact with.
It's not, and trigger warning Snowpiercer gave me PTSD.
CoolZombie
Member
Yep, that hits the nail on the head.
God Dayumm
Banned
If the word is used because of a real world trauma then sure, its completely valid.
If its used by over the top Tumble feminists who hate every thing and every one who isn't like them then fuck no
Today I read the term Thinsplaining.
I don't know how anyone can hate tumblr with the amount of entertainment it provides. I'm starting to spend more time on there than on GAF
- Status
Similar threads
- Poll