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Warning - comments like this will make you feel itchy. Try not to scratch. I can't see how calling a content warning (not a bad thing) a "trigger warning" is h

by wisty 11y ago

Warning - comments like this will make you feel itchy. Try not to scratch. I can't see how calling a content warning (not a bad thing) a "trigger warning" is helpful. The nocebo effect is real. If an authority figure is implying that something is likely to be triggering, couldn't it cause people to be more likely to consider such material to be triggering? And repeated exposure to this might cause a serious condition to develop? Let's not forget, there's virtually no research (at all) into "trigger warnings" by actual psychologists. And the research that does exist is pretty mixed (even leaning against using them).

ketralnis 11y ago
> there's virtually no research (at all) into "trigger warnings" by actual psychologists I assumed that these "warnings" were to alert a reader who may be "triggered" to stop reading, lest they encounter their "trigger". Is there some other intention?
- DanBC 11y ago
  In theory they're to allow people to make informed choices and to put in place safety mechanisms that allow them to access the material in a safe way. Very few people need that level of support, but since all that's being asked for is a simple (for example) "Watch out, this contains graphic scenes of attempted suicide" it's a reasonable request. The argument comes from two things: 1) People are policing content and preventing interesting content from being taught. Thus, anything with a trigger warning is seen as being not suitable for this campus and you're a monster for suggesting it should be taught here. That's obviously sub-optimal. 2) Avoiding something that causes you mental distress may not be the best way of overcoming that distress. I'm not recommending people just plough through distressing material (because that's unlikely to help them either) but having a warning and a bit of time to tackle the content in safe way is probably useful.

by wisty 11y ago

ketralnis 11y ago

> there's virtually no research (at all) into "trigger warnings" by actual psychologists I assumed that these "warnings" were to alert a reader who may be "triggered" to stop reading, lest they encounter their "trigger". Is there some other intention?

DanBC 11y ago
In theory they're to allow people to make informed choices and to put in place safety mechanisms that allow them to access the material in a safe way. Very few people need that level of support, but since all that's being asked for is a simple (for example) "Watch out, this contains graphic scenes of attempted suicide" it's a reasonable request. The argument comes from two things: 1) People are policing content and preventing interesting content from being taught. Thus, anything with a trigger warning is seen as being not suitable for this campus and you're a monster for suggesting it should be taught here. That's obviously sub-optimal. 2) Avoiding something that causes you mental distress may not be the best way of overcoming that distress. I'm not recommending people just plough through distressing material (because that's unlikely to help them either) but having a warning and a bit of time to tackle the content in safe way is probably useful.