5 ms·

PTSD is a real medical disorder, as set forth by the DSM-5. Triggers are a well known phenomenon regarding PTSD. Usually, treatment revolves around either psych

by kefka 11y ago

PTSD is a real medical disorder, as set forth by the DSM-5. Triggers are a well known phenomenon regarding PTSD. Usually, treatment revolves around either psychological sessions or drugs. The feminists and some liberals who use "trigger warning" do not have PTSD, or are not working with professionals to assist with psychological disorders that have triggers (like PTSD). Instead, they have latched on this language from a legitimate disorder and are coopting it for making their world tame and easy. This is what I am calling weak: people who want the world around them to bring the hardness to that of a kindergartner. Life is not all happiness and candy. Life also has hardships, disagreements and harsh criticism, and death. And these "kids" are demanding to be treated like children. "Your argument is triggering me, so shut the fuck up with your criticism." "Clapping is triggering me, so everyone do jazz hands." "Ancient Greek works trigger me, so I can't participate in class."

peterwwillis 11y ago
Oh, okay. I know what you're talking about now. I've dealt with the same people before: people who mis-use the phrase and apply it to things it doesn't actually apply to. I had one person tell me "You can't call me a bitch! That's a violation of my consent, and is triggering." Which, it's not, and, it's not. As uncouth and sexist as it may be, the use of the word is so widespread (and has so many uses in our modern American culture) that it can't be legitimately claimed that this word will cause an anxiety attack. And I certainly don't need (or care for) someone's consent when I am intentionally trying to insult them. There's lots of other examples of these phrases being misused or misunderstood, of course. But these aren't the people we should be concerned with, or even talking about. The people we should be talking about are the few but very real people who really do suffer attacks and re-live traumas when certain subjects unexpectedly come up in daily life. Do you have the money for them to get therapy? I don't know if you realize this, but trauma therapy is usually not free, nor widely available in every community. There are some not-for-profits that provide free counseling to specific groups, but they don't exist everywhere, and not everyone qualifies. It's a bit like homeless shelters: they're there to help, but they sure as hell don't "fix" people from being homeless. And more importantly, therapy does not cure PTSD. You can't just go to a doctor, talk about your feelings and suddenly you're trauma-free. Regardless of any therapy taking place, there is still a potential for harm, and so we still need to actually care about not harming people whenever it is reasonable to do so. Sometimes it will be reasonable, and other times not. I think it's important to recognize we need to have a multi-colored approach to issues that negatively affect people's lives, rather than a black & white approach.
- kefka 11y ago
  You have a good point about the costs of therapy and medication. This is just a bit of my anger seeping through. My wife has a trigger. I'm one of 2 who know about it. She was beaten by an old boyfriend years ago with a certain type of belt. I found out about this because I was taking off the belt from my pants, and she suddenly got quiet and started to shake. Then I realized that she couldn't speak. She would do things, like "Go over there" and likewise. She was expecting me to hit her with the belt, and was nigh catatonic from it. She was also "raped", when she was with a guy who I am friends with (before I was dating her). He didn't know about that belt thing. He takes his pants off, and she's triggered. She didn't want to have sex with him, but did so because of the belt. Was this rape, considering she took off her clothes and made herself compliant? Well, not really. But it wasn't consensual. That's what I'm used to when they say they are triggered.
  - peterwwillis 11y ago
    I've known many people who are similarly afflicted. It's very unfortunate and scary and sad. It's also the thing that makes me super pissed off when certain people claim consent is dead simple, or that triggers are unimportant to consider. My hope is that the more these stories are told, the more they will be investigated as serious topics to consider for their potential to negatively affect people's lives. We don't have a good system to deal with them now, but hopefully someday soon we can.

by kefka 11y ago

peterwwillis 11y ago

Oh, okay. I know what you're talking about now. I've dealt with the same people before: people who mis-use the phrase and apply it to things it doesn't actually apply to. I had one person tell me "You can't call me a bitch! That's a violation of my consent, and is triggering." Which, it's not, and, it's not. As uncouth and sexist as it may be, the use of the word is so widespread (and has so many uses in our modern American culture) that it can't be legitimately claimed that this word will cause an anxiety attack. And I certainly don't need (or care for) someone's consent when I am intentionally trying to insult them. There's lots of other examples of these phrases being misused or misunderstood, of course. But these aren't the people we should be concerned with, or even talking about. The people we should be talking about are the few but very real people who really do suffer attacks and re-live traumas when certain subjects unexpectedly come up in daily life. Do you have the money for them to get therapy? I don't know if you realize this, but trauma therapy is usually not free, nor widely available in every community. There are some not-for-profits that provide free counseling to specific groups, but they don't exist everywhere, and not everyone qualifies. It's a bit like homeless shelters: they're there to help, but they sure as hell don't "fix" people from being homeless. And more importantly, therapy does not cure PTSD. You can't just go to a doctor, talk about your feelings and suddenly you're trauma-free. Regardless of any therapy taking place, there is still a potential for harm, and so we still need to actually care about not harming people whenever it is reasonable to do so. Sometimes it will be reasonable, and other times not. I think it's important to recognize we need to have a multi-colored approach to issues that negatively affect people's lives, rather than a black & white approach.

kefka 11y ago
You have a good point about the costs of therapy and medication. This is just a bit of my anger seeping through. My wife has a trigger. I'm one of 2 who know about it. She was beaten by an old boyfriend years ago with a certain type of belt. I found out about this because I was taking off the belt from my pants, and she suddenly got quiet and started to shake. Then I realized that she couldn't speak. She would do things, like "Go over there" and likewise. She was expecting me to hit her with the belt, and was nigh catatonic from it. She was also "raped", when she was with a guy who I am friends with (before I was dating her). He didn't know about that belt thing. He takes his pants off, and she's triggered. She didn't want to have sex with him, but did so because of the belt. Was this rape, considering she took off her clothes and made herself compliant? Well, not really. But it wasn't consensual. That's what I'm used to when they say they are triggered.
- peterwwillis 11y ago
  I've known many people who are similarly afflicted. It's very unfortunate and scary and sad. It's also the thing that makes me super pissed off when certain people claim consent is dead simple, or that triggers are unimportant to consider. My hope is that the more these stories are told, the more they will be investigated as serious topics to consider for their potential to negatively affect people's lives. We don't have a good system to deal with them now, but hopefully someday soon we can.