Distressing thread titles.

YABU - I actually listened to a programme on Radio 4 about trigger warnings and their effectiveness. Research indicates that trigger warnings do not reduce emotional distress. The opposite in fact - they don't stop people viewing content with a trigger warning and they then increase anxiety when encountering distressing content. And yet people continue to demand them - so I tend to assume recognition their special sensitivity and having it pandered to are the real motivations behind the demand for trigger warnings.

YABVU.

I'm sorry you have struggles such that reading a thread title is distressing for you, but you have to find ways to deal with the world, the world isn't going to bend to fit your wishes.

How have we got to a point where (presumably) adults are so Main Character?

It would still be subjective what people considered sensitive though.

Wedding planning/Bridezilla threads could he distressing for someome who discovered their new spouse cheating at their wedding.

Should I do party bags for my child's first birthday party could be sensitive for people who had lost a baby.

I've just landed my dream job threads could be distressing for someone who has lost their job and was struggling to find another and facing financial difficulty as a result.

I'm.unaware of the thread being discussed but reading the words "woman breaks spine" wouldn't be distressing to me. I might not want to read the thread but I wouldn't be upset by the title.

I completely agree with *pinkdelight *iit rather implies women just can't cope with the realities of life. Or thoughts.

Sorry but that is ridiculous.
Every thread that could possibly upset anyone has to have a super vague title so that nobody actually knows what it's about and has to click to find out? It is unworkable.

Maybe forums like MN aren't for you, maybe use a gardening or other hobby forum instead

Yabu. This is a site aimed at grown ups,

Who decides what is "triggering"? What may be upsetting for me, may be fine for you and vice versa.

YAVBU.

And for a number of reasons.

Firstly, we are responsible for our own emotional regulation. It is not the responsibility of others to manage your world. I used to be part of an online therapy support group and there would be weekly requests from newcomers asking for this. The therapist refused it saying that people shouldn't have to censor their own experiences of life for the comfort of others.

If you read a thread title and you think the content will be distressing for you to read, don't open it.

Secondly, people will have different 'triggers'. Every thread on the Internet could have a TW. Even something as innocuous as "What are you up to today?" threads could 'trigger' somebody if someone posts that they are going to do something that another poster found distressing due to factors in their own life.

Thirdly, thread titles rarely contain enough information to actually be a trigger in and of themselves. If you are so sensitive that even the thought a thread could contain something you might find distressing without reading it, you need therapy to address those issues. Not to censor the rest of the world.

I just make sure I never get to the bottom of a thread that is likely to be distressing. The title does normally hint at the content before opening the thread. All the Epstein stuff at the moment, I give a very wide berth to that, it's upsetting and I don't need the grim detail. Stuff about sex topics, not interested, so click away.

just click away and get on with your day, it isn't hard. But if you read all the way to the bottom of the OP out of curiosity rather than seeing "woman's spine broken" and clicking off that thread, then youll get upset by it. That's life, so take control back and manage what you read. We're all adults on here.

Disagree with the ‘sensitive topics’ area. Makes us like women from an era who needed smelling salts for when we fainted at anything beyond embroidery and kittens. It’s a site for adults about the whole spectrum of matters. If someone is sensitive, they can stay in Chat or stay in their cotton wool away from the site. It’s ridiculous and patronising to have a sensitive topic section of a women’s site in 2026. Like we shouldn’t be discussing the state of the world and leave it to the men with their cigars.

And who decides what's sensitive? Any thread about annoying in parents because someone lost their and so its upsetting? Any thread about babies because some ate struggling with infertility? Any thread about successful teens because someone's is struggling and it's upsetting? It's just life. It's more than possible to surround yourself with carefully chosen websites, podcasts, and avoid most of real life of you really need to. Not wise, but possible. That's a choice a person can make if they are easily disturbed or upset.

Never has the phrase ‘get a grip’ seemed more appropriate. 🙄. How do some people manage to get through the day?

This is a you issue. Mumsnet has millions of readers and users. If the thread titles distress you then it's not a site for you to frequent. It's ok to dislike it but you won't get any joy trying to change it.

I totally agree and you are being VU. It’s a place for adult discussion and if you can’t cope, remove yourself.

I appreciate a clear, descriptive thread title. It helps me decide whether to read the thread or scroll on.

I agree with you OP. Mumsnet is not a news site and when I do read the news it will be on sites that don't put lurid details of torture in their headlines.

There is no actual '@mnhq' tag. It doesn't go anywhere. You'd be better off posting this on site stuff: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff That's where they deal with issues with how the site is set up.

For the love of God, since the popularisation of "therapy-speak" now everything you read is a "trigger", everyone who is mildly inconvenienced, or god helps, angry, is "disregulated", everyone needs to set "boundaries" and everyone who ever looks at you the wrong way is a "narcissist" who "gaslights you".

Please, bring me back to the 80s...

Oh dear. OP hasn’t been back. Possibly triggered by the replies. Speaking as someone who has always been described as ‘too sensitive’ and has suffered from anxiety since childhood, I think you need to develop a thick skin if you want to use the internet. Especially if you want to look at news items. In fact I can almost guarantee there would be something upsetting even if you stuck to fluffy bunny memes. The world is a shitty place full of shitty things. You could walk past a newsagent’s and see a headline or a photograph you find distressing.

I agree with you OP. There was a thread title I had to hide as I kept coming across it. Once was enough.

Trigger warnings. Jesus. This is a site for adults. Behave like one and don't click on titles you don't like, or scroll on.

This is the only trigger warning I find acceptable.

Agree I saw that thread title and had to hide it straightaway

This is a good idea

Yes this, If you cant handle real life maybe stay off the nternet

First no laughing emoji.
Now trigger warnings for everyone.

What is happening in this world?!

How do you read newspapers? They don't have trigger warnings. What happens if someine at work shares terrible news?

We shouldn't police language and feelings.

While you have my sympathies, you need to find a better coping mechanism.

Stop reading at the first first triggetimg eord if it's that bad.

Maybe we should have a 'Sensitive Topics' topic that doesn't appear in active. I agree the thread title you reference was distressing. Perhaps suggest it on Site Stuff @itsmeafterall