Trigger warnings have gone too far

[mxmxm]

To start off: I’m completely pro the usage of trigger warnings. I work in an environment where we’re encouraged to use them when dealing with sensitive topics and I think that should be the standard.

(by ‘sensitive’ I mean anything pertaining to sexual assault/violence/death/racism/etc)

however, more and more (mainly on twitter) I’ve been seeing people using a TW for basically everything they post. TW - periods is the one I keep seeing that I find infuriating. you can’t surely expect people to police their language to the extent that you can’t even mention a basic biological function without giving a warning first?

just to reiterate: I have certain things I find personally triggering and I understand everyone has their own triggers, and I’d never mock/judge anyone’s. But I think the use of trigger warnings has gone too far and includes too much, and this just makes SERIOUS TWs (like those I listed above) seem like jokes.

I’ve also seen things like ‘TW - periods’ or ‘TW - alcohol’ used for a tweet that mentions the word period or alcohol in it, so not even explicitly discussing it (for example). it just really annoys me! has anyone else noticed this?

If you think they're valid and important then you don't get to police what triggers someone.

I’m not policing what triggers someone, it’s more the overuse of trigger warnings (especially when said trigger isn’t even discussed in detail, I’ve seen TWs used when it’s literally just a word being mentioning in passing)

Agreed. 'Trigger warning' should be reserved for things that are likely to trigger a PTSD flashback in someone who has experienced them, not for perfectly normal, maybe icky, maybe offensive, everyday aspects of life.

Once there was a point where I thought they were mostly irritating and I didn't see the point. Over the last few years I've learnt through talkingto different individuals why some seemingly innocent things are given a content warning.

I have weight-trigger friends, some who can't cope with anything physically sensitive because of issues they've suffered with their bodies, there's all kinds of things I would never have considered.

Just as few people get how I'm triggered by the things which set me off. My circumstances are unique to me.

It is what it is.

Trigger warnings jumped the shark on MN when posters started asking for them on threads where there might be pictures of things with holes in them.

'Trigger warning' should be reserved for things that are likely to trigger a PTSD flashback in someone who has experienced them, not for perfectly normal, maybe icky, maybe offensive, everyday aspects of life.

This. I find the relentless MN obsession with shitting pretty grim and I won’t read those threads but I don’t demand a trigger warning label on them.

I agree and this has been going on for years - it's not a new thing.

HOWEVER - I disagree with the idea that trigger warnings are either useless altogether or are only warranted in cases of PTSD. I think a warning in cases of depictions of things like eating disorders, sexual assaults, rape, abuse, self-harm etc are totally reasonable. For me personally, images of self-harm are a huge trigger.

The threads which annoy me are the ones titled something like Am I wrong? Trigger warning without stating what the trigger warning is for.

All those things are exactly the sort of things that could trigger a PTSD response or something similarly distressing to the reader. But isn't this what thread titles are for? If you want to avoid reading about eating disorders, sexual assaults, rape, abuse, self-harm etc, then you can scroll on by if the title mentions them. Trigger warnings would not be needed if posters titles their threads clearly.

however, more and more (mainly on twitter) I’ve been seeing people using a TW for basically everything they post. TW - periods is the one I keep seeing that I find infuriating. you can’t surely expect people to police their language to the extent that you can’t even mention a basic biological function without giving a warning first?

But surely if you don’t find periods a trigger, you can just ignore the warning around read the post?

Agreed. I’m on a cake making group on Facebook and there was a post the other day where multiple people were asking for a trigger warning as the OP has posted a photo of a sponge cake with lots of holes in

@JohnWatersMoustache

Agreed. I’m on a cake making group on Facebook and there was a post the other day where multiple people were asking for a trigger warning as the OP has posted a photo of a sponge cake with lots of holes in

I’m on a Facebook page where someone demanded the same thing for spider and snake photos. The punchline? It’s a nature specific Facebook page.

I find certain topics discussed on MN "triggering". So I've hidden that sub forum and when it crops up in other topics I scroll on by. If necessary, I use some coping strategies to calm down again but that's really rare. I don't expect people to put a trigger warning as it's a benign topic. And actually, I don't find "trigger warning - dogs" any less triggering than "aren't dogs cute". (It's not dogs, just an example). It's the word dog that upsets me, writing trigger warning first doesn't change that.

TW: AIBU post.

Joking but yes -- some things are utterly ridiculous now

They are very overused and the meaning has been lost. People say they are "triggered" when they just mean they are offended or don't agree with what you are saying.

And then you have some people who are "triggered" by the most random things and get very upset that there was never a warning. A group I was in.. someone posted one of those "what house would you love to live in, A, B, C or D" type thing. Someone wanted it removed as one of the pictures of the houses triggered them.

This is me.. but I have a severe needle phobia. If the Gov want people to have the vaccine and read the literature about it... please stop with the photos and vids of people getting jabbed! I scroll right on by and wont engage.

Yep. WTF is the point of claiming there's a trigger warning without telling you what it's for? I have PTSD and wish they would just ditch TWs at this point as now they are fundamentally a way of clickbaiting people by being mysterious and appealing to people's curiosity. It's the modern equivalent of "just got back from hospital"/"u ok hun?"/"I'll PM you."

Why would you have a trigger warning because you've used the word period. That is frigging ridiculous. I don't go on twitter so i don't have to engage with that sort of crap.