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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Halloween fake cuts - trigger warning

38 replies

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 31/10/2022 20:43

AIBU to think that fake cuts with fake blood running are over the top and totally unnecessary and massively insensitive?

I’ve seen it several times today - on a supermarket employee, fake cuts on her neck and arms. Seen on several friends little darlings on Facebook- all younger kids, fake cuts all over arms and face etc.

I just don’t get how this is socially acceptable. I self injured for years and whilst I’m beyond the point where I’m triggered by stuff like this, a few years ago I would have been. But I’m genuinely dismayed and upset that people think it’s ok to dress kids like this, or dress like this in very public places (if you’re going to a Halloween party it’s one thing, but supermarket employees really should dress in non offensive outfits surely?)

AIBU?

OP posts:
Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 31/10/2022 20:46

You're being too sensitive.
I self harmed and it doesn't even cross my mind the two are the same. They aren't.
It's like stab wounds from slasher films etc.
It's gore.

Although the checkout lady in Tesco yesterday was dressed as a tin of beans which I thought was funny

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 31/10/2022 20:47

It depends on the costume I suppose.

I went as a zombie to a Halloween party so had fake blood and 'horror wounds' on my face and neck. I wouldn't let kids see me like that or be out and about out of context.

I wouldn't have slash wounds on my arms because I also self harmed for years so would feel triggering to see my arms like that. I wouldn't be triggered by fake ones on someone else at Halloween. I would be offended if they were dressed as a self harmer

Peashoots · 31/10/2022 20:47

🙄 🙄🙄🙄🙄

WildOats5678 · 31/10/2022 20:47

What’s offensive to you is not offensive to others. I think you’re being too sensitive towards because of your own experience. Gore is very common for Halloween.

Chickenpeppers · 31/10/2022 20:48

As someone who is covered in scars from SH, it doesn't bother me, I don't find it offensive or "triggering". Clearly you're not beyond the point of being triggered by it if it bothers you.

PinkButtercups · 31/10/2022 20:49

Agree with PP's. You're being over sensitive.

TrashyPanda · 31/10/2022 20:53

I’ve got visible surgical scars

and, tbh, if they trigger other people, then that’s too bad cos I can’t do anything about them.

picklemewalnuts · 31/10/2022 20:56

I think Halloween is very distasteful as we celebrate it at the moment. Horrific injuries, dead brides... not so bad for adults, or around people who have opted in, but pretty inappropriate for kids or where you have no choice but to see it.
Do people lack imagination? Are they so absorbed by the need to be more shocking than the next person, that they forget what they are 'playing' at being? I can't see the humour or entertainment in dressing an 8 yr old as a dead bride. In what way is it fun?

bellac11 · 31/10/2022 20:56

You have the right to feel offended

But thats as far as it goes.

LimeTwists · 31/10/2022 21:04

You must know deep down that it’s unreasonable to expect this to change, simply because we can’t adjust the world so it has absolutely nothing triggering to anyone. Routinely, we all see things which could trigger personal upset about self-harm, disordered eating, terminal illness, baby loss, alcoholism etc etc.

FlakeySalt · 31/10/2022 21:05

Somewhere someone will be triggered by something. That doesn’t mean others have to adjust their outfits.

I have a really visible and huge surgical scar and this doesn’t even register with me.

I hate spiders (terrified, really) and there were plenty of kids today with web face paint, spider costumes, there were fake webs adoring houses.

Should all of that be stopped too?

My sister is terrified or clowns so none of those either?

MrsMacnair · 31/10/2022 21:05

You are being over sensitive op.

You say you are not triggered but yet you are genuinely dismayed and ‘upset’
The two don’t really go hand in hand here.
Halloween has been around for a very long time, so has the blood, gore and costumes associated with it. Why is it now such a surprise?

Original poster
LibrariesGiveUsPower · 31/10/2022 21:15

MrsMacnair · 31/10/2022 21:05

You are being over sensitive op.

You say you are not triggered but yet you are genuinely dismayed and ‘upset’
The two don’t really go hand in hand here.
Halloween has been around for a very long time, so has the blood, gore and costumes associated with it. Why is it now such a surprise?

Halloween has been around a long time but blood and gore associated with it is is very very new.

OP posts:
BrightYellowDaffodil · 31/10/2022 21:17

Halloween has been around a long time but blood and gore associated with it is is very very new.

That still doesn’t make it wrong.

Obki · 31/10/2022 21:20

You need to build your resilience instead of expecting the world to cater to you.

I’ve got trypophobia but I don’t the world to change for me.

SporkAndMonday · 31/10/2022 21:21

Scars and facial disfigurement are not Halloween costumes.

LoveMyCats1 · 31/10/2022 21:25

Yabu op you can't put your issues on other people. I'm really glad you're past that time though and hope you carry on doing OK.

SpiderGram · 31/10/2022 21:40

There are hundreds of things that people might find triggering, distasteful, hurtful, offensive etc. If we stopped doing/saying all of them there'd be very little left, and I'm not just talking about Halloween.
I find the term 'it was a total train wreck' upsetting for personal reasons, however I understand this is totally my issue related to past trauma and would never expect people to stop using the expression.

AssumingDirectControl · 31/10/2022 21:46

I don’t know, I remember my mates dressing up as zombies and undead 35+ years ago, and showing me how to make fake cuts on their skin using Sellotape and water. It’s not new.

I also self harmed when I was younger but I have never seen a costume which looked like self harm wounds or scars, it’s always more Horror movie gore.

FoxtrotOscarDear · 31/10/2022 21:48

Halloween has been around a long time but blood and gore associated with it is is very very new.

I don’t think it’s all that new tbh. I’m remembering blood & gore from when we were doing halloween around 35 years ago in the pubs halloween parties, okay there were some general dressing up outfits too, but still plenty of people making things gruesome.

MammaWeasel · 31/10/2022 21:51

I worked in a fancy dress shop 30 years ago and I remember selling fake blood, scar latex, etc , so it's definitely not new!

Anothernc1 · 31/10/2022 21:55

I'm a current self-harmer. What other people look like doesn't trigger me.

FoxtrotOscarDear · 31/10/2022 21:57

@AssumingDirectControl of course, sellotape! tissue paper and copydex glue also made good scars, I’d forgotten all about that.

BatCheeseIsFine · 31/10/2022 22:07

I have to admit I really don’t like it either op. No history of self-harm but I’m not good with seeing people get hurt (can’t watch violent films etc) and I can’t help reacting every time, especially when my own kids have them on their faces! I sympathise with anyone who finds it triggering, even though I think that word is over-used in general l can see it with this.

I also don’t like the halloween trend for coffins and gravestones. That could be very upsetting for some people/kids.

mynameiscalypso · 31/10/2022 22:10

I agree that it's definitely not a new thing - I remember similar costumes 20+ years ago. As a self harmer it also doesn't bother me at all.