Distressing thread titles.

[itsmeafterall]

I don't think iIABU but there seems to have been a recent sharp rise in really distressing thread titles -without a trigger warning. By the time I've read them it's too bloody late.

There is so much terrible content on the internet at the moment - especially with the Epstein shit in spades so, sadly, plenty of grim material to discuss. Not saying it shouldn't be raised, but a TW should be used.

AIBU in asking people to be a lot more
Thoughtful when posting - MN can't be asked to be in top of editing with immediate turnaround.

TW coming up of a recent example below.

Im referring to titles like the one I just saw about a woman having her spine broken on video. Seriously grim.

@mnhq please can I ask you to issue a reminder to people to be more careful?

Well presumably if they open the thread they're happy to read the details. That's the point. It gives a choice.

Are you serious? How can we have got to the point a bloody thread title is triggering? The sensitivity and anxiety some people suffer from day to day is breathtakingly disproportionate to the content they are currently consuming.

I agree, it is bloody ridiculous!

I do wonder how people get through bloody life, being permanently offended and too bloody anxious to open a thread on a forum!

If people weren't bloody pandered to and told to get a bloody grip we might not be where we are now!

This

...my sensibilities matter far less than the facility to bring this to people's awareness and to talk about it...

Exactly. People are such namby-pambies these days. Unfortunately some people suffer awful experiences, but it's not going to kill you to read a thread title referring to them.

Nobody gave Virginia Giuffre a trigger warning, or Dominique Pelicot or Dr Hamdi al-Najjar. Stop being so bloody wet.

The concept of Coventry does not require a TW

Having been there, I'm not so sure...

Tbh I thought the same about the example you gave, I wish the thread title hasn't been so explicit. Not sure much can be done though.

Totally agree - not everyone wants to read some of the stuff posted on here, so its not exactly unreasonable for OP to say about having something in the title. We don't all want to read heavy and depressing shit when we come on here even if "we are all adults"

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

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.

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

This is a good idea

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.