"Trigger Happy The "trigger warning" has spread from blogs to college classes. Can it be stopped? "
"On college campuses across the country, a growing number of students are demanding trigger warnings on class content. Many instructors are obliging with alerts in handouts and before presentations, even emailing notes of caution ahead of class. At Scripps College, lecturers give warnings before presenting a core curriculum class, the “Histories of the Present: Violence," although some have questioned the value of such alerts when students are still required to attend class. Oberlin College has published an official document on triggers, advising faculty members to "be aware of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and other issues of privilege and oppression," to remove triggering material when it doesn't "directly" contribute to learning goals and "strongly consider" developing a policy to make "triggering material" optional. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, it states, is a novel that may "trigger readers who have experienced racism, colonialism, religious persecution, violence, suicide and more."...
What began as a way of moderating Internet forums for the vulnerable and mentally ill now threatens to define public discussion both online and off. The trigger warning signals not only the growing precautionary approach to words and ideas in the university, but a wider cultural hypersensitivity to harm and a paranoia about giving offense. And yet, for all the debate about the warnings on campuses and on the Internet, few are grappling with the ramifications for society as a whole."
Depending on the course, I feel like people should be aware that certain things are going to be triggering. There are lots of support options in schools, peer support, counselors, etc. Part of processing trauma for me is being exposed to triggers without warning and having to deal with them. Do I like it? No, but it has some value.
I understand for forums, though, especially support forums where people want to be safe... and actually, I was thinking the other day that I would appreciate if movies put a more obvious trigger warning during the opening if there is going to be scenes about rape... more than just a rating for violence or whatever.
I think they do have a place but that does seem like much. I am all for people feeling safe but at a certain time in your life, you will have to learn how to cope and handle triggers.
I think a better approach would be to... acknowledge that these things are going to be talked about and say a positive message to students for their persevering in getting through whatever they've overcome... like a disclaimer at the start of the course. If students are struggling with work that triggers them, they should talk to their teachers individually or perhaps organize a study group for support.
Last edited by skippingcrow : 06-04-2014 at 12:25 AM.
Someone can be triggered by anything, and this is a very dangerous step. Especially for educational establishments which are meant, in my opinion, to promote critical reasoning and discussion and understanding.
I attended lectures which were, shall we say, uncomfortable - the lecturer finished the class, left the room and everyone sat there in shocked, awkward silence for a few minutes, as one example. But it shouldn't be censored because a topic is uncomfortable for some people, otherwise that is surely just increasing the taboo?
I think if you are being triggered so badly that you cannot take a college course that you signed up for, then you need to take a break and work on recovery until you can handle things better. Or change your major to something else if you don't think that will change. College is meant to challenge your ideas, beliefs, and thoughts about difficult and important topics. It's ok if someone is not ready for that, but then they need to adjust their topic of study or get treatment to where triggers are not so strong as to necessitate this. And if it simply makes you uncomfortable, then you need to realize that this is what college is for! It's supposed to make you think about uncomfortable things. And if it's going to the point of triggering you where you can't function, that's a sign you need to get professional treatment and reconsider if this is where you should be right now.
I can see trigger warnings in forums where people are trying to recover. Being in a bad state where you need to avoid triggers is ok, and it's good there's a place for people to go while in that state. But college is not for recovery; it's for learning. And you can't learn when things are constantly being censored or professors are walking on eggshells to not set some hypothetical student off. If something upsets/triggers you, use some self care and coping techniques. Don't expect the course to change. If the trigger is too strong to handle safely, then reevaluate whether you're ready to be in these courses.
So I agree that it's a very dangerous precedent to expect courses to censor content or not make it required because it might be difficult for someone. The whole point of college is to make people think about things they otherwise wouldn't and get you out of your comfort zone, not to make everyone feel comfortable the whole time. College is one of the few places with not much censorship, and I hope it stays that way.
Stereotypes are the epitome of human laziness.
- me
ICollege is meant to challenge your ideas, beliefs, and thoughts about difficult and important topics. It's ok if someone is not ready for that, but then they need to adjust their topic of study or get treatment to where triggers are not so strong as to necessitate this. And if it simply makes you uncomfortable, then you need to realize that this is what college is for! It's supposed to make you think about uncomfortable things. And if it's going to the point of triggering you where you can't function, that's a sign you need to get professional treatment and reconsider if this is where you should be right now.
What's happening (and what's going on @ US colleges/unis might be different form UK) is that people are morphing the psychology forum labels and giving them a political function. I know they talk about psychological dynamics and need for "protection" etc but in larger view I see where this is going since there are people very opposed to ideas and speech and would like to criminalize them - all while pretending to be protecting rights. In recent weeks there have been calls to arrest and punish people for disagreeing with anthropogenic global warming. This sort of thing is cropping up all around.
"Disagree with climate change deniers? Throw ‘em in jail"
on the one hand when we were told the lecture content would be on sexual offenders I felt able to handle it better than if i'd just turned up and had rape thrust in my face, but i see the 'too far' line being easily crossed.
but then i also wish films would say, 'contains scenes of rape' when they have an assault or something (which has happened in a couple of films recently) but I appreciate they can't say it on everything and about everything.
I feel like things that we come across day to day like racism, sexism, homophobia neededn't have warnings. but things like sexual assault which can make people who haven't experienced anything feel uncomfortable, i think it would be nice to have a bit of warning is all.
