Do you have a trigger?

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28 Comments

I found an article that made me wonder about the nature of communication and education on potentially upsetting topics.

Here is the article.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/05/trigger-warnings-can-be-counterproductive

It spoke about subject matter that may discuss a topic that would trigger a PTSD event in someone. It seemed to me that the idea has gone too far with the whole concept of being PC and only encourages people to stay stuck in a debilitating mindset. Don't get me wrong, I'm not insensitive to people who have experienced trauma and I believe in reasonable accommodation. But to place a "spoiler alert" in front of every article seems to encourage a sheltered existence.

I know people who have experienced traumatic events and are grateful when someone warns them of a story that might upset them. But where do we draw the line? And is it healthy to constantly avoid the issue? Everyone has a trigger if you look hard enough. Which then discredits those who truly suffer. And suffering is a personal experience that you cannot really judge for another person, but again, where do we draw the line?

It reminded me of a man who got mad because he received a letter from his insurance company that described bad habits of teenage drivers. His teenaged nephew recently died in an automobile accident and he felt it was an insensitive letter to those who have experienced this type of loss.

Is it normal to have a trigger? What do you guys think?

Voting Results
56% Normal
Based on 25 votes (14 yes)
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Comments ( 28 )
  • anti-hero
    10 years ago

    On every gun I own. They don't work otherwise.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      If you don't mind, do you think you could make a comment about the horse named Trigger?

      That'd be great!

      Thanks

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      • anti-hero
        10 years ago

        Sorry my silly comment on your post got the most thumbs up. I guess that speaks to the overall quality of your post, huh?

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago | pl

          I think it says more about the users of this site. Or at least the people who like to play with thumbs.

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          • anti-hero
            10 years ago

            If the users are so bad, why do you stay here?

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              10 years ago

              You made the obvious joke and people liked it. (Which I fully expected someone to make.) That only tells me that people liked the simple joke and had no real thoughts to share on the matter.

              Again, this tells me more about the users reading the question than the quality of the question itself.

              I enjoy my time here and I like you but dont insult me again.

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    • Shackleford96
      10 years ago

      Lol, what guns do you have?

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      • anti-hero
        10 years ago

        How long do you have?

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        • Shackleford96
          10 years ago

          It's never a bad thing to have too many guns

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          • anti-hero
            10 years ago

            You can have too many?

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  • BellaMarie
    10 years ago

    Watching someone drink a cold beer that they just ordered in a place that is not a bar as such, as I am a
    recovering alcoholic. Sometimes I am caught off guard so this is definitely a trigger for me.

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  • dom180
    10 years ago

    I think when it gets serious enough to be called a post-traumatic stress *disorder* rather than just a plain old fear or sensitive topic, people can be excused for wanting to avoid the trigger.

    I don't think anyone should be obliged to put trigger warnings anywhere. I have never put a trigger warning anywhere. I was only recently told the idea existed, and I've certainly never remembered about them when I've written anything.

    I think it's a good thing to do if you can and it isn't horribly inconvenient. And it can be horribly inconvenient; if a trigger warning was given at the start of a book, that could feature a big spoiler which could damage the enjoyment for story for a lot of people. Same for films. If I was watching a film which started with a sign saying "by the way, someone gets raped in this", I'd see the point but I'd be a bit pissed off.

    I don't have a trigger of any kind, no. I suppose some things like blood and needles freak me out, and sometimes make me feel faint, but not in a post-traumatic stress way and I certainly wouldn't be angry at anyone who showed me these "triggers".

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  • CozmoWank
    10 years ago

    Is it normal that we have daily postings from someone who thinks the world is too PC?

    Is it normal for me to respond to my own response and say, "Yes, yes it is normal to have a daily posting from someone who thinks the world is too PC."

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      I hadn't noticed too many PC posts, but I also wasn't looking. However this post is more about psychological triggers and being politically correct is only part of it.

      Should I write a post about how people don't read the whole question? And then you can ask the same question about daily postings.

      And then I will move onto how in love with my teacher I am and you can do the same.

      shall we not?

      okay

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      • CozmoWank
        10 years ago

        Q- Do you have a trigger?
        A- Yes, if you are human you have a trigger.

        Now if you twerk for your teacher, you will get an A+ and they will want to adopt you. Also stay after school to clean the blackboards and don't forget to drop the eraser often so you can make a dramatic display of picking it up.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    sniffing

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  • TheMightyOz
    10 years ago

    You (the OP) seem like a nice person. Do you have a trigger? Managing it can be difficult, but I would like to help you if I can.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Thanks.

      But no, I dont have any triggers. Buttons, yes. But no triggers.

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      • Riddler
        9 years ago

        I have peeves. I don't know if it would count as a trigger. I dislike being called a child because I am not one. I had also have an abusive friend who would belittle me by calling me a child and loved to demean me.

        I stopped dealing with this person but now when people try to call me a child I feel like stabbing them in the throat and choking them to death with a wire.

        I am not a child and I was not a child when I was friends with this person and while its very annoying for people to call an adult a child I think its worse for me because of my dick of a friend. So I am not sure if its just that I am not a child that aggravates me or if my abusive friend added to this.

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  • anti-hero
    10 years ago

    I am considering getting one with my best friend of 15 years. She is like a sister to me. My gf would never get a tattoo, so that aspect of the question is out for me.

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  • Shackleford96
    10 years ago

    I think you have very good points in your post here. I do not have much experience with post traumatic stress disorder, but I do think that you are right that we shouldn't try to be so politically correct as to shelter people like that. They will have their triggers, and unless they get the type of help and stuff they need, it is just bound to happen.

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