Shoutbox topic

[The Skarzs]

*Pulls trigger.*

[LT Sandpaw]

I wonder if the Left and the Right went to war, if the Left would still consider giving trigger warnings a necessity...?

[Jetthebinturong]

*Whispers* The original purpose of trigger warnings was to not trigger people's PTSD so, you know, they're a pretty useful thing.

[LT Sandpaw]

Really, I didn't know that. To bad they've been blown way out of proportion, trigger warning legitimacy has been ruined by people taking offense at just about everything.

[The Skarzs]

Indeed. People (without PTSD) just need to toughen up.

[Banya]

What is the reaction necessary for one to be considered 'triggered'? Does one have to be upset or angry? Can one be interested in starting a debate or discussion around the topic and still be considered 'triggered'? Can one comment unemotionally and still be considered 'triggered'? No really I want to know what each of you think of being 'triggered.'

[LT Sandpaw]

What is the reaction necessary for one to be considered 'triggered'? Does one have to be upset or angry? Can one be interested in starting a debate or discussion around the topic and still be considered 'triggered'? Can one comment unemotionally and still be considered 'triggered'? No really I want to know what each of you think of being 'triggered.'

I think that's part of the problem, there is no real definition for it, so people just throw it around willy-nilly. Actually its more of an insult to me, you'd call someone triggered when they react emotionally to something they don't like.

[Jetthebinturong]

What is the reaction necessary for one to be considered 'triggered'? Does one have to be upset or angry? Can one be interested in starting a debate or discussion around the topic and still be considered 'triggered'? Can one comment unemotionally and still be considered 'triggered'? No really I want to know what each of you think of being 'triggered.'

The purpose of triggers is to warn people of content they may not want to see/hear about (torture, for example).

Some people use them to describe being slightly offended by something.

Some people use them to belittle other people's viewpoints and emotions.

[The Skarzs]

And some people use them as a social weapon!

[Lady Ashenwyte]

I know someone who is constantly triggered.

[LT Sandpaw]

I know someone who is constantly triggered.

What a horrible way to live...

[Banya]

I know someone who is constantly triggered.

What a horrible way to live...

How awful.

So that's along the lines of what I thought too. Being triggered (in today's sense) is being inflamed into giving an emotional response to something you personally find disagreeable, upsetting, or offensive. A calm response to something you disagree with is not 'being triggered.' Being triggered has a negative connotation and is associated with being sensitive, overemotional, and easily hurt, and is an effective (if below-the-belt) way to negate or belittle the opinions of someone who disagrees with you. As Jet said, trigger warnings "warn people of content they might not want to see/hear about." Like before watching a rather graphic video in lecture on modern-day slavery (both labour and sexual) a couple years ago, my professor informed the class that anyone who finds they can't handle the content is free to leave without being penalized for the absence, because that could trigger a violent response in students with a history of physical or sexual abuse. Thanks for the thoughts, guys.

[Grond]

I know someone who is constantly triggered.

Have they ever been to a mental health professional? Depending on how bad it is, there is probably an underlying condition or problem that needs to be addressed.

[Groddil]

There's somebody in my school who hates the "My Name's Jeff" meme so much that simply saying the word "Jeff" will cause him to go absolutely ape and punch you in the nose.

[The Skarzs]

I want to see that. Yep. I guess I'm trigger happy.

Being triggered has a negative connotation and is associated with being sensitive, overemotional, and easily hurt, and is an effective (if below-the-belt) way to negate or belittle the opinions of someone who disagrees with you.

^That's the way I would have liked to put it but couldn't figure out the appropriate spots for the words!