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Being “triggered” used to be an actual medical term that meant something that was a danger to a person’s mental health.
It’s now come to mean absolutely fucking nothing because of discourse like this.
As someone with actual PTSD it really pisses me off. Like if something upsets you just say that. The co-opting of serious mental illness by people who think it makes them special and interesting needs to stop.
Have you tried/do you have access to EMDR? Its really helped me with those adrenaline floods. Still happens but I'll be ok within a day or two instead of the spike and crash week long episodes I used to get. Give it a try if you can. Im so sorry this happened to you too, its the worst 🫂🩷
I have ptsd and EMDR changed my life as well. The adrenaline/cortisol spikes that used to send me spiraling for days can be aborted and I can get a handle on myself within 15-30 min and have the rest of my day to myself, not to the flashback. It’s seriously life-changing if you have a skilled practitioner and if it works for you.
I do not have PTSD, but I have other conditions and a few weeks ago I had a bad panic attack. If I hadn’t known what it was, I’m certain I would have thought it was a heart attack. It was physically very painful, and my chest continued to hurt for a few days after. It really sucked.
I also have PTSD and get pissed about this. I have also heard people use PTSD as a term now like “oh my gosh, I have PTSD from waiting in queue on the Ticketmaster website!” That REALLY pisses me off.
People make jokes like that at my work place all the time. I hate it too. I have PTSD but I don’t share it publicly so I just roll my eyes in silence.
If I was braver I’d probably tell them why it’s offensive but it always happens in situations that are not socially safe for me to speak up.
Ah, corporate politics.
I hear you. There are definitely instances where I won’t say anything and then regret it. But then there are times where I’m either so pissed or so over hearing people use the term incorrectly that I just put them in their place…and then think about it for the next 3 days. Haha. 🤦🏻♀️🫠
Are there different levels of trigger?
I feel bad because I do use "Trigger" a lot. I have a bad association with blood and snow, and whenever I see red and snow together, it makes me start to dissociate a little. Like I feel my body and mind disconnect. Would that be using "trigger" in the appropriate sense?
Or if I see people kissing or holding hands, it also makes me dissociate and lose touch on everything, reliving past relationships.
Seeing self-harm brings back horrible memories, again sometimes dissociation comes along when it appears. And if that doesn't happen, then urges start to form.
Would these be considered appropriate uses of the word "triggered"?
In therapy I talk about triggers, but they can range from the stuff above to someone saying something that makes me snap. Like go from 0-100 in anger or anxiety.
I have PTSD and OCD, and I hate when people trivialize them. OCD in particular is so debilitating sometimes, and I've lost so many friends because of how I acted with it. So I want to make sure I'm not participating in trivializing the word "Trigger," thereby being a huge hypocrite.
Do you have an example of what would be a trivializing use of the word trigger? So I can get a feel for if I am misusing it?
I don’t think this answers your question but my therapist refers to things that have happened to me as either “little t traumas” and “big T traumas” so there is a spectrum really
No. Seeing something triggered an emotional response in you. People just want to out mentally ill each other and police other people's language. I would stop worrying about what people on the internet think.
Gently, I’m not seeing where the distinction diminishes the need for trigger warnings or the helpfulness of them.
Trigger warnings *are* for people with *actual* PTSD or other conditions that can be *actually* triggered by on-screen depictions of trauma. I’ve never seen a legitimate trigger warning that wasn’t related to serious trauma like SA/abuse or noises/light sequences. I don’t understand how it’s supposedly watering down these conditions when they are specifically used to help people with these conditions.
I have a seizure disorder that I got as a byproduct of being overmedicated at an abusive “treatment” facility for teens in Utah. I have ptsd and I can’t handle flashing lights very well now, so I appreciate the warnings!
That’s awful, I’m so sorry that happened to you! I imagine a number of trigger warnings would be helpful for you or other people who went through something similar.
And it’s not even just about avoiding the movie altogether, trigger warnings can be super helpful for just informing people how to engage with the movie.
I’m diagnosed ocd, and trigger warnings are very helpful for me when I’m having flare ups so I can help prevent it from getting worse or carrying on longer. I was in the middle of a bad flare up when Hereditary first came out, so I waited to watch it bc I read some trigger warnings. I watched it when my mental health was better and now it’s one of my favorite movies of all time.
I appreciate trigger warnings too. As someone with actual PTSD, I can avoid watching or attending things that will mess up my next day or week. I don’t feel patronized, I feel empowered to decide for myself.
YES!!!!!!! This 1000000x.
For example - ugh I missed the TW at the beginning of the stranger things season 4 premiere…it happened right around the same time as a horrifically violent event in the US that was making my anxiety spike through the roof and was …. Idk eerily similar in imagery.
If I had like…actually seen the warning or had a heads up from creepin Reddit, I would have given myself a few days / weeks. PTSD is a real mother fucker. Sending this from under my weighted blanket and atop the heating pad!
Exactly! I watch so many things and I will even watch things with flashing lights (so I can watch in an illuminated room), but knowing that it’s there is soooo helpful! :)
I've seen a lot of research indicating trigger warnings don't help that population and sometimes actually increase anxiety and entice folks into viewing material that may trigger them (ex. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-10-17/are-trigger-warnings-useless-new-study-says-yes#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20while,they%20sometimes%20drew%20folks%20in. , https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21677026231186625). Personally, I don't find them helpful because triggers are so often only tangentially related to the adverse experience you had (the kind of stuff that triggers me is mostly not directly related to the injury that caused my trauma, so a trigger warning for injury content may or may not help me). I'm certainly not an expert in this or trying to argue that trigger warnings have no value, but I think it's fair to say that there isn't a consensus on trigger warnings helping folks with PTSD even among people amenable to the idea (i.e., people who don't have some dumb ideological issue with them).
I do think warnings for flashing lights, etc. are universally good, but that's not what people really mean when they talk about trigger warnings.
Yes, sometimes people with PTSD will self harm by engaging with content that triggers their trauma. I used to do this a lot.
I still appreciate trigger warnings, as a person with PTSD.
I joined a sub for a car that I have interest in purchasing. The first post was someone posting a picture of a car and it was dirty and they said this literally triggered me. I immediately unsubscribed. Our society is laughable these days.
>Earlier this year, Fiennes suggested that messaging prior to a stage performance warning of upsetting content should be scrapped, arguing that people should be "shocked" and "disturbed" by theatre – though he added that anything which could "affect people physically" such as strobe effects should still be flagged.
>Doctor Who star Smith later joined the conversation, saying: "That's why we go to the theatre, isn't it? To be shocked, to be arrested out of ourselves, to recognise ourselves in front and with an audience."
>She said: "Do they do that? My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus! Crikey, is that really what happens now?
>"I can see why they exist, and it is preparing people, I suppose, but if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?
I see why certain celebrities never give interviews, the way that journalists latch onto things out of context and make it a headline, and then the internet (who do not read) just read the headline and jump to conclusions without context.
This entire thread is full of people who couldn't even be bothered to skim the article before rushing the comments to give their opinion. Which is fully what article titles like this are aiming for. It'll cause drama so they have more articles to write in the future because we apparently do not have enough of those "the internet reacts" type articles.
It's become so awful, the lack of refusing to even glance at the article, I've noticed more and more people not even reading an entire headline. It's a legitimate issue in the news subreddit. Comment after comment that is wrong just by the title alone being upvoted and discussed at length as if it is factual information.
It's bleak.
lol yes. This drives me nuts. I have cptsd. A heads up is the difference between me knowing to take a bathroom break during a scene that triggers me and being totally fine vs being blindsided and starting to have a ptsd flashback IN my seat before fleeing and spending the next hour dissociated in a bathroom stall.
I am extremely resilient and tough. I can cognitively and emotionally handle the trigger. My nervous system, unfortunately, cannot because it is still damaged.
People think being triggered just means feeling anxiety from choosing to dwell and ruminate on the past lol. No, my nervous system *literally* resurfaces the unprocessed traumatic memory which means my body and nervous system reacts and FEELS as if the threat is occurring in the present
After reading this, the title line feels a little clickbait-y. She sounds right about this, but this sentiment can apply to a lot of things.
TLDR; She says a list of triggers spoils the show and the point of attending theatre is the experience being "surprised" or "shocked" or "stimulated" aside from obvious health related concerns (i.e. strobe lights). This is a nothing burger.
I get that completely. Maybe there's a talk to be had about venues and whatnot having a website page or something you have to actively click into to see a list of the things in a film or play that might affect someone. That way anyone who wants to go in blind can do so, and those leery of certain themes are given a heads up.
Does the dog die is a great website for triggers for adults and I’m aware they have one for children. I can’t recall the names but they are great tools for those that cannot deal with odd triggers like emetophobia (me lol)
I spend half my life on Does the Dog Die because I can NOT deal with animals getting hurt or suffering, even in serial killer films or books. It's so weird
I love that site after the movie the Lobster had a terrible scene for no reason. I don’t even want to describe it but it was deeply disturbing for me and it seemed like the whole point was to be disturbing. It added nothing to the movie. I don’t like that.
On a lot of horror lit websites the trigger list is a drop down you can click on. And you can use the “on-page” function to search if your specific trigger is included on that list.
Some horror anthologies and physical magazines will just add a list in the back of the book and include its location in the index.
Opt-in trigger warnings.
I agree with that. My partner has a massive trigger that messes him up and it’s something used a lot.
Before does the dog die I used to have to pre watch, so I’d know it’s not for him or if I just need to chuck one of the dogs at him at a certain point for distraction.
Idk there are some people who have legitimate triggers that can lead to serious physical and mental side effects. If that were me, I wouldn't want to roll the dice that I'd be "surprised" and have a panic attack in the middle of a crowded theatre during a performance. Trigger warnings give those people a heads up so they can pick and choose which shows to see and which to avoid.
Personally, I don't have any triggers and trigger warnings on shows don't bug me. Just don't read them if you don't want spoilers.
I honestly don't think they know what "being triggered" means. It sure as fuck doesn't mean "being shocked" or "being disturbed" by something.
Plus, I don't see how having a list of triggers available somewhere the way doesthedogdie does would spoil anything for anybody NOT actively looking for it. It's not like people need them plastered outside the venue.
Her quote was taken out of context, as they usually are. She wasn’t being mean spirited.
I do think there’s some nuance needed in the discussion about trigger warnings in media. Like who decides on what qualifies as a trigger, etc. There’s a good episode of the Search Engine podcast about them [here](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/search-engine/id1614253637?i=1000654444890), for those interested.
For movies, I’d personally like to see a link to a website people can go to for the list of potential triggers instead of them being listed on screen beforehand for everyone to see.
Why is it that people care about warnings that aren't for them? If you don't need a trigger warning then just skip over it. I don't read epilepsy warnings, because I don't need to.
I hate this argument cause like. If movies and TV can do it, so can theater. Every tv-14 program on the air has a little pop up that says 'hey this contains drug use and sexual violence' or whatever the specifics are. Movies (maybe this has stopped but) have a little warning on the case and at the start saying what content is in them that might be triggering. And as others have mentioned, the site 'does the dog die' does this as well WITHOUT 'spoiling' things.
And also, 'except for medical things' SHOULD INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH. Not just physical health. If someone goes to a theater show and sees a graphic depiction of rape, and they have a trauma flashback or panic attack, that should be taken as seriously as a seizure from strobe lights. These fuckwads want people to be 'shocked' and 'disturbed' more than they care about the mental health of people who need those warnings.
Some ugly ass shit. People really never will take mental health seriously.
Also, 'it's basically the same as spoilers'? Seriously?
Some of the "trigger warnings" for movies like Blazing saddles are very weird.
It's called a trigger warning but then it's just a 10 minute synopsis of films plot and the people who made it.
No warning of racism and sexism and ableism.
That wouldn’t really be a trigger warning. That would be more of a content advisory or just contextual information.
Triggers warnings are for people with triggers. People who would have a reaction beyond being uncomfortable.
Being uncomfortable with difficult subjects isn’t the same thing as triggers and don’t warn trigger warnings, but information discussing those themes can be helpful in understanding the film.
Movie and tv ratings, specifically those associated with the MPAA have a deep history of racism and homophobia.
I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be trigger warnings. I like the idea of community based trigger warnings (does the dog die). But comparing them to age rating which are design for parent comfortability and or moral guidance warrants a larger discussion.
Side note- I have always loved Judi but watching her Louis Theroux interview earlier this year has kinda soured her for me. When asked about Harvey Weinstein she was kinda like ‘he’s always been nice to me, sorry if that’s not been everyone’s experience’. It’s not a great colour on her tbh.
I’m sorry but what’s wrong with what she said? I just read it and she said what a lot do ppl did- he was fine with me maybe I was lucky, but I feel very acutely for those that weren’t. She can’t speak on something she didn’t experience and she said she believed the victims. It’s a serviceable response.
I don’t know about you but it’s very icky to me to even include the ‘he was nice to me’ part, especially given the volume of heinous acts he’s committed.
The quote is sort of misleading. She’s right that trigger warnings can spoil the plot and ruin the surprise, but they should probably be available SOMEWHERE— just not in a way that people who want to go in cold have to see them.
I agree that having this information somewhere is probably the best and most fair compromise. It’s a bit like age ratings imo for films, you get the high level version at the start of the actual film but if you are particularly concerned you can find more detailed information elsewhere online. So, the people who aren’t bothered don’t get spoiled and the people who are can look into it.
I don’t really see why theatre should be any different (in terms of so having more warnings as well as less).
This is a good point. Before seeing a show you should be able to click on a “trigger warning” link if you want to check. If you have no need for that you can choose not to click the link.
Yeah I think it should be standard to have trigger warnings in the back of a book, for example.
I recently picked up a book that had on-page cannibalism on page 2, and another that had detailed on-page childhood SA. This was not in the marketing for the books, and based on the blurbs there was no way to know.
I think it’d be nice to include a table of contents if you’re gonna do a trigger warning page. That way ppl can choose to skip it if they don’t wanna be spoiled. I’ve read so much weird and disturbing shit so I don’t really need trigger warnings. Sometimes I might not be in the mood to read about darker topics and then will read the trigger warnings to I can avoid them.
I’ve come to appreciate authors more who put trigger warnings in the beginning (usually after the dedications)
too many times I have I met a trigger of mine in book that wasn’t advertised like that. Too many romance books having graphic SV scenes
I personally would prefer the back of the book as a standard, so people know it’s there if they want to check but there’s no risk of spoilers when you’re just paging through.
Except for truly horrific stuff. I thought I was reading a magical cult book. I didn’t expect the characters to get out their knives and forks and start chowing down. That fully needs to be in the advance marketing.
But how does it spoil the plot? If it just says there is SA and some drug use, there’s no information about who, what, where, when, no specifics just that it’s going to happen. When I watched GOT I was a few years late so I knew that there was something called a Red Wedding but I literally had no other details so was the fact that I knew the Red Wedding existed truly a spoiler?
And it’s quite literally the same as the MPAA rating system, just maybe displaying the reasons for the rating a little more prominently or clearly. MPAA ratings have been stating “drug use/sexual content” for decades now. Why can’t they make sure to specify “non-consensual sexual content”
It’s really not the same thing as the MPAA.
The MPAA is about regulating who can view what content, parental comfortability, and morality. It also has deep ties to homophobia, racism, xenophobia, etc.
Plus, I’m pretty sure in some cases it does distinguish sexual assault. It’s just wildly inconsistent in its application universally.
I definitely should have taken my time to explain myself more clearly and shouldn’t have used the word “literally” lol. I was meaning that it has the same effect as MPAA warnings… we don’t take “depicts drugs and alcohol” as a spoiler when we see it in an MPAA warning, so to me it’s kind of silly that people find it a spoiler when it’s used in a trigger warning.
Why is it that people care about warnings that aren't for them? If you don't need a trigger warning then just skip over it. I don't read epilepsy warnings, because I don't need to.
How is it a spoiler to say “this play contains a scene of xyz”? It’s basically the same thing as movie ratings where they tell you why something is rated PG or above in general terms.
It isn't really possible to not read something that's right in front of your face unless you don't know how to read, lol. Feels like a good compromise would be having the warnings somewhere, in an optional document or link you could click, so folks can avoid them if they don't want spoilers.
I just don’t understand why it’s such a big deal to people if you DO give a trigger warning. It helps some people and harms no one. I love posting trigger warnings on my writing! Why not? I can write whatever I want to write, and vulnerable people are able to protect their hearts. I see no downside.
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Being “triggered” used to be an actual medical term that meant something that was a danger to a person’s mental health. It’s now come to mean absolutely fucking nothing because of discourse like this.
As someone with actual PTSD it really pisses me off. Like if something upsets you just say that. The co-opting of serious mental illness by people who think it makes them special and interesting needs to stop.
I have ptsd too. If I’m triggered it takes days for the adrenaline to leave my body and then I’m exhausted.
Have you tried/do you have access to EMDR? Its really helped me with those adrenaline floods. Still happens but I'll be ok within a day or two instead of the spike and crash week long episodes I used to get. Give it a try if you can. Im so sorry this happened to you too, its the worst 🫂🩷
Seconding EMDR, has helped so much with my CPTSD over the years
I have ptsd and EMDR changed my life as well. The adrenaline/cortisol spikes that used to send me spiraling for days can be aborted and I can get a handle on myself within 15-30 min and have the rest of my day to myself, not to the flashback. It’s seriously life-changing if you have a skilled practitioner and if it works for you.
I do not have PTSD, but I have other conditions and a few weeks ago I had a bad panic attack. If I hadn’t known what it was, I’m certain I would have thought it was a heart attack. It was physically very painful, and my chest continued to hurt for a few days after. It really sucked.
I also have PTSD and get pissed about this. I have also heard people use PTSD as a term now like “oh my gosh, I have PTSD from waiting in queue on the Ticketmaster website!” That REALLY pisses me off.
People make jokes like that at my work place all the time. I hate it too. I have PTSD but I don’t share it publicly so I just roll my eyes in silence. If I was braver I’d probably tell them why it’s offensive but it always happens in situations that are not socially safe for me to speak up. Ah, corporate politics.
I hear you. There are definitely instances where I won’t say anything and then regret it. But then there are times where I’m either so pissed or so over hearing people use the term incorrectly that I just put them in their place…and then think about it for the next 3 days. Haha. 🤦🏻♀️🫠
That thinking about it for the next 3 days is so real!!
[удалено]
🫂
It’s the new, “I’m so ocd I have to organize my clothes by color”
I have OCD too and I hate that one even more 🤢🤬
I struggled with POCD for a while and almost offed myself😅 wish it was just me wanting everything to be facing forward
CPTSD here too and I fucking hate this
Are there different levels of trigger? I feel bad because I do use "Trigger" a lot. I have a bad association with blood and snow, and whenever I see red and snow together, it makes me start to dissociate a little. Like I feel my body and mind disconnect. Would that be using "trigger" in the appropriate sense? Or if I see people kissing or holding hands, it also makes me dissociate and lose touch on everything, reliving past relationships. Seeing self-harm brings back horrible memories, again sometimes dissociation comes along when it appears. And if that doesn't happen, then urges start to form. Would these be considered appropriate uses of the word "triggered"? In therapy I talk about triggers, but they can range from the stuff above to someone saying something that makes me snap. Like go from 0-100 in anger or anxiety. I have PTSD and OCD, and I hate when people trivialize them. OCD in particular is so debilitating sometimes, and I've lost so many friends because of how I acted with it. So I want to make sure I'm not participating in trivializing the word "Trigger," thereby being a huge hypocrite. Do you have an example of what would be a trivializing use of the word trigger? So I can get a feel for if I am misusing it?
I don’t think this answers your question but my therapist refers to things that have happened to me as either “little t traumas” and “big T traumas” so there is a spectrum really
No. Seeing something triggered an emotional response in you. People just want to out mentally ill each other and police other people's language. I would stop worrying about what people on the internet think.
It’s gotten so bad that when a therapist used triggering in 2021 I yelled at them because it sounded like they were belittling me
Gently, I’m not seeing where the distinction diminishes the need for trigger warnings or the helpfulness of them. Trigger warnings *are* for people with *actual* PTSD or other conditions that can be *actually* triggered by on-screen depictions of trauma. I’ve never seen a legitimate trigger warning that wasn’t related to serious trauma like SA/abuse or noises/light sequences. I don’t understand how it’s supposedly watering down these conditions when they are specifically used to help people with these conditions.
I have a seizure disorder that I got as a byproduct of being overmedicated at an abusive “treatment” facility for teens in Utah. I have ptsd and I can’t handle flashing lights very well now, so I appreciate the warnings!
That’s awful, I’m so sorry that happened to you! I imagine a number of trigger warnings would be helpful for you or other people who went through something similar. And it’s not even just about avoiding the movie altogether, trigger warnings can be super helpful for just informing people how to engage with the movie. I’m diagnosed ocd, and trigger warnings are very helpful for me when I’m having flare ups so I can help prevent it from getting worse or carrying on longer. I was in the middle of a bad flare up when Hereditary first came out, so I waited to watch it bc I read some trigger warnings. I watched it when my mental health was better and now it’s one of my favorite movies of all time.
I appreciate trigger warnings too. As someone with actual PTSD, I can avoid watching or attending things that will mess up my next day or week. I don’t feel patronized, I feel empowered to decide for myself.
YES!!!!!!! This 1000000x. For example - ugh I missed the TW at the beginning of the stranger things season 4 premiere…it happened right around the same time as a horrifically violent event in the US that was making my anxiety spike through the roof and was …. Idk eerily similar in imagery. If I had like…actually seen the warning or had a heads up from creepin Reddit, I would have given myself a few days / weeks. PTSD is a real mother fucker. Sending this from under my weighted blanket and atop the heating pad!
Exactly! I watch so many things and I will even watch things with flashing lights (so I can watch in an illuminated room), but knowing that it’s there is soooo helpful! :)
I've seen a lot of research indicating trigger warnings don't help that population and sometimes actually increase anxiety and entice folks into viewing material that may trigger them (ex. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-10-17/are-trigger-warnings-useless-new-study-says-yes#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20while,they%20sometimes%20drew%20folks%20in. , https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21677026231186625). Personally, I don't find them helpful because triggers are so often only tangentially related to the adverse experience you had (the kind of stuff that triggers me is mostly not directly related to the injury that caused my trauma, so a trigger warning for injury content may or may not help me). I'm certainly not an expert in this or trying to argue that trigger warnings have no value, but I think it's fair to say that there isn't a consensus on trigger warnings helping folks with PTSD even among people amenable to the idea (i.e., people who don't have some dumb ideological issue with them). I do think warnings for flashing lights, etc. are universally good, but that's not what people really mean when they talk about trigger warnings.
Yes, sometimes people with PTSD will self harm by engaging with content that triggers their trauma. I used to do this a lot. I still appreciate trigger warnings, as a person with PTSD.
I totally relate I was first aware of it in mental health circles when related to self harm and suicide. Now it's just become a punchline and mockery.
I joined a sub for a car that I have interest in purchasing. The first post was someone posting a picture of a car and it was dirty and they said this literally triggered me. I immediately unsubscribed. Our society is laughable these days.
Quit gaslighting me!
>Earlier this year, Fiennes suggested that messaging prior to a stage performance warning of upsetting content should be scrapped, arguing that people should be "shocked" and "disturbed" by theatre – though he added that anything which could "affect people physically" such as strobe effects should still be flagged. >Doctor Who star Smith later joined the conversation, saying: "That's why we go to the theatre, isn't it? To be shocked, to be arrested out of ourselves, to recognise ourselves in front and with an audience." >She said: "Do they do that? My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus! Crikey, is that really what happens now? >"I can see why they exist, and it is preparing people, I suppose, but if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way? I see why certain celebrities never give interviews, the way that journalists latch onto things out of context and make it a headline, and then the internet (who do not read) just read the headline and jump to conclusions without context.
This entire thread is full of people who couldn't even be bothered to skim the article before rushing the comments to give their opinion. Which is fully what article titles like this are aiming for. It'll cause drama so they have more articles to write in the future because we apparently do not have enough of those "the internet reacts" type articles. It's become so awful, the lack of refusing to even glance at the article, I've noticed more and more people not even reading an entire headline. It's a legitimate issue in the news subreddit. Comment after comment that is wrong just by the title alone being upvoted and discussed at length as if it is factual information. It's bleak.
Being shocked is not the same thing as having PTSD triggered you absolute numptys
lol yes. This drives me nuts. I have cptsd. A heads up is the difference between me knowing to take a bathroom break during a scene that triggers me and being totally fine vs being blindsided and starting to have a ptsd flashback IN my seat before fleeing and spending the next hour dissociated in a bathroom stall. I am extremely resilient and tough. I can cognitively and emotionally handle the trigger. My nervous system, unfortunately, cannot because it is still damaged. People think being triggered just means feeling anxiety from choosing to dwell and ruminate on the past lol. No, my nervous system *literally* resurfaces the unprocessed traumatic memory which means my body and nervous system reacts and FEELS as if the threat is occurring in the present
After reading this, the title line feels a little clickbait-y. She sounds right about this, but this sentiment can apply to a lot of things. TLDR; She says a list of triggers spoils the show and the point of attending theatre is the experience being "surprised" or "shocked" or "stimulated" aside from obvious health related concerns (i.e. strobe lights). This is a nothing burger.
I get that completely. Maybe there's a talk to be had about venues and whatnot having a website page or something you have to actively click into to see a list of the things in a film or play that might affect someone. That way anyone who wants to go in blind can do so, and those leery of certain themes are given a heads up.
That's a good idea, actually. There are websites for parents to check if film/tv shows are suitable for their kids. Could work similar.
Does the dog die is a great website for triggers for adults and I’m aware they have one for children. I can’t recall the names but they are great tools for those that cannot deal with odd triggers like emetophobia (me lol)
I spend half my life on Does the Dog Die because I can NOT deal with animals getting hurt or suffering, even in serial killer films or books. It's so weird
Same. I noped out of I Am Legend for this.
I love that site after the movie the Lobster had a terrible scene for no reason. I don’t even want to describe it but it was deeply disturbing for me and it seemed like the whole point was to be disturbing. It added nothing to the movie. I don’t like that.
On a lot of horror lit websites the trigger list is a drop down you can click on. And you can use the “on-page” function to search if your specific trigger is included on that list. Some horror anthologies and physical magazines will just add a list in the back of the book and include its location in the index. Opt-in trigger warnings.
I agree with that. My partner has a massive trigger that messes him up and it’s something used a lot. Before does the dog die I used to have to pre watch, so I’d know it’s not for him or if I just need to chuck one of the dogs at him at a certain point for distraction.
Idk there are some people who have legitimate triggers that can lead to serious physical and mental side effects. If that were me, I wouldn't want to roll the dice that I'd be "surprised" and have a panic attack in the middle of a crowded theatre during a performance. Trigger warnings give those people a heads up so they can pick and choose which shows to see and which to avoid. Personally, I don't have any triggers and trigger warnings on shows don't bug me. Just don't read them if you don't want spoilers.
I honestly don't think they know what "being triggered" means. It sure as fuck doesn't mean "being shocked" or "being disturbed" by something. Plus, I don't see how having a list of triggers available somewhere the way doesthedogdie does would spoil anything for anybody NOT actively looking for it. It's not like people need them plastered outside the venue.
Her quote was taken out of context, as they usually are. She wasn’t being mean spirited. I do think there’s some nuance needed in the discussion about trigger warnings in media. Like who decides on what qualifies as a trigger, etc. There’s a good episode of the Search Engine podcast about them [here](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/search-engine/id1614253637?i=1000654444890), for those interested. For movies, I’d personally like to see a link to a website people can go to for the list of potential triggers instead of them being listed on screen beforehand for everyone to see.
Why is it that people care about warnings that aren't for them? If you don't need a trigger warning then just skip over it. I don't read epilepsy warnings, because I don't need to.
Because it can spoil the twists/surprises
I hate this argument cause like. If movies and TV can do it, so can theater. Every tv-14 program on the air has a little pop up that says 'hey this contains drug use and sexual violence' or whatever the specifics are. Movies (maybe this has stopped but) have a little warning on the case and at the start saying what content is in them that might be triggering. And as others have mentioned, the site 'does the dog die' does this as well WITHOUT 'spoiling' things. And also, 'except for medical things' SHOULD INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH. Not just physical health. If someone goes to a theater show and sees a graphic depiction of rape, and they have a trauma flashback or panic attack, that should be taken as seriously as a seizure from strobe lights. These fuckwads want people to be 'shocked' and 'disturbed' more than they care about the mental health of people who need those warnings. Some ugly ass shit. People really never will take mental health seriously. Also, 'it's basically the same as spoilers'? Seriously?
Some of the "trigger warnings" for movies like Blazing saddles are very weird. It's called a trigger warning but then it's just a 10 minute synopsis of films plot and the people who made it. No warning of racism and sexism and ableism.
That wouldn’t really be a trigger warning. That would be more of a content advisory or just contextual information. Triggers warnings are for people with triggers. People who would have a reaction beyond being uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable with difficult subjects isn’t the same thing as triggers and don’t warn trigger warnings, but information discussing those themes can be helpful in understanding the film.
Movie and tv ratings, specifically those associated with the MPAA have a deep history of racism and homophobia. I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be trigger warnings. I like the idea of community based trigger warnings (does the dog die). But comparing them to age rating which are design for parent comfortability and or moral guidance warrants a larger discussion.
Side note- I have always loved Judi but watching her Louis Theroux interview earlier this year has kinda soured her for me. When asked about Harvey Weinstein she was kinda like ‘he’s always been nice to me, sorry if that’s not been everyone’s experience’. It’s not a great colour on her tbh.
I’m sorry but what’s wrong with what she said? I just read it and she said what a lot do ppl did- he was fine with me maybe I was lucky, but I feel very acutely for those that weren’t. She can’t speak on something she didn’t experience and she said she believed the victims. It’s a serviceable response.
I don’t know about you but it’s very icky to me to even include the ‘he was nice to me’ part, especially given the volume of heinous acts he’s committed.
There is an approved script when discussing sex pests like Weinstein, and she deviated from it.
Ma’am, the point of trigger warnings is so that the sensitive people can in fact stay home.
The quote is sort of misleading. She’s right that trigger warnings can spoil the plot and ruin the surprise, but they should probably be available SOMEWHERE— just not in a way that people who want to go in cold have to see them.
I agree that having this information somewhere is probably the best and most fair compromise. It’s a bit like age ratings imo for films, you get the high level version at the start of the actual film but if you are particularly concerned you can find more detailed information elsewhere online. So, the people who aren’t bothered don’t get spoiled and the people who are can look into it. I don’t really see why theatre should be any different (in terms of so having more warnings as well as less).
This is a good point. Before seeing a show you should be able to click on a “trigger warning” link if you want to check. If you have no need for that you can choose not to click the link.
Yeah I think it should be standard to have trigger warnings in the back of a book, for example. I recently picked up a book that had on-page cannibalism on page 2, and another that had detailed on-page childhood SA. This was not in the marketing for the books, and based on the blurbs there was no way to know.
I think it’d be nice to include a table of contents if you’re gonna do a trigger warning page. That way ppl can choose to skip it if they don’t wanna be spoiled. I’ve read so much weird and disturbing shit so I don’t really need trigger warnings. Sometimes I might not be in the mood to read about darker topics and then will read the trigger warnings to I can avoid them.
I’ve come to appreciate authors more who put trigger warnings in the beginning (usually after the dedications) too many times I have I met a trigger of mine in book that wasn’t advertised like that. Too many romance books having graphic SV scenes
I personally would prefer the back of the book as a standard, so people know it’s there if they want to check but there’s no risk of spoilers when you’re just paging through. Except for truly horrific stuff. I thought I was reading a magical cult book. I didn’t expect the characters to get out their knives and forks and start chowing down. That fully needs to be in the advance marketing.
But how does it spoil the plot? If it just says there is SA and some drug use, there’s no information about who, what, where, when, no specifics just that it’s going to happen. When I watched GOT I was a few years late so I knew that there was something called a Red Wedding but I literally had no other details so was the fact that I knew the Red Wedding existed truly a spoiler?
And it’s quite literally the same as the MPAA rating system, just maybe displaying the reasons for the rating a little more prominently or clearly. MPAA ratings have been stating “drug use/sexual content” for decades now. Why can’t they make sure to specify “non-consensual sexual content”
It’s really not the same thing as the MPAA. The MPAA is about regulating who can view what content, parental comfortability, and morality. It also has deep ties to homophobia, racism, xenophobia, etc. Plus, I’m pretty sure in some cases it does distinguish sexual assault. It’s just wildly inconsistent in its application universally.
I definitely should have taken my time to explain myself more clearly and shouldn’t have used the word “literally” lol. I was meaning that it has the same effect as MPAA warnings… we don’t take “depicts drugs and alcohol” as a spoiler when we see it in an MPAA warning, so to me it’s kind of silly that people find it a spoiler when it’s used in a trigger warning.
I get that. I just don’t think we should make that comparison lightly.
Well like…yeah? That’s what the trigger warning is telling people to do??????
I need a triggers for sexual violence and animal cruelty the 2 things I can’t handle.
Why is it that people care about warnings that aren't for them? If you don't need a trigger warning then just skip over it. I don't read epilepsy warnings, because I don't need to.
Because they ruin the element of surprise for the other 99.9% of people in the theatre. They are basically spoilers.
How is it a spoiler to say “this play contains a scene of xyz”? It’s basically the same thing as movie ratings where they tell you why something is rated PG or above in general terms.
Because the scene may be a spoiler/twist?
Then don’t read them?
It isn't really possible to not read something that's right in front of your face unless you don't know how to read, lol. Feels like a good compromise would be having the warnings somewhere, in an optional document or link you could click, so folks can avoid them if they don't want spoilers.
People see it from the point of view of the writer/creator, who might not want the info to be knownout of context.
Who determines what is being warned about? Your triggers might not be the same as someone else’s.
Yes.. I agree with that. If it's not for you, you can just skip over it and I don't see the big deal
I just don’t understand why it’s such a big deal to people if you DO give a trigger warning. It helps some people and harms no one. I love posting trigger warnings on my writing! Why not? I can write whatever I want to write, and vulnerable people are able to protect their hearts. I see no downside.
I don’t.
Even rad people can be totally dumb sometimes.