TW: The Necessity Of Trigger Warnings | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

TW: The Necessity Of Trigger Warnings

No, people aren’t overly sensitive.

34
TW: The Necessity Of Trigger Warnings
WordRevel

People who use trigger warnings or advocate for them are often regarded as too sensitive and too focused on political correctness. How someone can be too politically correct is a mystery to me, but that’s for another day. This sort of mindset was sparked by the notion amongst older generations that millennials and younger generations are “coddled,” that we are allowed to be too sensitive, that we need to combat our assumed fragility by exposure. A trigger is not something that annoys or bothers you, a trigger is something that can bring back intense feelings of panic or trauma, often correlated with experiences of mental illness, abuse, post-traumatic stress or body dysphoria, hence the name.

There has been lots of discussion on campus related to triggering content in respect to freedom of speech, sparked by the anti-abortion protests on Sanford Mall several weeks ago, featuring huge and grotesque pictures inappropriate for any public setting. While the general consensus of the student body was leaning towards disapproval, there was some debate about exactly why and how it was wrong. Many students thought that while it was indeed inappropriate, it was a learning experience and should be regarded as such, not taken so seriously. However, that fails to respect the many individuals on campus who may have been highly triggered by those images while simply walking to class at 9 a.m. There were “warnings,” but of course no one actually saw the tiny signs until after seeing the gigantic display.

In schools, many teachers and professors adhere to the thought that students must be faced with challenging material to learn and grow. But, challenging academia and overtly violent or sensitive content are in no ways synonymous. I have been lucky to have had classes with professors who are more than happy to provide trigger warnings, encouraging students to skip or leave class on a day where we might be covering triggering material. However, I do know many students who haven’t been so lucky and have had professors who were extremely inconsiderate in how they addressed their content.

On social media, a trigger warning is often tagged as #tw, allowing for viewers to choose or block the content with which they engage. However, too often I have been scrolling through my dashboard or my news feed and came across a picture or video that definitely should’ve been tagged, like depictions of animal abuse or war-related violence.

Triggers are not a call for over sensitivity, for reprimanding assumed fragility. It is respecting emotional trauma and the varying capacity of content that people can and cannot handle mentally. It is effortlessly easy to simply mention “By the way, we’re going to be discussing a sensitive topic,” or simply tag TW. It’s not coddling, it’s not threatening academic freedom and learning experiences, it’s simply allowing for safe and respectful engagement and necessary self-care.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

134921
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

31679
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

28989
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments