I'm undecided about trigger warnings. I agree with content warnings for children. -- Maybe even if there are adults who don't want to hear foul language, or see violent images, a warning is a good thing. We want some degree of control over our media. I also appreciate a good synopsis of what a TV show or movie is about.
As an abuse survivor, I rely on those . . . I can be pretty emotionally affected by images of violence, rape, child abuse, etc. So if I'm not alone, I try to find a way to avoid what's on the television. I go wash dishes, run an errand, etc. But the flip side, you see, is that protection from something offensive can be a bad thing. If I'm alone, I often force myself to watch. Because that makes a person face their reactions. Often the "only way out is through".
The negative side of trigger warnings relates to this over-protection. Take the recent cases of college students that have sued universities over reading lists. One memorable case was a student protesting Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home". They were objecting to one panel (it's in cartoon form) showing a lesbian sexual situation. It's a good book, I read it, it asks a lot of questions about communication, depression, the psychology of being closeted, etc. But now there are (in college!) demands for alternative reading lists and trigger warnings whenever something just might be offensive to someone. These college kids need to grow up, to see the multi-ethnic and cultural world around them and interact with it, and not go out into the business world still wearing safe fuzzy blinders.
As an abuse survivor, I rely on those . . . I can be pretty emotionally affected by images of violence, rape, child abuse, etc. So if I'm not alone, I try to find a way to avoid what's on the television. I go wash dishes, run an errand, etc. But the flip side, you see, is that protection from something offensive can be a bad thing. If I'm alone, I often force myself to watch. Because that makes a person face their reactions. Often the "only way out is through".
The negative side of trigger warnings relates to this over-protection. Take the recent cases of college students that have sued universities over reading lists. One memorable case was a student protesting Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home". They were objecting to one panel (it's in cartoon form) showing a lesbian sexual situation. It's a good book, I read it, it asks a lot of questions about communication, depression, the psychology of being closeted, etc. But now there are (in college!) demands for alternative reading lists and trigger warnings whenever something just might be offensive to someone. These college kids need to grow up, to see the multi-ethnic and cultural world around them and interact with it, and not go out into the business world still wearing safe fuzzy blinders.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
