Trigger Warning!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Mods : This may be in the wrong place as I have yet to figure out how to get to the break room.

I have been told at my school and facility that we are now required to give a trigger warning before we speak an opinion that may offend the sensibilities of another. Something on the lines of "I have to warn you that I am about to say something that may trigger a strong negative emotion in you!" This gives members of the intended audience the opportunity to recuse themselves from the conversation to avoid being triggered or otherwise negatively effected by what I am about to say!

IMHO political correctness is simply suppression of constitutionally protected free speech which is a basic human right in this country (USA). I am wondering how many others on this forum find this trend ridiculous. I am purposely not going into specific details or issues with this - just wondering how many of my fellows feel about this.

Hppy

Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

I think this issue is more complicated than it seems on the surface. On one hand part of being a considerate and thoughtful human being is to be sensitive to the fact that we all have had different experiences in our lives including past hurts and traumas. We have to remember that people have various thresholds to emotional pain just as with physical pain and that the degree of resilience varies among each individual.

On the other hand we can't walk on eggshells around each other out of fear that we may "trigger" one another as this doesn't build resilience but prevents it.

What is the balance? How can we as a society and as nurses remain considerate and sensitive without taking things too far?

I

2 Votes
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
12 hours ago, Emergent said:

Well, this thread taught me a new thing. I had never heard of this trigger warning fad.

Me too!! I feel so "back woods" like...I think I've been triggered.

3 Votes
Specializes in ER.

I was triggered on this thread. But, I made a conscious choice to let it go and carry on with my day, instead of violating the TOS and get kicked off the site.?

5 Votes
2 hours ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

I think this issue is more complicated than it seems on the surface. On one hand part of being a considerate and thoughtful human being is to be sensitive to the fact that we all have had different experiences in our lives including past hurts and traumas. We have to remember that people have various thresholds to emotional pain just as with physical pain and that the degree of resilience varies among each individual.

On the other hand we can't walk on eggshells around each other out of fear that we may "trigger" one another as this doesn't build resilience but prevents it.

What is the balance? How can we as a society and as nurses remain considerate and sensitive without taking things too far?

I

Don't talk to anyone? This is said in jest, but not really. Work is hard enough without all of this added to it. I am able to keep myself in check with my patients, speaking only of the treatments and the most benign of topics. When I'm out of the room, my mind is on supplies, medications, teles that aren't working right, discharges, admissions, stat labs... Something has got to give. And for me, if I have to walk on eggshells around you, you'll be the sacrifice.

2 Votes

I find trigger warnings to be triggering.

Sorry, I could not resist. I believe political correctness to have a place, like politeness, in civil discourse. And like politeness, if you are impolite or politically incorrect towards me, my head is not going to explode. I am not harmed.

I am genuinely saddened that political correctness has morphed into this giant stupid thing.

4 Votes

I feel the need to comment because as someone who is 20, I can tell you this is a very real thing. So real that people at college campuses will scream and shout at you for just having a different opinion or view. I'm an independent/centrist. I hold both conservative and liberal views. With that being said....I can tell you that 95% (I'm betting) of people who believe in micro aggressions and being triggered are liberals. I'm bringing up politics because I truly believe where the root of this issue is from the 2016 election. Around the time Trump became president, young people who are naturally more liberal were upset. However, academia plays a huge role in this as most professors in my opinion are extremely liberal. Professors fuel this fear into young people instead of being non bias, open minded people.

And before I go further, I just want you guys to know I don't worship the ground trump walks on or anything. I like a lot of his policies and then there are some I really don't agree with - I hold conservative and liberal values.

SJW's (social justice warriors) can be found at almost every university, community college, private institution, etc. These people are nick named social justice warriors because they literally will go into a fit of rage when someone does not agree with them - mainly on social issues such as feminism, the racial divide in America, etc. They become very triggered and a lot of the time will start to cry and go into a designated safe space that the college offers (yes....this is very real. Google lol) A well known example of this is when a conservative speaker went to Berkley (a college that is historically known for free speech) a few years ago and riots ensued on the campus (there were fires, things being destroyed and thrown, etc. Google this also) before he could really even do his speech thanks to SJW's who were being violent. Keep in mind there are SO many liberal/left leaning speakers who come yearly to Berkley and most colleges around the U.S. I don't think banning and pushing out conservative voices in a place where full range of opinion and thought should be discussed is fair whatsoever. People are so one sided they're not even okay with someone with a different view or opinion come to their campus. This speaker like most conservative speakers, was not racist, a bigot, homophobic (infact, he's a gay jewish man) or problematic at all, he has a huge following with college age conservatives and gained popularity and toured U.S. colleges because if we are being completely honest - its hard holding conservative views in college and voicing them because there is such a fear someone will freak out on you!

Then we go into why are they like this. Well a lot of this in my opinion has to do with social media. "Following whats trendy" is of course nothing new when we talk about young people. However, I find that a lot of these social justice warriors (most that I know, not all) grew up in middle class and upper middle class families. I find that a lot of these people have cars that are paid for by their parents and have tuitions that they didn't have to pay for themselves. What I'm trying to say that these privileged children have never really knew something that they've wanted to stick up for because they've been handed everything. So when they see things on social media or see their favorite celebs talk about issues that shouldn't even be issues - they feel compelled to stand behind whatever movement is cool at the moment because it makes them feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves. Usually the topics these people are so radical about are not even major issues and half of the time they don't think with facts but rather their feelings. If you disagree with them and tell them why they will say you're being aggressive and talking in a threatening manner. These people also tend to love Bernie sanders and socialism? Like I said these kids have had everything handed to them so they don't understand the value of working and earning your way and of course they don't bother to understand economics. I'm telling you guys THIS is where the word became popular - college campuses because these people cannot listen or tolerate any other point of view and it is encourage by what they see on social media and professors. I literally was discussing a very mild topic with someone I thought was cool In my class and she said you are literally triggering me right now Abby. I'm sorry but I can't be friends with someone who thinks like that. What?? lol uhh okay I didn't know we all had to agree on every subject ever to get along, that's the beauty of America right? It blows my mind how normalized this way of thinking and acting already is. This is also why so many people who were independents or on the fence now claim they are conservatives now. There are radicals on both sides of the spectrum but as someone who takes from both I can say at least with people my age one political party is very radical nowadays versus the other. I'm not talking about grassroot liberals and independents, I'm talking about full blown SJW's and how toxic they are to society. Sorry guys I know this was long lol but seriously I feel like a lot of the younger people up here could agree with me.

Also one last thing. I don't think "triggered" and its origins had so much to do with actual trauma - its main purpose was to shut down and disregard the opinions of others. As someone who went through a very real "triggering" situation about 5 years ago, it kinda annoys me that the term is thrown around loosely over things that aren't triggering lol. Its also annoying how everyone else in society is seemingly catering to these people instead of nipping it in the bud in fear of being called racist, xenophobic, homophobic, or 'not being sensitive enough' But that was my rant for the week, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk folks. Phew, lol.

4 Votes
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
47 minutes ago, AbbyLane said:

I feel the need to comment because as someone who is 20, I can tell you this is a very real thing. So real that people at college campuses will scream and shout at you for just having a different opinion or view. I'm an independent/centrist. I hold both conservative and liberal views. With that being said....I can tell you that 95% (I'm betting) of people who believe in micro aggressions and being triggered are liberals. I'm bringing up politics because I truly believe where the root of this issue is from the 2016 election. Around the time Trump became president, young people who are naturally more liberal were upset. However, academia plays a huge role in this as most professors in my opinion are extremely liberal. Professors fuel this fear into young people instead of being non bias, open minded people.

And before I go further, I just want you guys to know I don't worship the ground trump walks on or anything. I like a lot of his policies and then there are some I really don't agree with - I hold conservative and liberal values.

SJW's (social justice warriors) can be found at almost every university, community college, private institution, etc. These people are nick named social justice warriors because they literally will go into a fit of rage when someone does not agree with them - mainly on social issues such as feminism, the racial divide in America, etc. They become very triggered and a lot of the time will start to cry and go into a designated safe space that the college offers (yes....this is very real. Google lol) A well known example of this is when a conservative speaker went to Berkley (a college that is historically known for free speech) a few years ago and riots ensued on the campus (there were fires, things being destroyed and thrown, etc. Google this also) before he could really even do his speech thanks to SJW's who were being violent. Keep in mind there are SO many liberal/left leaning speakers who come yearly to Berkley and most colleges around the U.S. I don't think banning and pushing out conservative voices in a place where full range of opinion and thought should be discussed is fair whatsoever. People are so one sided they're not even okay with someone with a different view or opinion come to their campus. This speaker like most conservative speakers, was not racist, a bigot, homophobic (infact, he's a gay jewish man) or problematic at all, he has a huge following with college age conservatives and gained popularity and toured U.S. colleges because if we are being completely honest - its hard holding conservative views in college and voicing them because there is such a fear someone will freak out on you!

Then we go into why are they like this. Well a lot of this in my opinion has to do with social media. "Following whats trendy" is of course nothing new when we talk about young people. However, I find that a lot of these social justice warriors (most that I know, not all) grew up in middle class and upper middle class families. I find that a lot of these people have cars that are paid for by their parents and have tuitions that they didn't have to pay for themselves. What I'm trying to say that these privileged children have never really knew something that they've wanted to stick up for because they've been handed everything. So when they see things on social media or see their favorite celebs talk about issues that shouldn't even be issues - they feel compelled to stand behind whatever movement is cool at the moment because it makes them feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves. Usually the topics these people are so radical about are not even major issues and half of the time they don't think with facts but rather their feelings. If you disagree with them and tell them why they will say you're being aggressive and talking in a threatening manner. These people also tend to love Bernie sanders and socialism? Like I said these kids have had everything handed to them so they don't understand the value of working and earning your way and of course they don't bother to understand economics. I'm telling you guys THIS is where the word became popular - college campuses because these people cannot listen or tolerate any other point of view and it is encourage by what they see on social media and professors. I literally was discussing a very mild topic with someone I thought was cool In my class and she said you are literally triggering me right now Abby. I'm sorry but I can't be friends with someone who thinks like that. What?? lol uhh okay I didn't know we all had to agree on every subject ever to get along, that's the beauty of America right? It blows my mind how normalized this way of thinking and acting already is. This is also why so many people who were independents or on the fence now claim they are conservatives now. There are radicals on both sides of the spectrum but as someone who takes from both I can say at least with people my age one political party is very radical nowadays versus the other. I'm not talking about grassroot liberals and independents, I'm talking about full blown SJW's and how toxic they are to society. Sorry guys I know this was long lol but seriously I feel like a lot of the younger people up here could agree with me.

Also one last thing. I don't think "triggered" and its origins had so much to do with actual trauma - its main purpose was to shut down and disregard the opinions of others. As someone who went through a very real "triggering" situation about 5 years ago, it kinda annoys me that the term is thrown around loosely over things that aren't triggering lol. Its also annoying how everyone else in society is seemingly catering to these people instead of nipping it in the bud in fear of being called racist, xenophobic, homophobic, or 'not being sensitive enough' But that was my rant for the week, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk folks. Phew, lol.

I get what you're saying but I really think your mileage may vary with this. I live in a very conservative part of the country and throughout my life have faced vandalism, public humiliation, assault, and even sexual abuse simply for being who I am and not at the hands of SJW's or radical liberals but at the hands of good ole boy God fearin' conservatives. There are parts of town that I and others like me do not go to due to safety issues, not because it's unsafe for everyone just certain minorities. We are unwelcome at many places of worship and even receiving healthcare can put you in contact with biased providers who stereotype and treat your differently. One year I had 5 HIV screens because my provider was convinced that I had HIV due to symptoms that I had and even after 5 negative results and different tests used she remained convinced that I had this. Imagine being told by you're doctor "I'm sure you have HIV." not a nice place to be, needless to say I changed providers.

And that's not even to mention my spiritual beliefs which I am unable to share with anyone in my community due to ridicule and intolerance. I would literally be socially cast out of the community if I wore and emblem of my faith like what most people are able to. Where I live if you aren't Christian, you're not a person, I'm not being dramatic, I'm being dead serious. Had a patient one time in my community who was admitted to the hospital and had a satanic bible with them. I could understand why someone may be uncomfortably with a patient with such an opposite belief system but it became an issue because all the nurses and CNA's except myself and two others refused to provide care. Her physician even transferred her care to another provider due to this patient's religion. For the record the patient was very pleasant and very easy to take care of.

I could go on, but my point is that depending on where you are in this country experiences can differ wildly. And maybe none of these things by themselves are terrible but when you experience these events year after year it starts to chip away at you. Some places DO need SJW's because the level of oppression is intense, we are a free country but trust me there are still many places where people certainly don't have the freedom to simply be who they are and live in peace.

That being said, violence and intolerance does happen on both sides and that needs to stop. We all have to share this world together and there's no sense in hating one another just because we have different opinions.

1 Votes
24 minutes ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

I get what you're saying but I really think your mileage may vary with this. I live in a very conservative part of the country and throughout my life have faced vandalism, public humiliation, assault, and even sexual abuse simply for being who I am and not at the hands of SJW's or radical liberals but at the hands of good ole boy God fearin' conservatives. There are parts of town that I and others like me do not go to due to safety issues, not because it's unsafe for everyone just certain minorities. We are unwelcome at many places of worship and even receiving healthcare can put you in contact with biased providers who stereotype and treat your differently. One year I had 5 HIV screens because my provider was convinced that I had HIV due to symptoms that I had and even after 5 negative results and different tests used she remained convinced that I had this. Imagine being told by you're doctor "I'm sure you have HIV." not a nice place to be, needless to say I changed providers.

And that's not even to mention my spiritual beliefs which I am unable to share with anyone in my community due to ridicule and intolerance. I would literally be socially cast out of the community if I wore and emblem of my faith like what most people are able to. Where I live if you aren't Christian, you're not a person, I'm not being dramatic, I'm being dead serious. Had a patient one time in my community who was admitted to the hospital and had a satanic bible with them. I could understand why someone may be uncomfortably with a patient with such an opposite belief system but it became an issue because all the nurses and CNA's except myself and two others refused to provide care. Her physician even transferred her care to another provider due to this patient's religion. For the record the patient was very pleasant and very easy to take care of.

I could go on, but my point is that depending on where you are in this country experiences can differ wildly. And maybe none of these things by themselves are terrible but when you experience these events year after year it starts to chip away at you. Some places DO need SJW's because the level of oppression is intense, we are a free country but trust me there are still many places where people certainly don't have the freedom to simply be who they are and live in peace.

That being said, violence and intolerance does happen on both sides and that needs to stop. We all have to share this world together and there's no sense in hating one another just because we have different opinions.

I totally agree with you, I think I really harbored to one side because that's where the word "triggered" became so popular at colleges amongst this group of people. And there will always be ignorant, bible thumping people who have no tolerance for others. I'm a Christian myself but that doesn't mean I can't tolerate or love my brothers and sisters who don't agree with me when it comes to religion. They're not what I call real followers. There are radicals on both sides and I truly cannot stand either one. Like I said I think that I really got down to a science with SJW's because they are perhaps the birthers of this overly sensitive climate we live in. I know from my own experience when it comes to college age people I do feel like the younger people who lean left are more radical then those I've encountered my age who lean right. Just like how I feel older people who lean left aren't as radical (grassroot liberals for example..liberalism back then was nothing like it is now) as the older, old school conservatives (racists, homophobes etc.)

And in some places we still do need people to stand up for what's right because some places aren't at a healthy level of progression yet, I wouldn't call those people SJW's tho - I would just call them your good, everyday person. SJW is meant to describe the overly sensitive who drive themselves off their emotions pandering to others and often make things out of nothing. (the micro aggression, 300 gender, xim and xer type of stuff) When it comes to college though there really is a bias towards conservatives. I'm not trying to enter them into the oppression Olympics but it's true ?

3 Votes
37 minutes ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

I get what you're saying but I really think your mileage may vary with this. I live in a very conservative part of the country and throughout my life have faced vandalism, public humiliation, assault, and even sexual abuse simply for being who I am and not at the hands of SJW's or radical liberals but at the hands of good ole boy God fearin' conservatives. There are parts of town that I and others like me do not go to due to safety issues, not because it's unsafe for everyone just certain minorities. We are unwelcome at many places of worship and even receiving healthcare can put you in contact with biased providers who stereotype and treat your differently. One year I had 5 HIV screens because my provider was convinced that I had HIV due to symptoms that I had and even after 5 negative results and different tests used she remained convinced that I had this. Imagine being told by you're doctor "I'm sure you have HIV." not a nice place to be, needless to say I changed providers.

And that's not even to mention my spiritual beliefs which I am unable to share with anyone in my community due to ridicule and intolerance. I would literally be socially cast out of the community if I wore and emblem of my faith like what most people are able to. Where I live if you aren't Christian, you're not a person, I'm not being dramatic, I'm being dead serious. Had a patient one time in my community who was admitted to the hospital and had a satanic bible with them. I could understand why someone may be uncomfortably with a patient with such an opposite belief system but it became an issue because all the nurses and CNA's except myself and two others refused to provide care. Her physician even transferred her care to another provider due to this patient's religion. For the record the patient was very pleasant and very easy to take care of.

I could go on, but my point is that depending on where you are in this country experiences can differ wildly. And maybe none of these things by themselves are terrible but when you experience these events year after year it starts to chip away at you. Some places DO need SJW's because the level of oppression is intense, we are a free country but trust me there are still many places where people certainly don't have the freedom to simply be who they are and live in peace.

That being said, violence and intolerance does happen on both sides and that needs to stop. We all have to share this world together and there's no sense in hating one another just because we have different opinions.

And also, there are very few conservatives doing what liberals are doing on campuses. Conservatives are not destroying their campuses and shouting at people who disagree with them. There are always acceptations to every rule, if anything, as a centrist I know when I talk to a conservative on something we don't see eye to eye on, 9/10 they're going to be respectful and we're going to have a healthy debate/talk about it. I cannot say I feel the same with my left leaning peers. I just don't think they're the party of progression anymore. I'm a POC and I get called a coon just for agreeing with some things that are conservative. that's not fair. conservative peers don't do that to me. After Trump became president the amount of fake hate crimes skyrocketed. why? because people my age who oppose conservatives are willing to go to the extremes to make people they don't agree with like trump supporters look bad. Compare hate/fake hate crimes from left leaners to right leaners my age it doesn't compare. Look at the jussie Smollett case. I know there are of course normal lefties out there. I'm pretty much one of them. I'm just baffled at how unruly things have gotten and I feel like people are turning a blind eye to it because it's their party doing it. If conservatives today did half of these things that go on regularly here at colleges there would be an uproar

2 Votes
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
6 minutes ago, AbbyLane said:

And also, there are very few conservatives doing what liberals are doing on campuses. Conservatives are not destroying their campuses and shouting at people who disagree with them. There are always acceptations to every rule, if anything, as a centrist I know when I talk to a conservative on something we don't see eye to eye on, 9/10 they're going to be respectful and we're going to have a healthy debate/talk about it. I cannot say I feel the same with my left leaning peers. I just don't think they're the party of progression anymore. I'm a POC and I get called a coon just for agreeing with some things that are conservative. that's not fair. conservative peers don't do that to me. After Trump became president the amount of fake hate crimes skyrocketed. why? because people my age who oppose conservatives are willing to go to the extremes to make people they don't agree with like trump supporters look bad. Compare hate/fake hate crimes from left leaners to right leaners my age it doesn't compare. Look at the jussie Smollett case. I know there are of course normal lefties out there. I'm pretty much one of them. I'm just baffled at how unruly things have gotten and I feel like people are turning a blind eye to it because it's their party doing it. If conservatives today did half of these things that go on regularly here at colleges there would be an uproar

I will admit that I am far and removed from what happens on the typical college campus these days. Even though I am a proud liberal I can still imagine people going to far like you describe. I'm sorry but anyone who insults someone with a racial slur is NOT a progressive person no matter how liberal they may be. True liberals are supposed to be open minded and accepting not intolerant, violent, and cruel. I think there is a place for both liberals and conservatives in society it doesn't have to be an either/or philosophy. Whatever happened to compromise?

I'm going to google the "safe space" thing.

2 Votes
8 minutes ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

I will admit that I am far and removed from what happens on the typical college campus these days. Even though I am a proud liberal I can still imagine people going to far like you describe. I'm sorry but anyone who insults someone with a racial slur is NOT a progressive person no matter how liberal they may be. True liberals are supposed to be open minded and accepting not intolerant, violent, and cruel. I think there is a place for both liberals and conservatives in society it doesn't have to be an either/or philosophy. Whatever happened to compromise?

I'm going to google the "safe space" thing.

Thank you! There should absolutely be room for healthy debate and tolerance at college campuses. This is a time in our lives where we are exploring and sharing views, and cutting out certain views and opinions I feel causes division and less room to grow you know? lol! and tell us what you think!

2 Votes

@AbbyLane my sister is a college professor in a liberal college. She is what I call a radical feminist. She teaches radical things that I completely disagree with. She's a far left liberal and extreme in her views. I also have a brother who is a college professor. He's hard to pinpoint in his views, but much more liberal than me, in what he does share.

We had a long conversation at Christmas about what's going on with protests etc. and they are both horrified at the culture in their university settings. They say that students are running the show with encouragement from outside activist groups. They see the amount of intolerance that is now acceptable and even encouraged, and a lack of willingness to hear opposing viewpoints, and are at a loss at what to do.

Did I mention they are extreme liberals? LOL. I think they do not see how they contributed to the acting out that is now taking place all over. The climate for years has been heading in this direction and they encouraged it. They now have a monster on their hands, with the students making a religion out of their political views with an intolerance of any other.

I'm just pointing out what they say, that most college professors, (liberal indoctrinators that they are - my opinion) are pretty horrified at what is happening, but don't know how to stop it.

3 Votes
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