Trigger Warning!

[hppygr8ful]

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

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

17 minutes ago, AbbyLane said:

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!

So I did a brief search of "safe spaces" and wow, that is crazy. I thought they were about physically or mentally safe places where students know they won't be mistreated. From what I've read though it seems to be used as a way to keep people separated from whatever ideology they dislike which is so silly, that's not how the real world works.

Everyone deserves to be in a physically safe place during college but conflicting ideologies are healthy and help to cultivate identities especially for people in their early 20's. The thing is even with conflicting ideologies there's always SOMETHING you can agree on if you put the effort into it.

Sad.

[AbbyLane]

1 hour ago, mtmkjr said:

@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.

It really is, when I first heard about them I was like.....this is real? and then I saw one at school and someone was so triggered they were screaming. Its a little...scary idek what to say when I see stuff like that.

That's a lot too if they're very radical and even they think that haha, but youre so right this is serious! I hope the climate of this madness declines I really do.

[OldDude]

Hey...AbbyLane and TheMoonisMyLantern

I was going to pass on your posts because my attention span isn't that long but I started reading anyway and found them to be quite insightful and accurate all around from both of you. Excellent dialogue and what an example of how open minded conversation should flow. Thank you from an OldDude!

[AbbyLane]

25 minutes ago, OldDude said:

Hey...AbbyLane and TheMoonisMyLantern

I was going to pass on your posts because my attention span isn't that long but I started reading anyway and found them to be quite insightful and accurate all around from both of you. Excellent dialogue and what an example of how open minded conversation should flow. Thank you from an OldDude!



Thanks OldDude ? I'm just a sucker for everyone being able to be heard in such situations like college lol

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

On February 19, 2019 at 12:38 PM, buttercup9 said:

I have a huge problem with the trigger warnings. We, as nurses, are trained health professionals who will get a variety medical problems thrown at us in an unpredictable way. You have NO IDEA when a patient is going to want to talk about something that may upset you and as health professionals (and yes, as much as we don't always like it, it INCLUDES mental health) we have to have the coping skills to deal with this.

I have strong feelings about this and I know some people may disagree, but in a lecture hall full of aspiring health providers, I think that it is important that they be able to cope. How can we expect our patients to have coping skills when we don't?

Yeah... when my ETOH withdrawal patient called me a "f***ing b***h" and threatened multiple times to "punch [me] in the f***ing face," he didn't give me any trigger warnings! You are so right... healthcare workers need to have great coping skills because we deal with all sorts of trauma, threats, bad behavior, etc. Not to mention the interpersonal issues that crop up when you're working with other nurses, providers, management, and everyone else involved in patient care. If you're going to curl up in a ball and feel traumatized over words or opinions, you are not going to go far in this profession.

[SafetyNurse1968, ADN, BSN, MSN, PhD]

I appreciate the conversation about trigger warnings. As a survivor of childhood abuse, my central nervous system is triggered by certain smells or the way a man might approach me. I am also occasionally triggered by conversations about childhood abuse, especially when the conversation isn't kind and sensitive. I hate how it feels. I get a tingling sensation, my stomach hurts, and I have trouble thinking straight - super frustrating. I'm actually feeling that way right now. That doesn't mean it's the fault of the person talking/creating the smell/looking like my stepfather. I chose to read this thread, knowing it would cause some physical side effects. I can't always choose what I overhear, however I don't think forcing folks to say "Trigger warning" before they speak is going to work. My personal mission is to get information about healing modalities out there - folks who are triggered can heal, and it's our responsibility as nurses to support that healing by providing resources. Folks who have been abused need to take responsibility (when they are able) and seek out healing. I've written several articles on all nurses about healing from trauma - I hope you'll consider reading them. My blog is called SafetyRules!

[Emergent, RN]

Thanks @SafetyNurse1968. More self awareness by everyone is needed. I know that I'm triggered by certain subjects that I avoid. I also try to use restraint in in engaging with people who trigger anger in me here and elsewhere.

I never got the PTSD thing until I had a traumatic injury in an accident caused by me. I've had a couple of episodes that really made me understand this better.

On the other hand, our current society seems to encourage people to wallow in their weaknesses instead of encouraging bravery, which is probably why the ridicule on this thread of this trigger warning fad. We seem to have raised a generation of weaklings.

So, compassion and awareness, but people do need to buck up and face life with courage.

[TriciaJ, RN]

On 2/20/2019 at 8:59 AM, 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.

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 didn't quote your whole post in the interest of space, but I have to tell you I agree with EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. Every administration has its cheerleaders and its detractors but I've never seen a president made into such an all-purpose boogey-man. It's beyond ridiculous.

You're absolutely right about privileged people with nothing to fight for needing to make something out of anything and nothing. It does restore my faith in the future of humanity to hear young people like you take a measured approach and think with your own brain. When you're out of college and in the real world, there will still be ridiculousness but not quite as intensely stupid as what you're currently having to put up with.

Hang in there. I'm trusting you'll have a brilliant future.

[TriciaJ, RN]

On 2/20/2019 at 10:03 AM, 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.

Sounds like where you're living is the flip side of the same intolerance coin. I think happiness would be that place in the rearview mirror.

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

7 hours ago, Emergent said:

On the other hand, our current society seems to encourage people to wallow in their weaknesses instead of encouraging bravery, which is probably why the ridicule on this thread of this trigger warning fad. We seem to have raised a generation of weaklings.

So, compassion and awareness, but people do need to buck up and face life with courage.

I so very much agree with the bolded part of your post. It's sad, because encouraging people who've been traumatized to stay that way absolutely hinders their healing and progression towards well-being. My bff is a psychiatrist and one of her biggest struggles in practice is when she tells people that they can't expect to heal by wallowing in their own suffering. Society today glorifies being traumatized and encourages people to make their issues everyone else's problem.

Society also qualifies "trauma" as all sorts of things that... aren't really trauma. Many of the things people complain about and expect to be accommodated over are the definition of first world problems - like being accidentally misgendered or hearing an opinion they don't like. Sorry, that's not trauma.

I have suffered sexual abuse in the past, but I went to therapy, figured out how to cope, and moved on from it. I also gained some perspective - I was abused, but I was never beaten up, burned, etc., I was able to get away from my abuser, and I was able to get support and heal - a privilege that many victims around the world do NOT get. I did spend a couple of years being "triggered" and was encouraged by peers that I did not need to work towards getting better. I was told that it was okay to feel triggered and that I should focus my energies on telling people who triggered me to be quiet and cater to my feelings. This actually led to me feeling more miserable, anxious, and on edge - because I was trying to control others rather than focusing on my own healing. This trend is so toxic and hurtful. I really hope society swings away from this hypersensitive, constantly offended attitude.

[Davey Do]

On 2/20/2019 at 3:32 PM, OldDude said:

I was going to pass on your posts because my attention span isn't that long but I started reading anyway and found them to be quite insightful and accurate

I said in another thread,

"Sometimes, I like to take the long way home and start at point M and go back to point A some time during the trip. I like to wander into the middle of the movie and ask, "What's going on?"

So it is with ... this discussion."

When I was 7 years old,my Dad bought me a pony named "Trigger" who was a real problem to ride. He had a poor disposition, was mean & cantankerous, and would buck until I fell off.

Heck, once I could to stay in the saddle, through his temper tantrum bucking episodes, Trigger quickly found out that he could knock me off by running swiftly under trees with low hanging branches!

He was one mean SOB!

When I first began to learn to ride, I quickly learned how long I could ride him before he would start bucking, so I would jump off!

My Dad laughed about this, but I believe my actions as a child say something about my personality as an adult. If there's a problem in which I am involved, an option is to jump the sinking ship like a rat would.

Others avoid the problem all together:

Others face their problems, work through them, feel a sense of accomplishment which raises their self-esteem and consciousness.

Still others try to blame others for their problems and I wonder if those who use the concept of triggers aren't really trying to change others.

I mean, after all, if everyone was like me, there would be no problems, right?

[TriciaJ, RN]

1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

I said in another thread,

"Sometimes, I like to take the long way home and start at point M and go back to point A some time during the trip. I like to wander into the middle of the movie and ask, "What's going on?"

So it is with ... this discussion."

When I was 7 years old,my Dad bought me a pony named "Trigger" who was a real problem to ride. He had a poor disposition, was mean & cantankerous, and would buck until I fell off.

Heck, once I could to stay in the saddle, through his temper tantrum bucking episodes, Trigger quickly found out that he could knock me off by running swiftly under trees with low hanging branches!

He was one mean SOB!

When I first began to learn to ride, I quickly learned how long I could ride him before he would start bucking, so I would jump off!

My Dad laughed about this, but I believe my actions as a child say something about my personality as an adult. If there's a problem in which I am involved, an option is to jump the sinking ship like a rat would.

Others avoid the problem all together:

Others face their problems, work through them, feel a sense of accomplishment which raises their self-esteem and consciousness.

Still others try to blame others for their problems and I wonder if those who use the concept of triggers aren't really trying to change others.

I mean, after all, if everyone was like me, there would be no problems, right?

So you're blaming Trigger because you were so bad at riding? Are you triggered whenever someone mentions ponies?