just some ponderings
Sunday, 24 July 2005 21:11![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
earthbelow
So, some of the comms I'm on (for this journal and various others I keep) have poetry postings and sometimes trigger warnings are posted along with it.
Now, I get what a trigger warning is.
I guess my question is - what kind of things merit a trigger warning and are they necessary? I mean, should this be as common a courtesy to passers-by as cut tagging spoilers is to those in fandom (fen from here on out)? Or is it something that I'm not obligated to worry about?
In fandom, this is an easier question. Because we have archive guidelines and we can even run systems comparable to those used to rate TV shows and movies. Also - the shows I write for also happen to be terribly violent and triggering in and of themselves. Buffy and Angel especially because you can't tell me that show isn't a little mindfucky even for those with stomachs and hearts of cast iron.
Part of me says yes. That if I'm going to write something that has the potential to cause a reaction in someone else, either by virtue of sex or violence, or some other thing which is not widely and socially acceptable for everyone that I should be polite and mark it so that those who wish not to read it can avoid it.
Part of me says no. Because trigger warnings aren't exact. There's not really a meter or a scale that I've been given or seen. (This poem is a 2.5 on the Trigger Richter Scale, may cause slight tremors and dishes to fall out of the cupboard). Also - what the hell am I supposed to be preventing by a trigger warning? Triggering what? Someone getting upset? Well, I can't prevent *that* in most people. Preventing flashbacks of bad memories? I don't know what most people's bad memories are, so that's impossible. Preventing them from breaking down into a psychotic episode? Is that really anything I can prevent? Would that really even be my fault because wouldn't it just be the next poem or the next TV commercial or hell, even a matter of time?
And along with the side that says no, part of me thinks that you should know better than to walk into a place that has that kind of material.
But then again, what about people who *don't* know how to identify communities/journals with triggery things. Livejournal is a subculture and you've got to learn the lingo and the ropes before you can start to weed things out. There's a little bit of technical data to swallow before you get down to the tonality. Before you learn to read LJ subtext.
Cut tagging. Friending. Defriending. F-list. Comms. Posting access. Icons.
First timers might not get it. So maybe trigger warnings should be there for those who don't know where the wicked witches live yet and might pass by unknowingly.
But really, I'm kind of looking for other people's opinions. Do you use trigger warnings? Do you think people should?
Have you had a bad experience either being triggered or being called out for not having a trigger warning?
It's something to think about.
- Meg
Now, I get what a trigger warning is.
I guess my question is - what kind of things merit a trigger warning and are they necessary? I mean, should this be as common a courtesy to passers-by as cut tagging spoilers is to those in fandom (fen from here on out)? Or is it something that I'm not obligated to worry about?
In fandom, this is an easier question. Because we have archive guidelines and we can even run systems comparable to those used to rate TV shows and movies. Also - the shows I write for also happen to be terribly violent and triggering in and of themselves. Buffy and Angel especially because you can't tell me that show isn't a little mindfucky even for those with stomachs and hearts of cast iron.
Part of me says yes. That if I'm going to write something that has the potential to cause a reaction in someone else, either by virtue of sex or violence, or some other thing which is not widely and socially acceptable for everyone that I should be polite and mark it so that those who wish not to read it can avoid it.
Part of me says no. Because trigger warnings aren't exact. There's not really a meter or a scale that I've been given or seen. (This poem is a 2.5 on the Trigger Richter Scale, may cause slight tremors and dishes to fall out of the cupboard). Also - what the hell am I supposed to be preventing by a trigger warning? Triggering what? Someone getting upset? Well, I can't prevent *that* in most people. Preventing flashbacks of bad memories? I don't know what most people's bad memories are, so that's impossible. Preventing them from breaking down into a psychotic episode? Is that really anything I can prevent? Would that really even be my fault because wouldn't it just be the next poem or the next TV commercial or hell, even a matter of time?
And along with the side that says no, part of me thinks that you should know better than to walk into a place that has that kind of material.
But then again, what about people who *don't* know how to identify communities/journals with triggery things. Livejournal is a subculture and you've got to learn the lingo and the ropes before you can start to weed things out. There's a little bit of technical data to swallow before you get down to the tonality. Before you learn to read LJ subtext.
Cut tagging. Friending. Defriending. F-list. Comms. Posting access. Icons.
First timers might not get it. So maybe trigger warnings should be there for those who don't know where the wicked witches live yet and might pass by unknowingly.
But really, I'm kind of looking for other people's opinions. Do you use trigger warnings? Do you think people should?
Have you had a bad experience either being triggered or being called out for not having a trigger warning?
It's something to think about.
- Meg
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no subject
Date: 25 Jul 2005 01:52 (UTC)Occasionally. Most of my fiction, I just label/warn (like for sex, adult themes, etc.) My real life is not all that triggle-warning worthy; I think actually I've only used such a warning once.
Do you think people should?
My understanding is that it's mostly used for discussion of past trauma, mostly sexual, and self-harmful behavior (cutting, eating disorders, etc.) In the latter case, I think the idea of a trigger warning is that if you're feeling especially vulnerable, you could choose to avoid writing that might trigger self-harmful behavior.
Have you had a bad experience either being triggered or being called out for not having a trigger warning?
Nope.
no subject
Date: 25 Jul 2005 07:40 (UTC)I believe that everyone are free to write what they want, without warnings.
Life doesn't come with labels and warnings. It truly doesn't.
I guess I'm selfish but I feel that if people don't want to read my LJ, they don't. ;)
Then they shouldn't.
I'm rambling...
I've only had one fallout and that was over a religious debate.
I won't stop from having those because I think that if ppl want to be my friend, they can accept that I might have different opinions than them and that's ok by them.
I accept other ppls religions and political views, doesn't mean I agree. ;)
I'm rambling too much... :)
*hugs*