Wow!! Just read the discussion that came up around the new shields.... in Sweet's thank you thread.

Interesting read..... I've witnessed this before. On another board. Same thing happened. A system of validating people appears without any explanation... Accurate, inaccurate assumptions were made about their meaning. Everyone had a reaction to the new labeling. To its sudden unexplained presence. Just like here on PC everyone interprets their own meaning.

Some take great pleasure and enjoy a sense of achievement and validation. They are thankful to be noticed for their efforts and contributions. They feel good about the attention. They appreciate being appreciated. Its all good for them.

Some with a different sensitivity or a different world view -- cultural, philosophical.... feel a little shamed about the public attention.... some are concerned about the assumptions and unintended interpretations of the symbols. Concerned for those who will assume they 'don't measure up'.

Pained by the sudden appearance of symbols their thinking is triggered to spiral downward. We can all appreciate that sensation. When the negative thinking is reinforced and our thinking goes the full monty until we land in the pit of dispair. The one we dig ourselves out of again and again as clarity returns and we gain perspective again.

That's why badges of honour on support forums don't work in my opinion. No matter how one tries to orchestrate it they always backfire. Someone is always triggered. Their sensitivities are then ignored or rationized away. They are seldom supported for having been triggered the way they are in other situations. The badges end up being devisive because someone gets emotionally hurt and others, not seeing the trigger effect can't understand why. Then they in turn are insulted for feeling good about the recognition. The win/loose is now a loose/loose because its not really a win if it causes another to hurt. And suddenly the community is in a shambles of mixed emotions.

I don't know what the solution is. How sensitive is too sensitive to potential triggers? This seems like a pretty obvious trigger to me. Maybe because it triggers me I can see how obvious it is. lol.

Lots of things trigger me that I have to learn to cope with. People who use animated characters in their posts tigger me. I often skip reading them if there are too many bouncy, spinny, flipping characters. Red fond triggers me so I've learned to accommodate the effect by not reading some posts.

The shields are a little harder to cope with because they are there all the time. It will definately effect my posting for a while. Too much symbolism for me. Too many subliminal messages spin around in my head when I see them. Too much talking about them already.... my hands are shaking and my stomach is tightening at the thought that when I click on submit.... one of those shields will be under my name.... or not..... I'm paniced about it invading my space and exposing me..... must go now and settle my thoughts.

For some.... symbols, and their sudden appearance with open ended interpretations...... is very distressing.