[Arwen_78]

This is an article from The Atlantic by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Heidt. First off I'm of two minds set on it. I agree that we need to mindful of trigger works or what not but at the same time not in collages! (If you don't want to read or totally disagree with me that is also fine.)

How can you be educated by not hearing new ideas, different sides of an argument or how the world works around you. Collage is where you are first met with a big change and a challenge that no everybody thinks alike.

How Trigger Warnings Are Hurting Mental Health on Campus - The Atlantic

[Arwen_78]

I forgot to add maybe they should kick the anti-abortionist off collage campuses with the "Highly" graphic signage.

[eeyorestail]

I read this article a few days ago.

Honestly, I got the impression that the authors did not really understand the purpose of a trigger warning. At some point they say (I'm paraphrasing; sorry for not finding the actual quote), "Every psychologist knows that avoiding things that make you anxious just causes more anxiety."

This is very true in many cases. I used to have a bad driving phobia. I still get nervous sometimes driving, but I mostly overcame it by...driving. The more I drove the easier it got. Avoiding driving made the anxiety worse.

But this is very different from, say, a victim of sexual assault with PTSD wanting a trigger warning in order to avoid a graphic description of rape in a book they are reading for literature class. Do the authors suppose that the student will "get over" their anxiety by having panic attacks or flashbacks caused by something they read in class? Should the student expose themselves to discussion or depictions of rape in order to cure themselves because "avoidance leads to anxiety?" I don't think so.

Or what about someone like me, who would struggle with suicidal ideation for days after I read novels or watched movies in college that depicted suicides? Would reading about more suicides make me less suicidal? I doubt it.

I used to TA at a university as a grad student so I understand how some professors are frustrated. I read a different article once about trigger warnings in law school. The author wondered how law students would be able to learn/discuss sexual assault law if they say they need to sit out classes on the subject for fear of being triggered. I agree there are practical concerns.

Again, I sympathize with faculty feeling like they have to walk on eggshells. At the same time, I don't think anyone is asking to be "coddled."

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[Arwen_78]

Hey I honestly believe there are some who would totally benefit from a warning but they are taking about banning a subject or idea. I think that if areas that are, lets says, trigger loaded should be open ended.

The big problem is some people want to get the same as the people who really need that trigger system in place. So, these people who don't really understand why you get this want it because if someone *anyone* is entitled to something special then everyone deserve it as well.

I have nothing against some being able to use a warning for triggers but how far does it go? I'm not for or against many things and I do feel that as a country we are going a bit too far and "coddling" the youth of America in ways.

Maybe I'm going too far... I'm going to try and not be opinionated right now as I only wanted to see others opinions. Which thank you for sharing yours

Originally Posted by krminnj

I read this article a few days ago.

Honestly, I got the impression that the authors did not really understand the purpose of a trigger warning. At some point they say (I'm paraphrasing; sorry for not finding the actual quote), "Every psychologist knows that avoiding things that make you anxious just causes more anxiety."

This is very true in many cases. I used to have a bad driving phobia. I still get nervous sometimes driving, but I mostly overcame it by...driving. The more I drove the easier it got. Avoiding driving made the anxiety worse.

But this is very different from, say, a victim of sexual assault with PTSD wanting a trigger warning in order to avoid a graphic description of rape in a book they are reading for literature class. Do the authors suppose that the student will "get over" their anxiety by having panic attacks or flashbacks caused by something they read in class? Should the student expose themselves to discussion or depictions of rape in order to cure themselves because "avoidance leads to anxiety?" I don't think so.

Or what about someone like me, who would struggle with suicidal ideation for days after I read novels or watched movies in college that depicted suicides? Would reading about more suicides make me less suicidal? I doubt it.

I used to TA at a university as a grad student so I understand how some professors are frustrated. I read a different article once about trigger warnings in law school. The author wondered how law students would be able to learn/discuss sexual assault law if they say they need to sit out classes on the subject for fear of being triggered. I agree there are practical concerns.

Again, I sympathize with faculty feeling like they have to walk on eggshells. At the same time, I don't think anyone is asking to be "coddled."

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[nicoleflynn]

Originally Posted by Arwen_78

I forgot to add maybe they should kick the anti-abortionist off collage campuses with the "Highly" graphic signage.

Well, I guess since we have freedom of speech....knowledge is power.

[Arwen_78]

Well what if someone had an abortion and it's traumatic for them. Yes, that is true that maybe they made the wrong choice for them. Then again it was THEIR choice!

What makes their rights any less than someone who was sexual assaulted, has anxiety problems or has a huge phobia?

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[Arwen_78]

Plus, how are graphic images speech? They can speak yes but they are also forcing others to view the graphic images which might inference on someone else's freedoms which then their freedom of speech is then void

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i love a lot of jonathan haidts work. he almost makes me miss academia!

obviously a lot of different ways to look at this. but when i was in school, i found most of the policies around mental health condescending and prevented me from reaching my potential or being held accountable.

and a lot of the mental health activists on my campus really were not accepting of people with different opinions than they had. anyone who disagreed with them was promoting stigma... anything that prevents discussion is problematic, in my opinion. i have felt more stigmatized by being sheltered from the world than from those who others view as offensive.

kind of interesting and related...

To steal for a minute- I jut read this article and posted in the bipolar forum. Coincidence.

I agree with you Arwen. You should learn to think in college ,and examine your own prejudices, morals and opinions.