SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the this-article-may-trigger-strong-emotions dept.
There is a lot of talk on the net these days about microagressions, and it's good netiquette to post trigger warnings before discussing sensitive topics. What's good in online forums isn't necessarily appropriate in-person, especially on University campuses. The cover article for September's edition of The Atlantic magazine discusses the harm that students' requests for trigger warnings on course content and accusations of microagression are causing, stifling open conversation on campuses across America. The authors also suggest that these student behaviors are actively causing harm to the students.
Avoiding trigger topics, instead of assisting those who have suffered traumas, perpetuates and enhances the pathology of the phobias they hope not to trigger. The hunt for microagression creates in the students cognitive distortions that are usually treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. The authors are calling this "The Coddling of the American Mind", and suggest it will create a generation of graduates unable to cope with the world after graduation.
The authors also appeared on the Diane Rehm show, on a segment called "The New Political Correctness: Why Some Fear It's Ruining American Education". Far from trying to shut down the conversation about race relations, the authors are trying to re-open it.
(Score: 2) by Zinho on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:53PM
Unfortunately, the students asking for this aren't asking so that they can be prepared to sit through class in the proper frame of mind; instead, they're asking to be excused from potentially trigger-inducing lectures. In the Atlantic article the authors mention that it temporarily became an official recommendation at one college: an online resource guide for faculty recommended that 'materials that might trigger negative reactions among students be avoided altogether unless they “contribute directly” to course goals, and suggested that works that were “too important to avoid” be made optional.'
The approach the authors suggested is that campus administrators send a general trigger warning with the acceptance papers. They specifically endorsed the Chicago Law School's (PDF warning) Freedom of Expression statement: [uchicago.edu]
. . . education should not be intended to make people comfortable, it is meant to make them think. Universities should be expected to provide the conditions within which hard thought, and therefore strong disagreement, independent judgment, and the questioning of stubborn assumptions, can flourish in an environment of the greatest freedom. . .
. . . it is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. Although the University greatly values civility, and although all members of the University community share in the responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect, concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community.
Students ought to expect that their professors are not going to rape them during a discussion of Greek Mythology, even if Zeus' exploits are the topic of conversation. Lecture halls should be a safe place to discuss trigger-inducing topics. Attending class and discussing difficult topics should be seen as part of an effective recovery, not an obstacle to it.
"Space Exploration is not endless circles in low earth orbit." -Buzz Aldrin
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @08:57PM
That's funny because when I studied mythology in grade school, never once did any teacher try to rape anyone.
But if you guys and gals would rather run from a lecture screaming rape rather than learn something...
I dunno, maybe you should be spending mommy's and daddy's money on something other than half an education.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday September 01 2015, @11:15PM
I don't have much use for my alma mater generally, but that excerpt from the University of Chicago's Law School rings true to me.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @12:42PM
Alma Mater?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m93rJnjpbc [youtube.com]