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: 3, Interesting) by ikanreed on Tuesday September 01 2015, @02:46PM
The whole debate around this centers on a false idea that trigger warnings are suddenly endemic to the academic experience. They aren't.
The preferred method of therapy for trigger-driven conditions is exposure therapy, where the patient is exposed to small versions of their phobias(or other triggers) in controlled conditions where they're expecting it. This whole "argument" such as it is is built around pretending that trigger warnings are some guarantee and protection from exposure.
Now never-mind the more pragmatic problems: that triggers for conditions are highly individualized and cannot be easily categorized into something that a professor could just trivially determine. The idea of opposing them on principle has jack shit to do with that, and everything to do with and war with imagined oversensitive or PC people or the same damn culture war the right wing has been engaged in since forever.
And you can even see that character in the title of the Diane Rehm piece.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by dyingtolive on Tuesday September 01 2015, @02:55PM
I've always been a strong believer in that we could all benefit from being made just a little more uncomfortable and offended than we are currently. For any value of 'currently'.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by AnonymousCowardNoMore on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:28PM
For any value of 'currently'.
Some people are currently, for example, being raped. Or living with the after-effects. I could not claim to understand fully but am convinced they don't need to be more uncomfortable nor offended. I like your sentiment but there is always a limit.
(Score: 3, Touché) by acp_sn on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:35PM
Assaulting someone is not the same as offending someone.
Your willingness to use this hyperbole shows a lack of respect for actual victims of assault.
(Score: 2) by AnonymousCowardNoMore on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:47PM
Assault is not the same as mere offense. But it is still offensive and it is still uncomfortable.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:06PM
So then you are a bit offended and a bit uncomfortable... So what?
Where does it say you should never be in any of these states? Grow up for goodness sake
(Score: 2) by mojo chan on Wednesday September 02 2015, @07:30AM
Speaking of false equivalence, look at TFA. It goes from "students request trigger warnings" to "avoiding trigger topics". Clearly if they are requesting trigger warnings they want to discuss those things, so it really makes no sense to then assume that those topics are off limits.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Immerman on Thursday September 03 2015, @02:24AM
Not having read TFA I'm inclined to agree, though I could easily see the sentiment being over-exerted as others are suggesting. Trigger warnings seem to me a courteous thing to do so that, if nothing else, people have a chance to emotionally brace themselves. Not unlike warning folks before showing surgery or other gory pictures that may trigger vomiting, fainting, etc. Perhaps though there could be benefit to not specifying *what* potential triggers are about to be displayed...
"What we're about to show/discuss/etc. may make some of you uncomfortable. If you are unusually sensitive you may want to brace yourself. [commence discussing topic]"
Sufferers could then get lots of practice bracing themselves, even though most of the time it would be for topics that wouldn't actually trigger them. Of course the question remains as to just how uncommon of a trigger we should be considerate of, I mean I vote against warning the fellow who's deathly afraid of butterflies, but that's a topic for another time.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by sjames on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:52PM
On the other hand, it the subject cannot be mentioned in a general educational environment without the prof. getting fired, how will we educate the psychologists, medical personnel and councilors needed to help people after rape?
(Score: 2) by AnonymousCowardNoMore on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:03PM
I wholeheartedly agree. I was merely pointing out—with an extreme example—that there must exist a point where you are so extremely uncomfortable that discomfort is no longer a good thing.
But then I suspect we all know that the "I'm offended" crowd doesn't actually exist to help victims.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:39PM
And, note the demographics of the supposed offenders are as predictable as the offendees.
Its basically a witch hunt. The Salem witch hunts ended up being run against old women, and weaponized microaggressions exist to be used against white men, different target but same outlook and goal. Sorta a leftie version of the McCarthy hearings.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by jmorris on Wednesday September 02 2015, @12:57AM
It is worse already. There are already cases of law schools that can't teach about the laws regarding rape because it might trigger a student. Future lawyers won't know what to do, good luck if you are accused of rape and need a defense lawyer. Of course the prosecutor will be equally clueless in the future so it might balance out... but of course none of that will matter because we are already at the point where the accusation is all that counts, especially on a campus.
And how about studying immigration law when the U.S. Code itself is outlawed in the classroom? You not only can't say 'illegal alien' but many schools now ban even the word 'alien' yet the code doesn't, it speaks of both resident and illegal ones.
But it isn't about hypersensitivity at all, that is simply the excuse; claim victim status and end the argument. These are SJWs and what do SJWs do? Everybody all together:
"THEY LIE!"
It is about one side wrapping the victim flag around themselves and doing the classic "Shut up, he explained." move. Try claiming to be triggered as member of an out of favor group and see how far you get. Try claiming that as a Jew you are kinda offended and triggered by the local Muslim Brotherhood gang with their Hitler related signs at the rallies. (Google it, yup they do that. Nobody sez nothin' lest they get expelled for Islamophobia.) Tell the administration the fat lesbian who screams in your face about patriarchy and other incomprehensible crap is a bit rude and if she keeps it up you just might have to take offense at it.... and unless you are black or homosexual you will get expelled for using a gendered pronoun. It is just politics and It only works in one direction, always toward the left.
(Score: 2) by kurenai.tsubasa on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:10PM
am convinced they don't need to be more uncomfortable nor offended
They should get professional help, especially if it's a man. Men too often try to bottle traumatic experiences up or cover them up with substance abuse when they need to reach out for help. My usual recommendation is to seek a psychologist who practices ACT, which is an effective technique for dealing with phobias and triggers. In fact, managing triggers is one of the central strategies of ACT.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by ikanreed on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:30PM
And that's fine for a belief. But as something you want to be the default, you need to bring rigorous evidence to the table. There's medical evidence of the comparable harm of immersion therapy(unexpected uncontrolled exposure) compared to exposure therapy.
We can certainly talk about trying to turn treatment pathways into policy, and the problems that presents, but if you're going to overturn current medical science, you need to have evidence, not just firm belief.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @07:11AM
Fuck you.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Wednesday September 02 2015, @10:40AM
Thank you.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @02:56PM
The culture of safe-space infantilism in academia is not doing these students any mental health favors, nor is it preparing them for the space outside of college which definitely does not operate on these terms. Trigger warnings are not a cause of that, just a symptom. It's really the culling of any real or perceived risk in the school system that is causing this.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Francis on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:04PM
The purpose of trigger warnings is to coddle the mind and prevent people from having open discussions of sensitive topics. It was never about anything practical as there's no way of predicting what's going to trigger something in somebody. And the obvious triggers are probably the ones that the sensitive individuals can easily get help with.
It's just another case of SJWs using emotion as a weapon against people that aren't doing anything wrong. Now, if they wanted to be fair-minded about it and would use it to help everybody, it would be a completely different problem. But, you don't hear much from them about things that might affect men disproportionately.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:34PM
Nice to see the SJW nutters are abusing the mod points again. I'd hate for anybody to think that they had a substantive viewpoint rather than behaving like primary school children.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Thexalon on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:23PM
The original idea of "trigger warnings" was to help those with a diagnosed mental illness such as PTSD from having an experience that would "trigger" a mental health episode. This was probably a good move: You don't want somebody in class suddenly screaming about what Father O'Malley did to them when they were an altar boy or what happened during their tour in Iraq.
The problems are:
1. The meaning has been expanded to cover things that have no such associations and instead are merely challenging to the listener, and
2. It puts the responsibility on everybody who may come in contact with the affected person to avoid a particular topic of discussion.
My general view on the matter: For college classes, appropriate warnings about the material should be made in the course description, and courses with a lot of such warnings should not be required as part of a general course of study (specific majors, though, might reasonably require it: You aren't going to get through a psych/counseling program without discussing rape, because as a counselor you need to be able to handle somebody who comes to you saying they were raped). It's up to the student to choose a course of study that does not focus on those topics - to the best of my knowledge, nobody has gotten into severe PTSD over algorithmic complexity, multivariable calculus, or rhetoric and composition. And outside of class, there's absolutely nothing that can be done that would not be a severe imposition on everybody else's right to free speech.
Also, some people just aren't cut out for college. Which is fine: The world needs good welders, mechanics, plumbers, store clerks, chefs, and lots of other professions that don't or at least shouldn't require a college degree.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:48PM
You don't want somebody in class suddenly screaming about what Father O'Malley did to them when they were an altar boy or what happened during their tour in Iraq.
And that's the tragedy, given a problem lets gin up some engineering solutions, well, in the old days we blew a lot of time, money, and effort on trying to prevent bad stuff and spend money on mental health treatment and at least on paper tried to avoid empire building aggression, but the new solution is we'll continue getting your battle buddies leg blown off in front of you by an IED because daddy warbucks gotta make bank, but the good news is we have a new solution of having people not talk about it in class anymore.
nobody has gotten into severe PTSD over ... multivariable calculus
OH I saw a few basket cases by the end of some math weed out classes. And ochem. And intro to programming. And the EE "Ohms law for dummies" first semester I forget the exact name (linear analysis or intro to linear circuits or something)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:17PM
Yes, the creeping expansion of meaning, where things like rules and laws which should not be ambiguous -- however, people see fit to redefine things on the fly in an arbitrary manner.
Was just in San Francisco having this discussion with some Masshole female in a dive-bar, calmly but jovially explaining why political incorrectness is a necessary evil and the whole P.C. thing is getting out of hand, and that I was horrified how easily people would give up their freedom of speech. Needless to say, she didn't agree with me, and so the conversation escalated without becoming noisy or violent. She then accused me of "assaulting" her, because I had calmly bothered to disagree with her.
"Unfuckingbelievable," I told her with disgust on my face. At that point I had expected her to run out of the bar yelling "Raaape! Raaape!" But I told her, "You know, assault has a legal definition, so go tell the cops I 'assaulted' you and get into deep shit for not only wasting their time but filing a false police report. Go ahead, I don't give a fuck!" She huffed and puffed and walked out of the bar, leaving me to drink in peace.
That is how you get rid of chickenshits like that -- call their fucking bluff. And don't let Massholes into your state.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:12PM
I always point out to those in favor of "political correctness" that it is literally a communist term, it was a term come up with by mainstream communists for how Stalin used to have a ministry to "correct" political mistakes, such as making a person into a non person by erasing them from photos and documents. The truly sad part is to the SJWs? that sounds like a fine idea, just erase those that do not agree with you because freedom of speech to them means being free to support their views and tell them how progressive they are, opposing views shall not be tolerated. For a perfect example look at that "feminist activist" in Canada who pulled the fire alarm on the meeting of a MRM chapter and stood outside with a bullhorn screaming "rapist!" at the top of her lungs. No debate, discussion verbotten, just screams of "ist!" and blocking of free speech of the opposition.
This is what happens when you raise a bunch of spoiled children with years of Captain Planet style propaganda and first world guilt, then plug them into social media so they can group with like minded spoiled brats, you get "activists" that believe the entire planet should be altered to fit their myopic and frankly racist/sexist viewpoints. Its sad really, but when you play the "SJW or Stormfront" game or go spend an hour on Gamerghazi you see what these people are really like and its not pretty.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:19PM
Not surprising that it is literally only used by fascist nutjobs pushing FUD. "Political correctness" is nothing but a meaningless scareword just like "communist", "socialist", and "SJW". Please prove me wrong by actually defining it.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Thursday September 03 2015, @02:34PM
Don't know how to Google? And folks wonder why I think ACs are worthless, they can't even Google or Wikipedia [wikipedia.org] just showing how totally worthless AC posts truly are.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:36PM
You've never gone through a third semester calc course, have you?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:05PM
2. It puts the responsibility on everybody who may come in contact with the affected person to avoid a particular topic of discussion.
And there's the rub. How can "everyone" possibly know who is affected by what particular boogieman?
The idea that entire fields of discussion should be avoided because some small percentage of people might find it uncomfortable is as silly as the idea that peanuts should be eradicated from the face of the earth because some small percentage of people have a peanut allergy.
We put warnings on food products, and call it a day.
Warnings on course descriptions are all that is needed, as you point out.
But I'd go further. Some discussions of sensitive matters is warranted in general courses of study.
Rape will be mentioned in normal every day life. Without warnings! Peanuts will be served in Kung Pao chicken. But unlike the restaurant menu, society comes with no warning labels.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:18PM
So the original meaning has expanded? I am not triggered by war footage but I did have a difficult and traumatic time with some of the local black youths when I was growing up. Perhaps these PC phrases should be more specific?
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Thursday September 03 2015, @10:38PM
>You don't want somebody in class suddenly screaming about what Father O'Malley did to them when they were an altar boy or what happened during their tour in Iraq.
I actually think that would enhance the learning experience of college by opening an avenue of conversation that would otherwise be ignored. It would be uncomfortable, perhaps, but extremely rewarding for everyone involved.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 1) by Pino P on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:24PM
The preferred method of therapy for trigger-driven conditions is exposure therapy, where the patient is exposed to small versions of their phobias(or other triggers) in controlled conditions where they're expecting it.
This forms the basis for abreaction therapy [wikipedia.org] practices that replay the trigger in the patient's mind to work through it. This is how Dianetics took off, by bringing the benefits of abreaction to people who probably had undiagnosed PTSD.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday September 01 2015, @08:03PM
The whole debate around this centers on a false idea that trigger warnings are suddenly endemic to the academic experience. They aren't.
So where were trigger warnings ten years ago? I say to the contrary that this is a fad working itself out.
(Score: 1) by Francis on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:24AM
I went to a very liberal and progressive college a bit over 10 years ago, and I didn't see a single trigger warning throughout my time there. They may have existed, but it wasn't something that I came across.
In fact, there was one time in particular when somebody scrawled the details of the Gwen Araujo murder on the sidewalk in front of one of the buildings that a trigger warning might reasonably been useful.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @02:54PM
DANGER WILL ROBINSON
This comments section contains/will contain massive amounts of both pro- and anti-SJW rabble-rousing and trolling. If this is a trigger for you, please congratulate yourself on your sanity and go read comments on some other article.
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:04PM
(Score: 5, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:24PM
Strawberry Jam Waffles
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 5, Disagree) by ikanreed on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:27PM
You are one lucky motherfucker to not have been drawn into that debate and been exposed to the term "Social Justice Warrior"
It can varyingly mean any of the following:
*Anyone even remotely progressive on social issues(most common usage nowdays, the stupidity of which seems to have made people edge away from the below uses)
*Anyone with extreme anti-racist/anti-sexist/similar attitudes. Which probably describes me. When this was the predominant use, I didn't instantly hate and pity anyone using the term.
*The original use, no longer really used: people who used issues of social justice as a bludgeon in arguments not even remotely about social justice. You know "I'm a minority therefor oppressed, therefore you can't refute my arguments"
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:33PM
Basically the pejorative nature trickled down to the conservatives, who use it to denigrate things they don't like, ala "damn liberals."
I prefer the term "outrage warriors" now, as it does a better job of confining the definition of SJW to where it should be.
(Score: 2, Funny) by OrugTor on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:26PM
Thanks for the clarification. I had been assuming it was Single Jewish Woman.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:22PM
Considering Ronald Reagan would fit into the camp now I figure the current definition is "Anyone to the left of Francisco Franco."
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:31PM
I find the last group that likes bludgeoning quite annoying and illogical. The second group is a little more gray. I don't like when, for example, I am categorized a racist because a different ethnicity chooses to gather in a location different than mine, which somehow makes me an advocate of segregation or something. No wait, that sounds more like the way of the bludgeon group. Anyway the world needs less whining and more problem solving.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:16PM
I'll just leave this here [reddit.com], but that term? I don't think it means what you think it means...
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by ikanreed on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:24PM
1.Yes, it absolutely means what I think it means.
2. Reddit groupthink asside, most people can tell poorly considered leftist positions from racist pieces of shit with no trouble, I'm sorry for whatever mental deficiency leads you to think that subreddit is insightful.
2a. On a side note, it's also quite possible to tell Donald Trump from Monty Burns, stupid websites alleging otherwise aside.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:54AM
Think whatever you want, but you and the company you keep and every facist dictator have something in common: the desire to eliminate anyone that did not think as they do.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:23PM
The only definition I've ever seen attributable to it through its usage is "anyone who disagrees with me".
(Score: 3, Funny) by WizardFusion on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:41PM
Stanford Jazz Workshop
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @02:58PM
San Jose Wussies
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:22PM
Things will be much better in a couple years. Hilary Clinton will be President, Linux distros will have standardized on systemd and video games will be developed by a much more diverse, inclusive workforce. Maybe the NSA will release more neat technology as open source, too!
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Wednesday September 02 2015, @02:20AM
In other words, we are already in Hell but there are still lower levels we are sinking down towards. Yup, can't argue with that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:26PM
4+ more years with another conservative war-monger pre-bought by Wall Street as president? Please God no.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by eapache on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:26PM
Exposure therapy is premised on controlled, expected exposure to triggers. Trigger warnings are not antithetical to this idea - they are an implementation of it: you *warn* people so that they are expecting to be triggered, or, if they believe the trigger would be too strong for their current state, so they can avoid it completely.
I don't understand the idea that this is somehow harming mental health, it should be making it easier for people to self-treat when they've been traumatized.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Francis on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:15PM
Well, for one thing it normalizes freaking out over things that aren't a big deal. For example if you've been raped and you aren't freaking out because of something that should have received a trigger warning, you're not a real rape survivor and should shut up before you damage the cause. This kind of thinking has been a huge problem when it comes to child abuse as anybody who has been abused like that is expected to keep their mouth shut if they're not prepared to toe the party line on the issue. Leading to a huge number of people not feeling like the abuse was real abuse.
The main purpose it serves is to further isolate people that need to be working out how to develop a healthy connection with others. It's not going to happen if you're demanding a trigger warning over whatever it is. Memory is stored in an idiosyncratic way and trying to predict how the memories are connected in a group of people that likely have little in common is nigh impossible. In all likelihood the obvious triggers are the ones that are easier to deal with. It's walking through the minefield of other memories that connect to the trauma that are the real issue.
If there were a reasonable way of warning people about those random connections, I'd be more apt to accept trigger warnings as something legitimate. But, by the time you see the trigger warning, it's really too late for anybody that's that sensitive. The trigger warning itself is likely to be a trigger. If you've been raped and can't handle thinking about it, being given a trigger warning about a discussion about rape is probably not going to be very effective.
(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]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:48AM
OK, so what do we "trigger warn" for? There's so many things that can be "triggering", so we just need to trigger warn everything! Ah, and there's the rub. You see, now that we've trigger warned everything we can actually remove the trigger warnings as they're simply implied when one consumes information.
DONE! Any other pseudo-intellectual rubbish problem you need solved?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by VLM on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:31PM
it will create a generation of graduates unable to cope with the world after graduation
This has been the purpose of the educational system for a long time.
Or rephrased, recently the purpose of the system has become funneling as much government guaranteed loans as possible into the coffers for as long as it lasts.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Tuesday September 01 2015, @03:47PM
I'd object to the idea that it's the purpose "of the educational system". I know lots of teachers who try their best, so I'm not eager to lump them in.
It's the consequence of modern parenting (though some will argue that kids on cell phones are more ready for the new not-workplace than their parents), "don't offend anyone" policies, and some significant segment of the educational system's decision-makers (both in DC and in Texas)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by VLM on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:36PM
What the machine was designed to do, is never the fault of the cogs and gears.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:28PM
Or rephrased, recently the purpose of the system has become funneling as much government guaranteed loans as possible into the coffers for as long as it lasts.
Well certainly the education system has been shifting towards a profit model for at least 3+ decades. So cut funds to schools and raise tuition or 'registration fees' (really CA?) will make them more profitable. I believe the thinking is that doing anything for profit is more efficient, thus having the goal of our public educatino system be increasing profit instead of educating the population will result in better education for..., wait, what?. Well I guess we'll get better educated profit.
In any case, the loans are profitable to the lenders. If you want to blame someone, you might look at the financial sector. They both have an incredible powerful lobby and make lots of money on student loans. Since I've been educated in the US, I can't put one and one together (although I can still get loans!, awesome), but I'm guessing there might be a connection there.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:02PM
I've mentioned my motorcycle a few times. When I fall down, I get back up, straddle the damned thing, and ride.
I've never mentioned horses here before, but when a horse throws my dumb ass off, I get back up, straddle the beast, and ride.
The dumbass rednecks I know are the same way. They fall, they get back up, and go on with whatever business they are about. If they get their ass beat in the bar on Saturday night, they crawl home, bandage themselves up, work the next week, then take their dumb asses back to the bar for another ass whipping. (Not me, I quite that nonsense more than thirty years ago!)
Triggers? You got triggers? Let me trip the damned thing - I just don't give a damn about your triggers. If you're that sensitive, you need to have your psycho-babble doctor put you in a padded room for awhile.
Whatever happened to Darwin's theories? Survival of the fittest. If you ain't fit, it's not my worry. No, there is no need for you to procreate before you leap off this mortal coil.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @04:22PM
> I've never mentioned horses here before
Thank you! We have all been waiting months for you to talk about horses. It is really great that you finally have taken up the subject. This site is so much richer now that your equine pontifications are a permanent part of the record here!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @07:37PM
No need for sarcasm, the guy is just really into horses:
(Score: 4, Funny) by kurenai.tsubasa on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:53PM
Chelsea Manning!
/ducks
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:20PM
The Thing!!! Strip Date:Jul 21, 2009
Mike, Ethan, Predator
-
Mike: Thanks for the tour, Ethan. Guess that thing hasn't come out here tovisit.
Ethan: :Pity that. I have...devices that can take care of your problem for you.
Mike: Devices?
Predator [outside, still tugging at soldering iron in face]: Eh...ehhhh...
Ethan: I hacked into a weapons satellite. It drops fin-steered steel crowbarsfrom orbit and uses the gravity well for energy. Behold.
Predator [outside]: @#$!
[Crowbar slams into Predator] **WHUMP!**
Mike: Holy...!
Predator: ebbeh.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:22PM
This will upset me even writing this...
I've been raped by another man, so when I see all these fucking trigger warnings over microaggressions it makes me really mad.
I'ld write more but I'm too ... whatever.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:40AM
> I've been raped by another man, so when I see all these fucking trigger warnings over microaggressions it makes me really mad.
I can tell you are lying. Because that would only be true if you had been by another man with a micropenis.
(Score: 1) by drgibbon on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:44PM
I know I could read the articles, but I have never even remotely heard of any of this stuff (although the submission makes it seem like I should have). Microaggressions? Trigger warnings? On course content? On submission content? I think I've just been triggered. Time for a microrage.
Certified Soylent Fresh!
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday September 01 2015, @05:57PM
You are in just the right frame of mind to fit in with all of those who need trigger warnings.
It's all about manipulating the system to suit yourself. Those little microrages are intended to gain attention, if nothing else. As TFA points out, students use that crap to get out of classes and assignments, as well as other forms of special treatment. It's like, "Oh, I've suffered, you owe me a few free college credits that I don't really intend to earn!"
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by MrNemesis on Wednesday September 02 2015, @01:03PM
Agreed, I've no idea what the hell a "trigger warning" is (is that like one of those warnings you might get before a film clip that contains strobing lights as a warning for epileptics?) or a "microaggression", or what either of them have to do with a university education (feel like I should throw in the phrase "liberal arts major" wot I learned from XKCD), but everyone in the thread seems to think it's something to do with the SJW perjorative so I'm gonna stroll the fuck on and 'ave a whistle. Yawn.
Is there? That's nice, hopefully the shops will have enough in stock at christmas as presents for the little ones. First I've heard of the term although clearly I live under a rock without a facebook logo. Some explanation perhaps next time eds? From what I can make of the pseudo-content of TFA, as a term it's analogous to "perceived insult" which is self-explanatory and has the bonus advantage of not being newspeak.
GOTO paragraph 1 of this comment for the "please also explain what a trigger warning is" diatribe. Secondly, define "sensitive". From the first paragraph of the transcript-disguised-as-an-article:
So... conceivably any book in the entire history of human creation, with the possible exception of My Collection of Antique Beige Wallpaper by Dudley Dullard? Or any topic involving any animate object? As a great man once said; "Live is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something".
"To paraphrase Nietzsche, I have looked into the abyss and been sick in it."
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:02PM
it's good netiquette to post trigger warnings before discussing sensitive topics.
Your lack in ability to deal with your own aggression and emotions is not my problem.
On top of that, you asking me to 'not discuss something because it may hurt your feelings' is not you asking me to respect you or your feelings. You are asking me for submission to your feelings. And guess what, ain't gonna happen, my friend.
(Score: 3, Funny) by krishnoid on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:14PM
It's unfortunate that something so pervasive is affecting mental health on campus. Perhaps if there was some advance notice/caution that this sort of phenomenon could suddenly precipitate this kind of health issue, people could be forewarned and prepare accordingly.
(Score: 5, Funny) by wonkey_monkey on Tuesday September 01 2015, @06:30PM
it's good netiquette to post trigger warnings before discussing sensitive topics.
Argh. My trigger is trigger warnings, you insensitive clod! You could've warned me!
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @03:05PM
I knew a guy who, due to the specifics of an assault against him, got a bit triggered by the word "trigger".
I really feel sorry for him these days.
(Score: 3, Touché) by tangomargarine on Tuesday September 01 2015, @08:26PM
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...
My trigger warning is people who can't spell aggression.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by Zinho on Wednesday September 02 2015, @12:40AM
Lol, busted! Thanks, I'll remember the second 'g' in the future.
Any admins out there want to clean up my mess?
"Space Exploration is not endless circles in low earth orbit." -Buzz Aldrin
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2015, @10:07PM
triggery triggers triggering my triggers. trigger!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @05:52AM
ULTIMATE...TRIGGER (in Killer Instinct announcer voice)
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday September 01 2015, @11:20PM
One of the reasons to get a liberal arts education is to prepare you for the mental challenges of a world in constant flux. It's true that nearly everyone is always trying to get you to buy something or convince you of something so you'll give them your power. A college education gives you the tools, the weapons, really, to stand up for yourself and for reason, as you see it. At least, that is what a college education ought to do. If this simpering dreck is in fact what passes for such these days, then I am very pleased that I have no plans to spend $150K+ per child (or more) to send my kids to an American university.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @12:18AM
Trigger warnings are entirely appropriate for "safe spaces" (informal internet support groups). If you find yourself in a place specifically set aside for trauma sufferers don't be a massive dick and just follow the rules or leave respectfully.
Having said that, it should be obvious that safe spaces and public spaces are mutually exclusive. Campuses have not helped themselves out here by co-opting the language of social justice academia without the context. It's perfectly reasonable to have a campus-wide anti-harrasment policy, but for fuck sake don't advertise your campus is a "safe space" because it is not and can not be by definition.