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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 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."