"Not by flinching or avoiding or staying away. By facing the truth head-on."
July 14, 2011 11:05 AM Subscribe
Award-winning author loathes use of neologism "triggery." Stoker/Locus award-nominated author Caitlin R. Kiernan wages war against the word, as well as LOLspeak, Amazon reviewers, and rampant information overload.
Kiernan, never one to shy away from being outspoken about things that annoy her most about living in the modern age (and what it's like to really be a writer), grew exasperated at comments in her LJ and Twitter feed that accused her of not being sensitive enough to people with triggers. Naturally, she rails against that, including that she herself is a PTSD sufferer and does not require the world to conform to her wishes.
This prompted me to ask: Do we need to police what we say in case of someone's potential past trauma? Or do people have to take responsibility themselves for clicking on links/watching movies/reading books?
I bought this to the Blue because it's the only place where I've ever seen recurring warnings for potential triggers.
Kiernan, never one to shy away from being outspoken about things that annoy her most about living in the modern age (and what it's like to really be a writer), grew exasperated at comments in her LJ and Twitter feed that accused her of not being sensitive enough to people with triggers. Naturally, she rails against that, including that she herself is a PTSD sufferer and does not require the world to conform to her wishes.
This prompted me to ask: Do we need to police what we say in case of someone's potential past trauma? Or do people have to take responsibility themselves for clicking on links/watching movies/reading books?
I bought this to the Blue because it's the only place where I've ever seen recurring warnings for potential triggers.
This post was deleted for the following reason: If you want to make a post about interesting stuff Kiernan has done/written, that's totally fine; a post about the phenomenon and culture of trigger warnings, ditto; as is, this is kind of a weird hybrid that feels too much like "let's continue the discussion on her lj entry" to make sense. -- cortex
Heh. I hadn't thought about this much. But it's a fair point. I figure the warning on links here in MeFi were kinda cool. Just a nice thing to do.
But it's not really practical in everyday conversation. However, in conversation, one should have the simple decency and common sense to stay on topics based on how well you know the person you are talking to. A new client you just met? Better not chuckle at that bloody anal rape story you heard earlier today! An old friend with a very sick sense of humor? Anal rape story away!
Oh shit, sorry, trigger there.
posted by Xoebe at 11:17 AM on July 14, 2011
But it's not really practical in everyday conversation. However, in conversation, one should have the simple decency and common sense to stay on topics based on how well you know the person you are talking to. A new client you just met? Better not chuckle at that bloody anal rape story you heard earlier today! An old friend with a very sick sense of humor? Anal rape story away!
Oh shit, sorry, trigger there.
posted by Xoebe at 11:17 AM on July 14, 2011
She's not just angry with the word "triggery," but with the whole practice/expectation of marking potentially traumatic or emotionally incendiary topics as likely to trigger. I don't get it. For the writer it means including one or two extra words (trigger warning), but for the reader it has either neutral or extremely helpful effect. Why get all angry about it?
posted by arcticwoman at 11:18 AM on July 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by arcticwoman at 11:18 AM on July 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
It doesn't seem to me like she cares about the neologism "triggery", per se, but upon the expectation that discussions or portrayals of disturbing things be announced in advance.
posted by Zed at 11:19 AM on July 14, 2011
posted by Zed at 11:19 AM on July 14, 2011
She's angry about it because people are telling her she's insensitive by writing about things in her own LJ and Twitter that make people upset.
posted by Jairus at 11:19 AM on July 14, 2011
posted by Jairus at 11:19 AM on July 14, 2011
For me personally I find confrontational salvos to be triggery.
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:20 AM on July 14, 2011
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:20 AM on July 14, 2011
This is a bit fighty.
Ack. I've agonized over this all morning. I really didn't mean for it to be so, but I guess I should have known better, eh?
posted by Kitteh at 11:22 AM on July 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ack. I've agonized over this all morning. I really didn't mean for it to be so, but I guess I should have known better, eh?
posted by Kitteh at 11:22 AM on July 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
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What a rip-roaring salvo that is! Right up there with "When, in the course of human events..." On your steeds, all -- the war is waged!
posted by griphus at 11:16 AM on July 14, 2011