When I scroll through my Facebook timeline, there is a plethora of trigger warnings with asterisks and capital letters. Recently, they have begun to have a large presence in the media. However, from what I have been exposed to, trigger warnings are being used incorrectly and too often.
It is becoming much more common to find trigger warnings covering up material that some may find offensive, rather than serving their true purpose: to protect those with post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness. People who suffer from PTSD rely on trigger warnings to avoid unnecessary reminders of traumas that could leave them more vulnerable to flashbacks and nightmares.
I have had friends tell me that they use trigger warnings as protection to avoid information that could be harmful to their personal recoveries from mental illnesses; this is fantastic. However, trigger warnings should not be abused as a way to avoid information.
I have seen trigger warnings used to cover up information regarding topics such as candidate preference in the election and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe protest in the Dakotas. This is unacceptable. Complete access to this information should not be covered up due to personal offense; controversy is not inherently negative.
By overusing trigger warnings, we eliminate the possibility to have a conversation and share opinions that may differ, but are all valuable. Trigger warnings have a specific place where they should be used: in situations where survivors and those in recovery need to be protected. But we cannot continue to accept the proliferation of censorship.
The University of Chicago took a firm stance against trigger warnings in a letter to its class of 2020 students, stating that “… we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.” John Ellison, the dean of students and the author of the letter, voiced his opinion that trigger warnings are an impediment to the freedom of speech and the prosperity of intellectual discussions.
It is our responsibility to ensure that trigger warnings are used responsibly. They have an appropriate context where they belong. However, we cannot avoid conversations that contain topics that could be perceived as uncomfortable. Binghamton University has a long-standing tradition of opening discussion in areas that were previously closed through multiple platforms, including but not limited to the TEDx speaker series each spring; internships that promote health awareness, such as Real Education About College Health; and publications such as Pipe Dream itself. It is key that we continue to keep these spaces present and powerful forces in our community.
Trigger warnings are not evil and they do not need to be banned completely. They have the power to promote health and save lives by protecting those who desperately need it. Simply, we must take individual precaution and care to ensure that they are used reliably.
Kara Bilello is a sophomore majoring in English.