Triggered

[aschueler]

the topic is about classics, i just presumed it still was okay texas chainsaw massacre might be in the adult section of a library if they have one. the classics however should be open to people of all ages. when parenting fails. help services should kick in, sadly it's not a perfect world. that said, i'd like my kids to have the choice of reading or not reading. i can only speak for them. should they ever get molested or raped i will obviously tell them to read the blurb of all books on their inside covers less they have flashbacks. okay, my grandkids. [my kids are all grown up fed on horror films and wuthering heights; i know; i ruined the poor things. we took in more kids than doctor barnardoes over the years, i would never dream of telling them 'don't read that book' i may explain what it's about but i'd never say no to a book they chose. i cut my reading teeth on newspapers and porn mags kids get so much shite and filth piled on them that a book choice wouldn't make an iota of doing harm. do we stop molested kids from watching the news? why stop them reading books? and a heads up, a trigger warning will only inspire a kid to read the book more avidly, i say this because i was once a kid; i know about these things

i agree with all that, and like i said before, 'don't read this' warnings are a shortcut to getting kids to read something; i say stick warnings on all the classics.
anyway, i didn't read the article entirely, just skimmed it. i was under the impression that the 'trigger warning' thing was more of a catchy slogan type deal; not an out and out 'you shouldn't/can't read this' mandate.
and in terms of a warning, the opposition to it is pretty weak, because the concept itself is pretty weak. it just seems like a new thing for grumpy people to be grumpy about. "mutter mutter. . . they're putting warnings on books now. . . huff and puff. . ." alternatively, warnings on books are just a way for the do-gooders to persist with their do-goodery; which is just as trivial. if i didn't suspect everyone being thick as shit, i could even imagine a secret government initiative that sets up these little schemes to keep the grumpy cunts happy, grumbling about some nothing, instead of strapping bombs to their chests, or going mental in a playground with an automatic weapon.

It's not warnings per se, it goes pretty far in college classes in some areas;  students avoid entire readings so as not to have flair ups. It's self censorship, not getting ready emotionally for something challenging, which is clearly the role of a good teacher as Leanne has noted.