Trigger Warnings By Kate Mann Analysis

An interesting thing happened in a class. A student complained the professor when he focused ‘on the beauty of the language and the splendor of the imagery when lecturing on the text.’ He did not notice her feelings, and the girl did not feel safe in the class. That story leads to a discussion about whether professors use trigger warnings on their course materials or not. Then what is “trigger warnings”?---Seen on the web, in tweets and on blogs, it usually takes the form of a sentence or a few words to caution readers about the content which will follow. The author adds a warning in recognition of strong writing or images which could unsettle those with mental health difficulties. They exist so readers can choose whether or not to read any …show more content…
In order for this to happen, students must be challenged. And they need to learn to engage rationally with ideas, arguments and views they find difficult, upsetting or even repulsive. On this count, I also agree with the critics as Kate does. However, what we are trying to discuss is “Should college professors use trigger warnings on their course materials?”. As far as I am concerned, people cannot deny a fact that there are all kinds of students from different cultures, backgrounds, families, etc. (not to mention some students with some bad memories, such as rape, sexual assault, suicide or even worse, they should be taken good care of). Accordingly, as college professors, they should consider the distinctions among students. If college professors do not use trigger warnings on their course materials, some students must feel uncomfortable or recall some miserable memories when they encounter some strong materials. Using trigger warnings gives students the opportunity to choose voluntarily if they want to see the materials or …show more content…
The ultimate aim, it seems, is to turn campuses into “safe spaces” where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable. And more than the last, this movement seeks to punish anyone who interferes with that aim, even accidentally. You might call this impulse vindictive protectiveness. It is creating a culture in which everyone must think twice before speaking up, lest they face charges of insensitivity, aggression, or worse.’ That is not the purpose of giving trigger warnings. And the consequence of trigger warnings are exaggerated. Using trigger warnings is to help students choose whether or not they continue reading the materials, not to create a vulnerable culture that people should do everything too carefully. Peggy Noonan said, ‘There is no such thing as safety. That is asking too much of life. You can’t expect those around you to constantly accommodate your need for safety. That is asking too much of people.’ That is the truth, but campuses are not the real society. Students there deserve a good environment to study and research. Of course, to some degree, they need to be taught what the society is and what kind of people or things they might meet in the