So… not to call anyone out here, but please, if you’re going to say someone’s writing is “triggering” (aka my prior post on Asian American activism) do know that it means a lot more than simply being annoyed or offended by, or to disagree with the point made in, that said piece of writing.  Having worked for many years at feminist and queer non-profits and grassroots organizations for women’s and children’s rights and safety, and as being a survivor of domestic and relationship violence myself, I take such accusations extremely seriously, and hope that you all understand what you are saying when you call something “triggering.”

When one is triggered by something they read or see, it is to say that they have, unwillingly, been forced to recall a prior moment of trauma in their own lives, and experience the harm anew. A variety of physical and emotional responses may occur as response to being triggered— some have described the feeling as a flashback, or as returning to a place and time where such experiences occurred to them. Others have physical experiences akin to panic attacks, sweating, nausea. In any case, to be triggered is to re-experience serious physical and emotional trauma as a result of reading something that refers to the same or similar trauma or experience, and is an incredibly violent and harming process for the person being triggered.

Triggers include:

- graphic descriptions, images, and/or extensive discussion of violence (especially physical and sexual abuse, assault, and torture)

- graphic descriptions, images, and/or extensive discussion of self-harming behaviors such as suicidal ideation or acts, disordered eating, and self-inflicted injuries

- discussions and depictions of consensual sexual practices that involve injury or harm, real or perceived (BDSM, role playing, etc.)

- graphic descriptions, images, or extensive discussions of violent experiences of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, fat phobia, and ableism.

If you are still unclear on what triggering is, and would like to know more, you can click the link right here, but with the caveat that the article itself may be triggering. Warning: Very explicit discussion of sexual assault and the nature, anatomy, cause & effect of triggers. Is itself triggery.

There is also a very helpful Tumblr called Fuck Yeah, Trigger Warnings you may want to look at.

If, after reading the above, you still have thoughts about my prior post being triggering, I am more than happy to engage in a serious and thoughtful discussion with you (offline, preferably) about this. I certainly don’t want to shut down opposing debates to the argument— in fact, I’m wondering why no one has said anything to me personally or on the internet yet that was more than an affirmation, when I know that it has not been universally agreed with. If it didn’t spark some kind of reaction—affirmative or negative— then it wasn’t very effective as a discussion piece, was it?

Thank you for reading!