Trigger Warnings: Essential or extreme?
Calls for labeling distressing content with warnings spark broader conversations over free speech.
Trigger warnings are often used to alert people to potentially distressing content online. But some US university students would like to extend those warnings to the classroom out of concern for those who have had traumatic experiences with topics such as rape, sexual assault, suicide and poverty. Critics say these alerts limit freedom of speech, are overused and promote excessive political correctness. So, do “trigger warnings” have a place in society? And if so, should a line be drawn? We discuss at 1930 GMT.
On this episode of The Stream, we speak to:
Greg Lukianoff
President, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
thefire.org
Angus Johnston @studentactivism
Professor of History, Hostos Community College
studentactivism.net
Phillip Wythe @spacedoctorphd
Student, Rutgers University
dailytargum.com
Jill Filipovic @JillFilipovic
Senior Political Writer, Cosmopolitan
jillfilipovic.com
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.