It’s my fault really! Confession: I watch reality TV, not the some what educational cooking competitions where I’ve learned to “rest” the dough before the cutting the pasta. Nope, I watch the two reality relationship series, Married at First Sight and Love is Blind. I’m triggered, or rather, I’m triggered into yelling at the TV because these participants use the phrase, “I’m triggered” to halt a discussion without an explanation of what that means.
What are we suppose to do with that? Be a super sleuth and never bring up that topic, word or similar situations ever again? Is it a you issue or a me problem? The personal use trigger confuses me! This is not trigger warnings for movies, streaming content, websites, books, songs, etc. These are a statements at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material. These clearly inform and allow an option to be taken. I am referring to people who say “that triggers, me,” or some variation. What? The term has been around a long time in terms of psychology, but over the last 10 years it seems to have come into the popular lexicon. In the past, we’d get a clear statement, I am afraid of birds, I got pecked one time at a children’s zoo and I just don’t want to be near them.
Now we get, “I’m triggered.” Someone sees a dog, and says that triggers me. Triggers you for what? You want a dog, you are afraid of dogs or do you have an allergy? What do I do with that? In my humble opinion, it should be, that triggers me because <insert reason, but by dog, pecked by bird..> and I <feel scared, am having a bad memory…> I know there is a balance, every statement is not a therapy session. In the context of of the programs I am watching, these couples are trying to foster a lasting relationship so there sold be some more context behind, you rolled your eyes, that triggered me and you walk off.
I was triggered Friday evening during an art walk at the vintage store. The jewelry reminded of me sitting at my mom’s vanity and trying own her grown necklaces and brooches when I was 7. The “office section” reminded me that my brother and sister in law sent me my dad’s old typewriter and an old black rotary phone. Ahhh nostaligia. This is trigger as a feeling, an emotion, happiness.
Massachusetts General Law – Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 6B was enacted to minimize the risk of illness and death due to accidental food allergens as certain food can “trigger” Anaphylactic Shock. The law requires restaurants give notice to customers of the customer’s obligation to inform the server about any food allergies. This is trigger to inform.
ICE (Immigration Control Enforcement) agents trigger me for fear and distrust. The covering of faces remind me of the Klu Klux Klan hoods. ICE actions, both forceful and violent are currently protected and sanctioned. It took nearly 40 years for the Klu Klux Klansmen who were responsible for the 1963 church bombing the killed 4 children in Birmingham Alabama to be prosecuted. An event that formed part of my childhood and loomed large in my mind in the late 70’s when I narrowly avoided the Klan on a coon hunt. A coon hunt is a recreational practice where the klan terrorize negroes. This is trigger as an emotion.
In May of 1971, Marvin Gaye released “Inner City Blues – Make Me Wanna Holler.” One go the song lyrics is “trigger happy, policing.” Are we in a “trigger” happy environment. Just say “triggered” and the conversations ends? That, “Makes Me Wanna Holler.”
This week, consider your experience with “trigger” and those things that are you want t collar. Peace.
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 