Trigger Warnings - Ralph Feinnes wades in...

As long as trigger warnings are avoidable for those of us who don't require them, I'm not fussed about their existence.

My bugbear is BBFC certificates before a film that I now have to close my eyes for as they regularly contain serious spoilers. Two films in the last couple of years had a major, sudden and unexpected suicide as a late plot twist, and the BBFC certificate text forewarned both.

When I complained to them, they doubled down. Despite the fact that their trigger warnings are freely available for those concerned on their website, their expressed view is that warning everyone watching the opening of a film that suicidal themes will follow is more important than not spoiling the film for everyone else.

He’s not wrong though!

Tickled me that the newsreader on the radio referred to dear Rafe as Ralf.

It shows what confidence he has in his own status and position that he would feel able to express an opinion that a few youngsters on Twitter might disagree with. Many actors wouldn’t.

This is pretty much it. There are people out there who are deeply traumatised by their experiences and have real, physical, uncontrollable and volatile reactions to unexpected reminders of their trauma. Does it really make anyone's life worse to have a brief warning that will waste seconds of your life if it doesn't affect you, but allow those it does affect to make informed decisions?

But they're not clouds.  They are there as a result of decisions made by organisations.

How many people who might be traumatised by violence on stage are going to see Macbeth or King Lear unaware of what it involves?  Can't people who have had traumatic experiences be expected to know what they are going to see at the theatre?   Can't the rest of us be left to discover what the play involves (murder, incest, suicide, blinding) as it happens rather than as we enter the theatre? 

Agree with this tbh

I agree with him when they're signposted outside the theatre or on the door or in the programme. I've often seen this for gunshots or loud noises for example, and then it becomes a spoiler as you're then waiting for and expecting the inevitable gunshot or explosion and wondering how it might fit into the plot, and the shock and surprise is gone.

If it's just hidden on the website for people to seek them out if they want or need to, then whatever.

Are they getting excessive? Mostly no, they tend to be clearly marked, so if you don't want to read the bit about the trigger warnings, don't read it. I mean sometimes they don't get that right, but they are mostly avoidable.

Are they necessary? It's an accessibility issue, so yes. Some places don't have ramps, subtitles or hearing aid support. Some places don't even have decent lifts. Some places don't do content warnings. The lack of any of these could ruin someone's day.

What's the rationale behind them? It's a tool to help those with involuntary stress responses. Content warning is the more modern, broader term. Different people respond to trauma in different ways. For some, just knowing that the trigger is present is enough for them to manage the trigger, and still enjoy the show. Other's may need to leave.  Content warnings are there for those who need them.

If I was being cynical, I'd say Raplh Feinnes was saying somethinga little bit naughty to get attention. If was being angry, I'd argue that if Mr Feinnes doesn't want to respect the personal needs of others, and that's a bit worrying. And could be seen as an invitation to treat him poorly by others.

We are all responsible for own comfort zones. Providing assistance in managing these is currently a courtesy, and a welcome one for those who need them.

I’m being seriously triggered by the spelling in the thread title!