MARINA: Hey friends.
MARINA: Um, so I am here with Chris Lam.
CHRIS: Hi. MARINA: Um, so I am here with Chris Lam.
MARINA: He has a YouTube channel called OneWingedChris
and he talks a lot about social justice stuff, race, Asian-American issues
which I really gel with.
CHRIS: I wonder why?
[Xylophone sound effect]
MARINA: So today we wanted to talk a little bit about the concept of "trigger warnings"
and what it actually means versus
the way that it's used on the Internet in the sense that
"SJW's so triggered."
or, you know, stuff like that.
And I see that used a lot and...
CHRIS: So much.
MARINA: No one's just like
"Oh my god I'm triggered."
for fun.
People who have, like, mental--
who've experience trauma and people who have PTSD and things like that
get triggered by certain things
and they'll have, like, flashbacks and it'll remind them of that trauma.
So I think making fun of making fun of that is kinda fucked up.
CHRIS: Making fun of that and also just, like, overusing it and not using the correct context
MARINA: Yeah. CHRIS: Making fun of that and also just, like, overusing it and not using the correct context
CHRIS: Making fun of that and also just, like, overusing it and not using the correct context
because I come from a background where I play a lot of video games
and that term is especially over used in that case.
MARINA: Yeah, I can imagine. and that term is especially over used in that case.
CHRIS: Unfortunately because, like, I want to ride for the gaming community
and I know that there are a lot of great people who are intersecting between, like
being more mindful and more woke and also, like, like video games
but most of the bigger, gamer people that I've watched on YouTube
They're like
"Oh my God. I just got headshot." you know?
"I'm so triggered right now."
I'm like, like, bitch no you're not.
Just because you're upset over something doesn't mean that you're triggered over something.
MARINA: Yeah, I think it kind of becomes shorthand for being offended or upset
which, you know, in the first place I don't love the idea of making fun of someone for being, you know
what I think is probably rightfully offended over certain things
like if you say something that you know is racist or sexist or fucked up in anyway
and someone tells you they're upset by that
I think trying to dismiss their feelings about that by being like
"Oh my god. I'm so triggered."
is kinda shitty, you know?
CHRIS: Yeah.
MARINA: People's feelings and, like, reactions to things are important.
I think we could really do with more, like, listening to where people are coming from
instead of immediately just dismissing them with, like, a misused buzzword.
CHRIS: Yeah, I was really proud of a tweet that I sent out yesterday.
MARINA: So proud.
CHRIS: Yeah, I very proud like...
You know. anti-SJW person:
"LOL! You're so triggered!"
And then I have a gif of--
I have a Mean Girls gif of someone just being like
"Who?"
Who? 'Cause, like, that's--that's how I feel whenever people on the Internet tell me that like
MARINA: Yeah. Who? 'Cause, like, that's--that's how I feel whenever people on the Internet tell me that like
Who? 'Cause, like, that's--that's how I feel whenever people on the Internet tell me that like
"Oh my god you're being so triggered by this. LOL! This is so funny! You're such a snowflake."
MARINA: Yeah. "Oh my god you're being so triggered by this. LOL! This is so funny! You're such a snowflake."
"Oh my god you're being so triggered by this. LOL! This is so funny! You're such a snowflake."
I'm like, like, I'm not triggered.
I'm just telling you my opinion and I'm unhappy with something.
MARINA: Exactly. I'm just telling you my opinion and I'm unhappy with something.
I'm just telling you my opinion and I'm unhappy with something.
Sometimes people want to reduce it so much and invalidate you so much that--
that they're just like
"Oh, well, you're upset over something, so I'm just gonna label you as triggered."
MARINA: Yeah, yeah, I think it's a--it's a very, like, convenient way to dismiss that argument.
"Oh, well this person is just so emotional and upset that they can't even be, like, rational."
You know?
CHRIS: Exactly yeah.
MARINA: I've been called triggered when I've been, like, super calm in videos
just kind of rationally explaining things.
People will accuse me of being super offended or triggered and I'm like
"If I was offended, like, if I was mad you would probably know it."
CHRIS: Yeah, exactly, like, I understand that it is more so for women especially
when it comes to, like, anger and--and being, like, policed for their feelings
MARINA: Yeah. when it comes to, like, anger and--and being, like, policed for their feelings
when it comes to, like, anger and--and being, like, policed for their feelings
but I think with social justice type people on the Internet in general
that's kind of the way that we're all invalidated in terms of our opinions.
The fact that I'm angry means that none of my thoughts are rational.
MARINA: 'Cause I feel, like, with social justice spaces
a lot of what we're talking about is coming from, like, personal experiences with things that are painful to us
so, like, if you have an experience with, like, racism or sexism that--
I think that is painful in a way that if you're not, like, a woman or a person of color
then you're not really gonna understand, like, how frustrating and upsetting that can be
and I think that a lot of people who are anti-SJW or, you know, whatever you want to call it
I think a lot of the time they will reduce our arguments because we're angry
and I don't think that anger makes our, you know, our positions any less valid.
CHRIS: Of course not.
Using the term "triggered" and using the term "SJW" towards peo--
towards us I think that creates this sense of, like
I have you figured out and I have you in a box so I don't have to, like, bother listening.
MARINA: Yeah, I don't have to engage. I have you figured out and I have you in a box so I don't have to, like, bother listening.
Yeah, like, I'm angry because I read the news
and, like, I know that there's a lot of bullshit that happens in the world.
MARINA: Yeah, like, if you're not upset by what's happening, then you're not really paying attention
CHRIS: Yeah, exactly. MARINA: Yeah, like, if you're not upset by what's happening, then you're not really paying attention
CHRIS: Yeah, exactly. Or, you know, you're in a position where you don't have to be upset about things
Or, you know, you're in a position where you don't have to be upset about things
'cause they're not affecting you personally.
I think there is this weird emphasis on, like, rationality and, like, skepticism
which, you know, is important.
It's not like social justice people don't value rationality, you know?
And we don't value questioning what's happening around us and being skeptical
but I think there's so much emphasis on this and, like, skeptic anti-SJW communities
that there's no room for emotional pain.
CHRIS: Going back to the--the term "triggered"
the word loses its power when it actually happens to somebody right?
MARINA: I don't know what's funny about laughing about someone who's experienced trauma
and, you know, is triggered by certain things that remind them of
probably the worst moment in their life, if not, like, more than one moment.
CHRIS: Yeah, I would really recommend anybody who just casually uses that term
to keep in mind that, like, more than likely just because the world is a shitty place
that you'll--you'll probably experience trauma in some form or fashion.
Not that we're wishing it on you, but just mathematically
MARINA: Yeah. Not that we're wishing it on you, but just mathematically
Not that we're wishing it on you, but just mathematically
you're probably going to experience something that's just really not good
and, like, will really stick with you.
MARINA: Yeah. and, like, will really stick with you.
MARINA: And not just, like, physically, but emotionally.
CHRIS: Yeah. MARINA: And not just, like, physically, but emotionally.
MARINA: I'm sure that if you're hearing the word "triggered"
from other people who are using it like a joke
it might seem like this, you know, this funny meme or something to, like, say, like, "LOL triggered!"
but if you look into it more, you know, if you do--were to do any, like, research or anything
in the way that it was used, like, by psychologists and therapists and things like that
you would realize that it wasn't--it's not like this funny, cute thing.
Reducing people being upset about things it's not the same as being triggered, you know?
CHRIS: Yeah. Reducing people being upset about things it's not the same as being triggered, you know?
I might be offended or upset about something but I'm not triggered.
CHRIS: We're fine.
I kind of feel like anti-SJW people use that term more than we do
'cause like I don't--I don't use that often and I really don't.
MARINA: I never, like, would have used that word, you know what I mean?
I think unless someone was specifically talking about trigger warnings, then I would say, like
"Oh, here's a trigger warning or a content warning."
because I'm, like, respectful human being.
CHRIS: Yeah, 'cause like because I'm, like, respectful human being.
CHRIS: I don't wanna make someone who's experienced trauma from, like, rape or violence
to be brought back to that place if they see rape or violence on camera or, like, on screen.
MARINA: Yeah. to be brought back to that place if they see rape or violence on camera or, like, on screen.
MARINA: Especially if it's, like, a very, like, well-known, trigger.
You know, like, rape is something that happens to a lot of people
and I don't really think it's hard to include a content warning.
I mean that's something that's happened in, like, film for a long time, you know?
CHRIS: Yeah. I mean that's something that's happened in, like, film for a long time, you know?
It's just letting you know what the subject is gonna be about
so you can prepare yourself to, like, read about it instead of just being, like, shocked
CHRIS: Yeah. so you can prepare yourself to, like, read about it instead of just being, like, shocked
so you can prepare yourself to, like, read about it instead of just being, like, shocked
and having to disengage because you were actually triggered by it.
CHRIS: Think about, like, when you can casually misuse that word
how disrespectful that is and how belittling that--that can be
to people who actually need those trigger warnings
because I'm hoping the we can--
can agree that being respectful to victims of rape and violence is not, like, too much to ask for.
MARINA: It's really not.
I feel like that's kind of the baseline for human decency and respect
CHRIS: Maybe.
MARINA: Maybe try to understand where they're coming from
and extend empathy to those people I mean it's...
CHRIS: Not a given these days. Not a given.
MARINA: No, it takes two seconds to, like, say
"Content Warning." like sexual assault it's not hard you know what I mean?
Not using that is one thing
but then people will go out of their way to make fun of trigger warnings
which is a whole other
[sigh]
whole other can of worms.
Yeah, what are your guys' thoughts on the whole, like, triggered...
[laughing] I don't really know what I'm asking.
[laughter]
I was like trying to ask a question at the end but, like, I don't know.
CHRIS: You have to ask a good question otherwise people are gonna be like
"Okay, you're--you're just trying to like come up with some stupid question to make us comment something."
MARINA: Yeah. "Okay, you're--you're just trying to like come up with some stupid question to make us comment something."
"Okay, you're--you're just trying to like come up with some stupid question to make us comment something."
MARINA: What are your opinions on the word triggered and why?
And I'm sure people are gonna be debating all up in my comment sections, but whatever
'cause I don't live in an echo chamber, so I actually read all of my comments
and they're a mess half the time, but whatever.
CHRIS: Yup. and they're a mess half the time, but whatever.
and they're a mess half the time, but whatever.
[Xylophone sound effect]
MARINA: Thank you for watching this video.
If you enjoyed it, please give it a like and subscribe to this channel for more videos like this one.
Also, this is completely voluntary, but if you would like to help support this channel
then please consider donating to my Patreon page, which will be linked below.
😛 👍👍
[laughter]
CHRIS: Cool. MARINA: I say that so much.
MARINA: I say that so much.
[laughter]