What Trigger Warnings Should I Have?

Your shows regularly have me in both tears and fits of laughter with equal measure. I will say, however, that I find you cathartic rather than triggering, because while the topics can be difficult to hear/consider, you do it with care, consideration, empathy, self-deprecating sacrifice and a wonderful sense of timing for when enough is just about (but not quite) too much. I agree that a warning specific enough to be clear about which topics are triggering would also be a significant spoiler. For people who are already familiar with your work, this is not an issue. For people who have not heard you before, I believe that the message you sent is good.

CrispnCrunch

I think wanting to not hurt people is a good position to start from and caring about making mistakes is important. But you won't be perfect and I appreciate trigger warnings.

Ben Ward

You once said that in your shows you can almost guarantee a third of the audience would be shedding tears by the end. Modern day comedy is often about confronting difficult topics, and finding (or a version of) the truth. What is worrying that there are people that are unwilling to engage with such topics and in some cases hide behind a perceived offence to maintain their sometimes intransigence. I'm a little triggered by trigger warnings.

I think you should just try your best to be kind and thoughtful, and it should work out.

Gabe

I like the idea of opting-in to a trigger warning. Most well-adjusted adults should be fine without . There may be a few who click through out of nosiness, but at least it's there for the sensitive souls who probably shouldn't tackle "difficult" topics without a heads-up. One judgement of a society's values is how we treat the most vulnerable. I guess Trigger Warnings are there for them, and not the able-minded (ugh! sounds judgemental, but isn't meant that way) - but it's rather like a warning of steps ahead for someone in a wheelchair. Is humour an emotionally accessible entrance to difficult topics? "Warning: the emotional roller-coaster you might experience is made accessible by great gags?"

I'm on board with Ramzi's app idea, but that requires a bit of coordination. I think you're fulfilling a reasonable level of care to your audience by just pointing out that the show will discuss some haevy life and family topics. That should be enough for anyone at risk of more than just sadness to judge whether it's wise for them to watch.

Mike Cowley

Warning: very funny. May have some family based humour. All wraps up nicely in the end though (intentionally because I know how to write and perform comedy) Just hide it in there.

Peter West

I think that it.is either the inability or the lack of desire to put on the other person's shoes (I know... athlete's feet...),.. that defines the lack of connectivity that often leads to the disconnect and hurt feelings .... open heart and open mind is very much easier to say then done sadly... I do realize it is often unoleasant to spend time in some shoes. I share the same thought and feeling you stated... I too often are left confused but the joy of that is learning to approach understanding 8)

Tony Liang

they make more sense to me in the age-restriction analogy type context, or like as a way to manage expectations like genres do, but in general I agree that if someone is the like of person to get triggered by 'dead relative' or whatever then saying that in the warning is surely just as bad and maybe they will have to avoid everything? Also the times I have been triggered i.e. suddenly felt very sad or anxious have been at times other people wouldn't have warned me about because they're related to change or conflict etc and that depends on what state of mind i'm in or whose emotions in the room are affecting me etc.

I'm unconvinced by the need for trigger warnings, but I don't know what the evidence for them is. I guess a few around religious themes might be justified - but I think I'd want to know what harm not having trigger warnings might cause. Have you spoken to Helen Z about this? I have an idea she's dug quite deeply into the subject.

Tim Parsons

Thankyou. Xx

"As the subject of trigger warnings comes forcibly round into my brain again, I should warn you, i’m about to discuss it." lol

Warning: Cartoon Violence. Warning: Adult Language Warning: Adult Situations (Not The Sexy Kind) Warning: Adult Situations (The Sexy Kind) Warning: If you watched Disney's Baymax TV show and got upset that there's an episode where a robot goes to the store to get tampons for a young girl who needs them, this might not be the show for you. Also, grow the fuck up. Warning: This show will have spoilers for other shows. Good news! Once you've seen it you don't have to watch anything else. Warning: If you come to this show expecting a "half a glass of water" joke, you're likely to be disappointed. Warning: This show offers a brief respite from the crushing sense of doom of the outside world, and while it will be marvelous while it lasts, you may be moderately upset when you have to go back to your mundane existence.

I mean, I’ve definitely seen art I’m not ready for, in the context of my own life and hardships, but I’ve always sort of seen that as me not being ready for the art or it not being for me rather than a flaw in the work.

Personally, i do believe the trigger warning of "adult topic triggering adult feelings and appealing to an open, logical, emotionally available adult person" should suffice for everything... however, who in their right mind do not think themselves to be perfectly open minded logical adult? After all, even the worse of sociopaths (and there are some funny mustachioed ones from history we can point to" thought themselves logical adult and sane when they look in the mirror... there in lies the rub. Therein lies also the fallacy of trigger warnings beyond a certain point. After all, what is emotionally taxing and sad for me may be a fun day out at Disneyland for another. Labeling, however, does provide a warm fuzzy blue blanket for the Linuses in all of us and all corporate entities.... maybe i am cynical (i am, and i am looking into the mirror right now), but yes, i feel your response is right on point, when i shared your recorded show with a friend, i did warn my friend that (because she had suffered a recent family loss) that the show is a work of bitter sweet humor that frees and feeds the soul. All that is to say that, in a perfect world, one feels that all would listen, process, then react... but that is less the case these days, so perhaps a preprocessed trigger warnings are needed? i don't know... ive been up too long and there are way too much coffee in me...

Tony Liang