tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post1291939123873970625..comments2024-03-27T17:40:10.624-04:00Comments on We Live and Breathe Books: Discussion: Trigger WarningsKiersten Kozbialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00538943081866009856noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-34296293866386200122019-10-08T19:39:57.802-04:002019-10-08T19:39:57.802-04:00Agreed. I wish the content/triggers were uniformly...Agreed. I wish the content/triggers were uniformly available, so that people who need it, know exactly where to find it. It should be something that comes with every book - at the back or in the title pages or via the publisher's website. Content warnings are easier than triggers to identify, but most books have beta readers, sensitivity readers, etc, and the publishers also have access to many early reviews. They could even have a feedback section, where they can gather ideas of possible triggers from the many different readers. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-59007408816021362242019-10-08T19:15:19.202-04:002019-10-08T19:15:19.202-04:00I don't include them in my reviews, either, bu...I don't include them in my reviews, either, but I think it's important that the information is available to people if they feel they need it. I don't think anyone has the right to tell other people that they shouldn't want to hear trigger warnings if they feel they need them. <br /><br />Nicole @ <a href="http://feedyourfictionaddiction.com" rel="nofollow">Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a><br />Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637114079800138680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-33138881148027922512019-10-05T12:57:10.465-04:002019-10-05T12:57:10.465-04:00I have to say, it's really awesome of you to d...I have to say, it's really awesome of you to do the research. An interesting point Molly made me think about, is how we see CW and TW used interchangeably, but they are somewhat different. (even more for me to think about) Like you, I do like the idea of authors or publishers putting the information in there, but it should be in the title pages of the book, you know, that fine print most of us skip, but if they put the warnings there, people who needed them would know where to look. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-72002080110856471772019-10-05T12:54:24.086-04:002019-10-05T12:54:24.086-04:00Sort of like movie ratings - you cover the things ...Sort of like movie ratings - you cover the things that are known to have some sort of impact on most of the population, but it's those lesser ones that really worry me. Though just about everyone uses content warning and trigger warning interchangeable, they are sort of different. Someone could be somewhat uncomfortable with some content, but it won't cause they to have a mental health crisis. I also think of content warning as more general, whereas trigger warning are more personal, from everything I have read. I think labeling it as CW is the better choice, because I would expect that to be like the warnings we see on music, TV, and movies. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-60206797409603490542019-10-01T13:19:43.209-04:002019-10-01T13:19:43.209-04:00This is such an interesting discussion. I always d...This is such an interesting discussion. I always do my very best to include trigger warnings and to do a little research after I've read to book and see a couple other reviews to see if there are triggers I might have missed. It's hard to know everything and it's hard to know what could and could not trigger people, for sure, but I'm doing my best to give the best list that I can, too, because I feel like it's important, too. I know that personally, I can be triggered by some content and I always appreciate being, warned, in a way, to know if I should stay off said book completely, or just to know that I need to be in the right headspace to read a certain book. I do thing that it's something that publishers should write in the books and I appreciate it when authors take the time to state out the triggers in their stories on their website or such :)<br />Lovely discussion! :)Marie @ Drizzle and hurricane Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01305855207183517613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-2109201913604391452019-10-01T09:37:48.874-04:002019-10-01T09:37:48.874-04:00For me, I include a few. Like you said, it's h...For me, I include a few. Like you said, it's hard to know EVERYTHING. In fact, even the very word IN the trigger warnings could upset someone. I typically just include the ones that I find are obvious things that could cause a negative reaction (no matter how severe) in someone. If that makes sense? Granted, I do tailor to the genre/what the synopsis says. Like if I'm reading a horror, and it clearly states it's about an axe murderer, I don't feel it's super needed to say "there's murder". Also, as a side note, I usually call them Content Warnings in my reviews because there's some negative associations with the phrase Trigger Warnings. Molly's Book Nookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08346751934349831416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-62315553497212493582019-09-30T05:54:17.134-04:002019-09-30T05:54:17.134-04:00I commend any people, who take on the daunting tas...I commend any people, who take on the daunting task of trying to identify all content that could trigger or make people uncomfortable. I personally do not feel I am qualified to present a complete list, and because of that, I stay away from labeling a section as such. I kind of feel like authors and/or publishers should be furnishing this information, since they are more well acquainted with the story and may have the resources to better ID all troublesome content, but that hasn't seemed to catch on yet. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-60786275900311211122019-09-30T05:14:55.876-04:002019-09-30T05:14:55.876-04:00I think content warnings are incredibly important....I think content warnings are incredibly important. I don't have any personal triggers, but the more I learned about the book community and the more friends I made, the more I see they are especially important. I am trying to add trigger warnings in my book reviews more. I have managed it for my videos and now am working on it for my blog! I try to include them in an opt in opt out way. So you don't have to read them if you don't want to, but they are there if you need them. Olivia's Catastrophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706765857201768908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-63091261255467003602019-09-29T19:01:41.675-04:002019-09-29T19:01:41.675-04:00I agree, most trigger/content warnings I have seen...I agree, most trigger/content warnings I have seen, touch upon the things most of us would find not necessarily triggering, but disturbing, but I have seen others, that I would never have thought of. And, exactly what you said, is why I feel uncomfortable about having a specific content warning section. Do readers think we have included everything? Will they question if we left anything out? You can take care of the spoilers with a <> tag, but I can not assure I hit everything, especially because I am not that sensitive to a lot of what I read. I mean, I will shed tears, but I won't spiral out, you know? Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-33751842132449662082019-09-29T18:58:02.774-04:002019-09-29T18:58:02.774-04:00Do you include any sort of disclaimer, that you ma...Do you include any sort of disclaimer, that you may not have included everything? I was a bit surprised, when I read some trigger warnings, because they are not things I would have thought to identify. There are the general things that can cause most people some discomfort - sex, assault/violence, profanity, cruelty to animals, abuse, but race, religion, sexuality, socioeconomics all play a part in what may discomfort or mental stress. I guess I feel unqualified to make those sorts of determinations, which is why I abstain, but hope someone would approach and ask if they wondered about specific content (which has happened in the past)Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-6126327850297000682019-09-29T18:53:57.688-04:002019-09-29T18:53:57.688-04:00But, I don't feel qualified to create a comple...But, I don't feel qualified to create a complete list, you know? I panic more about leaving things out. I agree with all the people out there, who think they should be contained in the title pages, though I am not sure who would be responsible for that. The publisher? The author? A trained metal health professional? Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-11118228412398984272019-09-29T16:31:38.137-04:002019-09-29T16:31:38.137-04:00Quote: "So, one challenge, if you elect to in...Quote: "So, one challenge, if you elect to include content warnings are if you are able to identify all the different things, that could possibly cause someone mental distress."<br /><br />Quote: "For me, as a reviewer, I find it hard, because some of the triggering content can also be spoilery."<br /><br />Both very valid points. I've been including a warning section in my reviews since the start, but I can only talk about the things that are easiest to recognise as potentially harming, or that have specifically harmed me...it's not like I (well, we all) can think of everything. Also, I don't go out of my way and take notes of every single potential trigger while I'm reading, and after I've finished the book, I might forget something that didn't even register with me. I guess, though, that as long as we point out the biggest issues, we're doing good. As for spoilers, I find it challenging and invigorating to try and talk around things LOL. Of course, for other reviewers, that may be a hard and annoying thing to do...Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-26801421093827278022019-09-29T15:29:06.302-04:002019-09-29T15:29:06.302-04:00I absolutely agree about trigger warnings. I firml...I absolutely agree about trigger warnings. I firmly believe that they need to be included. Sha and I have been making sure to include them in our reviews, because we know just how needed they can be. I know I personally read a book that included no warnings and mentioned nothing about the particular trigger warning period. When I discovered it, I was super startled, and honestly, it caused me to have a period of mental health issues because it was so realistically done that it put me back into the toxic mindframe. Had I found a trigger warning for it, I would have absolutely taken the book off my TBR since I couldn't handle it at that time in my mental health. I know it is hard with some that might be spoilery like death of a principal character or perhaps something that happens with a big twist, but I still always include. Wonderful discussion post, Sam! :) BookPrincessReviewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03949455459995423974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-37900386913635574452019-09-29T15:25:39.638-04:002019-09-29T15:25:39.638-04:00I do sometimes. I think if maybe there were a sepa...I do sometimes. I think if maybe there were a separate label for trigger warnings, then those that want them can click and those who don't won't be spoiled. Michelle @ Fitkittymama Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00944373655333504580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-84058014459051482932019-09-29T12:16:47.943-04:002019-09-29T12:16:47.943-04:00To me, mentioning something that disturbed you is ...To me, mentioning something that disturbed you is different from saying these are triggering things, because the idea of a trigger is that it can really put someone in a bad place. For me, that seems like a big responsibility, but like I said, if someone reached out to me, I would answer any questions about a book. (as long as I could remember)Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-74159300560628305292019-09-29T11:28:32.476-04:002019-09-29T11:28:32.476-04:00I don't have a specific section for trigger wa...I don't have a specific section for trigger warnings in my reviews, but I do try to mention things I think may be disturbing for some readers, animal cruelty for an example. I agree though that it's really challenging to warn readers without potentially spoiling. Suzanne @ The Bookish Librahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116292880784513187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-73492916931004984792019-09-29T10:35:22.415-04:002019-09-29T10:35:22.415-04:00I have seen many people mention things they didn&#...I have seen many people mention things they didn't like, but I am talking about explicitly having a trigger/content warning section, which I am seeing more and more. Yeah, I am always on edge, when reading a book with a dog, because I worry about them being a casualty. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-66486469608259227102019-09-29T06:19:57.661-04:002019-09-29T06:19:57.661-04:00I know a lot of people who, like me, don't lik...I know a lot of people who, like me, don't like reading books where dogs die or are subjected to extreme cruelty. I just can't read that kind of thing so I warn my friends if a dog dies or is badly hurt so it allows them to choose whether or not to read it. I know they appreciate that warning. I don't give warnings for other things specifically but it might crop up in my actual review when I'm talking generally about stuff I like or don't like but I really don't have time to sit and worry about what other people might get upset about. It takes me long enough to write book reviews as it is!chucklesthescothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09423562114343636659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-27638144221388554192019-09-29T05:16:20.718-04:002019-09-29T05:16:20.718-04:00I feel like you, that I am not qualified to identi...I feel like you, that I am not qualified to identify any and all things that may be triggering. There are always the obvious, but I think those will be out there, but there are things I have seen mentioned, that I never thought of, which is why I would prefer someone ask me about specific content. I do think, if you are going to include them, a hidden/spoiler type tag is the best way to do it, though, I sort of feel like it is the responsibility of the publisher to put them in every book, like in the title pages (which most people don't really look too hard at). Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-7348811734647934272019-09-28T20:16:46.610-04:002019-09-28T20:16:46.610-04:00Yeah I think it's so hard! Because like you sa...Yeah I think it's so hard! Because like you said, everyone's experiences are different, and different things can trigger different people. I DO think they're valid, I just don't always feel qualified putting them out myself? If I think that it's a pretty clear case of "oh crap some people will have trouble with XY or Z" in a book, I will say so (or even better, look to the author's social media/website because they'll often do their own, and I can just link) but for the most part, I don't. I have a REALLY hard time with death of children in books, but I don't really seek out whether a book has this. <br /><br />Also, I have put them under spoiler tags, too. That way if someone knows that certain things trigger them and they want to double check, they can, if others don't want to know, no harm done. Shannon @ It Starts at Midnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043593641190645773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-86170471481326229932019-09-28T17:10:06.242-04:002019-09-28T17:10:06.242-04:00Those are the ones that are generally considered t...Those are the ones that are generally considered things that people are sensitive to, but there are so many other things that can trigger people based on their sexual identity, race, religion, etc. I think it's so complex, and that's why I welcome anyone to ask me if there are specific things in the book, that could trigger them. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-19772752488790752382019-09-28T17:08:30.288-04:002019-09-28T17:08:30.288-04:00I just saw a review for Ninth House - that sounds ...I just saw a review for Ninth House - that sounds intense, but those are also pretty typical things that people consider triggers, whereas, I have seen some that have surprised me, and that's what worries me more. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-40722673438880335962019-09-28T17:01:52.565-04:002019-09-28T17:01:52.565-04:00I would hate to omit something. There are things t...I would hate to omit something. There are things that I would call the "movie" warnings - violence, sex, profanity, but people can have so many triggers that fall outside of the norms. I am more comfortable having someone ask me if the book contained something specific, you know?Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-3971579403921622712019-09-28T16:20:02.413-04:002019-09-28T16:20:02.413-04:00Well Sam I think trigger warnings are essential! W...Well Sam I think trigger warnings are essential! We don't all have the same life experience as you pointed out and some people could really be hurt/shocked or maybe relapse reading some triggering topics! If the synopsis does not mention triggers but I find major ones in the book (like drug abuse, rape ...) to hell with spoilers I will hint at said triggers, without giving specifics LOLBeware Of The Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146867538038694877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-42466153856330398542019-09-28T13:43:50.017-04:002019-09-28T13:43:50.017-04:00I don't really get triggered easily so I almos...I don't really get triggered easily so I almost never need trigger warnings. Because of this, while I never mind seeing them, I never go out of my way to both look for them or post them myself. However, recently, I think it was with Ninth House where I saw this topic really come under scrutiny, I found the trigger warnings that were put out there really helpful for me in deciding not to pick up the book because they included things that I never even thought could possibly be in any book. After this, I'm much more appreciative of trigger warnings and I'm trying to be much more aware of them and adding them to my own reviews. <br /><br />bookstune.blogspot.comBooksTunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03190072807277117734noreply@blogger.com