[Safe Spaces?] Trigger Warnings? I hate to sound like a grumpy middle-age guy who’s about to tell everyone ‘it used to be better when…’
… but to me those making an uproar over the “Trigger Warning” [and especially the Safe Spaces] concept, have created yet another series of data points which suggest the following theory of mine might be correct: we as a nation are way, waaaay too thin-skinned, and way too eager to have our institutions and media outlets shelter us at every turn from anything that might be the least bit uncomfortable, socially offensive, or socially challenging.
That is to say, The University of Chicago made the right choice [in not promoting Safe Spaces as a way of protecting students from offensive logic or debate. Trigger Warnings, depending on how they are used or how often, can also be a problem.] Among all the places where we should face down bad ideas, faulty logic, and yes, sometimes offensive rhetoric, the collegiate institution tops them all. If we can’t teach our young people to have strong minds and debate their way to the top with better logic and stronger character than those who might put forth socially backward or controversial ideals, where can we teach them this? Do we no longer care about colleges and universities building the character of young men and women as well as putting book-facts in their heads? Study the books and party, and that’s good enough?
More generally, when did it it become a strength to never tolerate anything we don’t want to hear or see, to shirk away and cry foul at the slightest hint that something uncomfortable or offensive might be coming to our eyes or ears? When did we as a nation decide that strength lies not in dealing with offensive things directly and like adults, but in requiring protection from offensive things?
And when did we forget we’re a melting pot of 300+ million people, from every corner of the world, with every kind of motive and desire, and all attending the same schools? Why would anyone who can use a bit of deductive reasoning (when evaluating what college will be like), expect anything other than “this is going to be a challenge — I’m going to have to deal with some real bastards who don’t think right, and I’m going to have to show them (or at least everyone else in class) that my ideas are better,” or something analogous?
A few more words for the younger audience:
Constantly shirking and running from things that will offend you, is a sure-fire way to guarantee you won’t grow up as much as you should in college, won’t learn as much as you should in college, and won’t build as much confidence in yourself (for after college).
Take if from someone who (for different reasons) has spent too many days in his life avoiding certain challenges: don’t run and don’t hide behind the university hoping they’ll shelter you! Stand the F up and speak up! Use your brains to best the people you deem offensive. That’s part of what college is supposed to be.
Disclaimer: none of this is to say that the most egregious social sins should be tolerated (blatant racism, antisemitism, inciting violence, etc.). None of that stuff belongs on any campus, and all of it should be dealt with harshly, as it arises in the normal course of a school year.
But yeah, thicken up your skin, millennials. Being offended won’t kill you; if anything, dealing with it properly will make you stronger. I’m sorry to say, if you’re in the offensive-averse camp, your parents have done you at least one disservice. You need to right it on your own.
[After hearing more about this this morning (and reading the spot-on comment below) and thinking about how I did the lead-in for this post, I realized I should not have started with “Trigger Warnings,” but rather “Safe Spaces.” That’s the real core of the University of Chicago debate. My apologies for any confusion. Fixed.]
