[Northern Monkey]

Should universities be a 'safe space' where people are sheltered from anything that may hurt their feelings?

Youtube video

[user104658]

["The Answer Might Surprise You!"]

I agree with the psychologist's middle ground stance. Include the warning in the prospectus material for the course along with an outline of topics that will be covered, to allow people to decide whether or not they are in the mindset to be able to take on the course in the first place, and then there should be no reason to micromanage it at a later date for every individual class or lecture. The warnings about the subjects that are likely to be covered are clear from the outset. A good compromise, surely.

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

["The Answer Might Surprise You!"]

I agree with the psychologist's middle ground stance. Include the warning in the prospectus material for the course along with an outline of topics that will be covered, to allow people to decide whether or not they are in the mindset to be able to take on the course in the first place, and then there should be no reason to micromanage it at a later date for every individual class or lecture. The warnings about the subjects that are likely to be covered are clear from the outset. A good compromise, surely.

This is what i think.If somebody is studying law they have a good chance when they get a job of coming into many conflict situations and maybe quite disturbing cases depending on what field they go into.They need to learn about how to handle these cases and situations and be prepared.
If they can't even deal with class then maybe that is the wrong career path for them.
They won't get a trigger warning when they're defending a vicious murderer in court.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

This is what i think.If somebody is studying law they have a good chance when they get a job of coming into many conflict situations and maybe quite disturbing cases depending on what field they go into.They need to learn about how to handle these cases and situations and be prepared.
If they can't even deal with class then maybe that is the wrong career path for them.
They won't get a trigger warning when they're defending a vicious murderer in court.

Well I also am thinking of what my wife is currently doing in Mental Health. Obviously, learning about depression / anxiety disorders etc. And of course dealing with people who are currently suffering from them, could be a trigger issue for some. But you wouldn't take on the course anyway and say "I want to avoid those issues"... ... You would know that it's just not a course that you can realistically study.

Likewise, I studied psychology and in the "abnormal psychology" sections there are a LOT of case studies of childhood abuse and neglect, as it's one of the main causes of abnormal psychology in later life. It's understandable that someone who has themselves been abused might not be able to handle those lectures but again... It's an important part of the subject... It's going to come up.

Similar for sexual assault / assault in general / abuse cases if you're going to study Law... It should be pretty obvious what's involved.

I definitely don't believe that anyone who has trigger issues is weak or "just shouldn't have them", for many people they are genuine and very real, like the examples above, they can come from very dark experiences. But I do think that having trigger warnings for individual lectures is not only impractical... It's just not feasible. If it's part of what you're learning about, you can't just say "I'm skipping this bit" and have it removed from your assessments too...

But ALL of that said, looking at a few University prospectuses, it's not often made clear what the content of a course will be beyond a very vague couple of paragraphs, and I think it would be fair enough to suggest the Universities should give more information about the content of courses, before an offer of a place is accepted. Especially considering that University IS a paid-for service, and a very expensive one at that.

Could be as simple as an email sent along with the offer of acceptance outlining any potential issues and suggesting that the applicant consider it carefully before commencing study. Would cover everyone then from the outset, no need for conflicts later .

Even TV shows these days do something similar at the start of a show, so that you can simply not watch it if you think it'll be an issue. They don't pause the show half way through and say "Warning! Upsetting part is about to happen!"

[Kizzy]

You do realise there are 3 threads on this exact same topic now?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

You do realise there are 3 threads on this exact same topic now?

Three Threads on the Same Topic - You Won't Believe The Ways In Which They are Different!

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

You do realise there are 3 threads on this exact same topic now?

I would Tell Admin.

[Crimson Dynamo]

that wee lassie needs to get a job, get a mortgage, work in an office and then come back


she should be studying not flapping her lips about pretending she is a grown up

[RichardG]

is this an exclusively american thing? i'm studying history at university and i haven't encountered one person who wants trigger warnings or safe spaces (thankfully).

[user104658]

Originally Posted by RichardG

is this an exclusively american thing? i'm studying history at university and i haven't encountered one person who wants trigger warnings or safe spaces (thankfully).

No one cares about poxy British news.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by RichardG

is this an exclusively american thing? i'm studying history at university and i haven't encountered one person who wants trigger warnings or safe spaces (thankfully).

It's totally barmy!

[Livia]

I wonder wheat kind of job these people are studying for? It's going to be a great big bloody shock when they discover life's hard when you finally leave school.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

I wonder wheat kind of job these people are studying for? It's going to be a great big bloody shock when they discover life's hard when you finally leave school.

Well she is a law student so she's studying for a pretty cushy / easy job to be fair.

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Livia

I wonder wheat kind of job these people are studying for? It's going to be a great big bloody shock when they discover life's hard when you finally leave school.

Yeah i don't think all this pandering to peoples fragilities is helpful at all.They need to be exposed to what real life is about and be prepared.

[Withano]

Is there a version without that narrator bloke?

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Withano

Is there a version without that narrator bloke?

Just try and ignore him.

[Kizzy]

She's very articulate and for a such a young age and can more than hold her own in the debate, the professor who simply suggests that anyone born post 1980 has a different mindset is in effect infantalising anyone younger than 37 :/

[Kizzy]

Demand specifics don't just accept slogans...... Now back to 'problem glasses' ( the sjw)

[Niamh.]

I listened to a tiny bit of it, trigger warnings for what? fgs

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I listened to a tiny bit of it, trigger warnings for what? fgs

Anything that may upset one of the many victimised oppressed minorities that seem to be so prevalent in US universities at the moment.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Anything that may upset one of the many victimised oppressed minorities that seem to be so prevalent in US universities at the moment.

Sounds a bit like babying to me, if a lecturer says something that someone finds that offensive would they not have rather heard it so they could report it or something?

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Sounds a bit like babying to me, if a lecturer says something that someone finds that offensive would they not have rather heard it so they could report it or something?

It's more to do with lesson material that may upset people rather than lecturers actually deliberately offending people i think.

When people are at uni age they are young adults.They should be treated as such imo.Treating them like kids is not gonna prepare them for the future.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

It's more to do with lesson material that may upset people rather than lecturers actually deliberately offending people i think.

When people are at uni age they are young adults.They should be treated as such imo.Treating them like kids is not gonna prepare them for the future.

I agree with that. If you're going to do a college course surely you have to be able to cover all the lesson material otherwise maybe that field of study is not for you?

[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Sounds a bit like babying to me, if a lecturer says something that someone finds that offensive would they not have rather heard it so they could report it or something?

Yes. Or do the mature thing and confront him/her at the time.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

Yes. Or do the mature thing and confront him/her at the time.

Yeah exactly