So a couple weeks ago, in between trips out to the middle of nowhere,
Dumbing of Age updated with a
very special comic.
Trigger warnings have only come up in one other comic,
Sister Claire, and usually it's pretty mundane stuff, typically blood. And not much blood mind you, nose bleed levels. I've considered talking about it, but when there's only one example, it would probably just come off as rather ranty, not that this one won't mind you, but still.
The thing is, Dumbing of Age doesn't usually do things like this, and in fact it's the first time a warning like this was outright posted. So why?
After all, this is a comic that has featured as a storyline, attempted date rape, severe beatings, stabbings, and a man carrying a gun around a college campus. And these are just the ones I can think of off hand. A single panel that implies attempted (and a later strip just about confirms that it was successful) suicide isn't that much stronger of an issue really.
And yet, here's the trigger warning, that almost seems, um, reluctant. Like he didn't really want to post a warning, but did because of other factors. My thought is that he got a lot of complaints from the gun toting dad storyline, that the readers weren't warned that he might actually fire off a gun or something, and decided that rather than have them complain, again, he'd slap the warning on. I could be wrong on that, but it seems to fit the fact that he basically tells those who don't want or need trigger warnings to just skip to the comic and actually read it.
It appears that this did start up some sort of conflict down in the comments as they were disabled at some point (I don't have the time or energy to read through to find out why), so he's got a good read on his various readers, so that's good, I suppose. And his own commentary on the comic featured something about the National Suicide Hotline, so positive stuff there.
That said, I really don't think trigger warnings are necessary, and that those who claim to "need" them are mostly people who want attention in some way. People who actually suffer from various disorders that can be grouped under Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder typically won't get "triggered" from the sight of blood, or implied suicide. They'll be set off by a sound, a smell, or, like Becky, simply looking into a room. Of course, I'm not a therapist, and I don't do much actual research, but that seems far more likely than something as silly as a drawing implying there might be a suicide, maybe (she might have just dropped the pill bottle, it happens).
I get why he put it up, though. His comics are very popular, and tap into a wide variety of readers, including those convinced that even saying the word "rape" will set them off. Cover the bases so the money comes in, David, like everyone else, likes to eat. Me, I don't find any reason for it, and while this might have a better reason than the random nose bleeds in Sister Claire, I find them unnecessary, and possibly a little dangerous.
It's almost a form of self censorship, being careful not to "offend" someone when, honestly, this comic is about hitting that offend button, constantly, and frequently. While I suppose more of these will show up in Dumbing of Age, I hope they are few and far between, just to keep the story rolling.
And for those who believe they are easily "triggered," go see a therapist, a real one, not some guy on Tumbler or with a Youtube account. Odds are good, you probably don't really need these warnings.
Next time, um, I think I may have to make some changes around here. I'll talk about it then. Later kiddies.
