Stupid trigger warnings - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

StackTime · 03-13-2024, 03:41 AM

I guess I need some perspective here. Or at least some input.

I've noticed that when watching UM (both Stack and Farina) on Amazon Prime, there are what amount to be trigger warnings if there's a gender dysphoria (potentially F64.x) matter.

Yet the murders, suicides, kidnappings, bombings, rapes, robberies, unexplained missing persons cases? Some with graphic details and even photos and/or re-enactments? Nothing aside from the little 90s TV rating (i.e. TV-MA) and a brief list of topics (i.e. smoking, violence, alcohol use). Not a full stop trigger warning about how it was wrong but being streamed as originally aired.

The murder of Ethel Kidd does not get a special trigger warning but the fraud of Jerry Dean Michael does??? Doesn't the former seem more deserving of such a warning than the latter? I'd prefer no such warnings but come on. This is ridiculous.

ThisLittlePiggy · 03-13-2024, 09:48 AM

I choose to watch something, it's on me if I'm "triggered" not on them. I usually roll my eyes at those warnings. Sometimes if I don't know what a movie is about I might try to read a few reviews and sometimes I'm alerted to something I know I don't want to see so I skip it. But again, that's on me. I take the responsibility. Anything could in theory "trigger" a person so they can't put the warning on everything.

Killarney Rose · 03-13-2024, 09:59 AM

Eye rolling here.

Labonte18 · 03-13-2024, 10:35 AM

The one that makes me laugh is the "Smoking" one..

I mean, the flashing lights is.. Ok.. I know, epileptics, so, at least there's some logic there. But the ones that put up a warning about people smoking.

Now, apparently not only do people think you can get cancer from secondhand smoke, but you can get it secondhand through a TV screen..

Think about that one.. How overwhelmed with hate for something do you have to be to need to be warned that you'll see it on TV? That's not a warning for parents that their kids might see smoking, either.

ThisLittlePiggy · 03-13-2024, 10:51 AM

LOL, oh the horror. If it's triggering, just turn it off. It's not hard.

Jon · 03-13-2024, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StackTime

I guess I need some perspective here. Or at least some input.

I've noticed that when watching UM (both Stack and Farina) on Amazon Prime, there are what amount to be trigger warnings if there's a gender dysphoria (potentially F64.x) matter.

Yet the murders, suicides, kidnappings, bombings, rapes, robberies, unexplained missing persons cases? Some with graphic details and even photos and/or re-enactments? Nothing aside from the little 90s TV rating (i.e. TV-MA) and a brief list of topics (i.e. smoking, violence, alcohol use). Not a full stop trigger warning about how it was wrong but being streamed as originally aired.

The murder of Ethel Kidd does not get a special trigger warning but the fraud of Jerry Dean Michael does??? Doesn't the former seem more deserving of such a warning than the latter? I'd prefer no such warnings but come on. This is ridiculous.

Huh. I watch on YouTube, and the only warnings I see are the episodes that have self-harm (ex. Philip Taylor Kramer).

StackTime · 03-13-2024, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Huh. I watch on YouTube, and the only warnings I see are the episodes that have self-harm (ex. Philip Taylor Kramer).

Hmm, I see it when viewing via Amazon Prime. Usually using a dedicated streaming device but also web browsers. While maybe not technically a trigger warning, still, it seems oddly selective and political.

Re: Judith Hyams: "For a young woman to be pregnant and unmarried is nearly always a disturbing and unsettling prospect." No such message about that? Again, oddly selective and political. Just wish these were cut altogether.

[A good point in another reply about warnings for display elements that could cause an epileptic seizure. I'm on board with that.]

Labonte18 · 03-13-2024, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StackTime

Hmm, I see it when viewing via Amazon Prime. Usually using a dedicated streaming device but also web browsers. While maybe not technically a trigger warning, still, it seems oddly selective and political.

Re: Judith Hyams: "For a young woman to be pregnant and unmarried is nearly always a disturbing and unsettling prospect." No such message about that? Again, oddly selective and political. Just wish these were cut altogether.

[A good point in another reply about warnings for display elements that could cause an epileptic seizure. I'm on board with that.]

Half of us here probably need a trigger warning for when the "Magic Rock" episode is going to air.

All this being said.. Look.. Trigger warnings are better than the alternative.. Editing things out after the fact. Like when Spielberg edited ET to change guns to walkie talkies.

Killarney Rose · 03-13-2024, 02:09 PM

Shaking my head at what things are coming to.

Tankeryanker · 03-13-2024, 03:53 PM

Who decides what needs a trigger warning or what was wrong then or wrong now?

ThisLittlePiggy · 03-13-2024, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tankeryanker

Who decides what needs a trigger warning or what was wrong then or wrong now?

I'm more triggered by trigger warnings because they're basically useless.

Jon · 03-13-2024, 05:47 PM

I've seen almost this exact warning in front of certain classic Muppet Show episodes on Disney+ (usually for portraying racial stereotypes). It has the same "wrong then, wrong now" verbiage. That wording is a bit triggering in itself because as others have mentioned, I don't think warnings should have arbitrary opinions.

The content "may be offensive to some viewers, discretion advised" is one that's been around a long time (usually applies to "foul" language and violence). That I have less of an issue with, as it's factual - some viewers will indeed be offended, though I would hope that most of us have the capacity to put the content in the context of its own time period.

This kind of thing seems to be spreading like wildfire. They're now going to be putting warnings in front of 1960s James Bond films in the UK, and I'd think it will happen in America too. All the more reason we should not be so quick to abandon physical media. Not to sound hysterical, as at this point it is only a warning and the content is unedited, but I'd think any company who has the right to distribute streaming can certainly edit it how they see fit, especially under intense pressure from certain online advocacy groups who will label them as anti-this or anti-that if they won't relent to their demands.

StackTime · 03-13-2024, 07:13 PM

Phew, seems like it's not just me. Thanks for your replies, fellow fans. I just don't want the thread to start trending too politically because that's not what this forum is for. However, in this case, the way it's crept in to UM? I had to say something.

And I could use a trigger warning for Georgia Rudolph, myself. "Warning: The following segment is likely to directly contribute to cerebral atrophy. Viewer discretion is advised."

TheCars1986 · 03-14-2024, 07:33 AM

I watch on Amazon Prime and never get any of those stupid warnings. It's mostly hollow virtue signaling. UM went out of their way to be as inoffensive as possible and it was ahead of its time in ways that they presented certain segments (Debbie in North Carolina comes to mind).

wackerstack · 03-14-2024, 12:34 PM

I like to put Unsolved Mysteries on YouTube while I sleep, and all too often I wake up to find the screen has shut off because it was paused on the self-harm disclaimer that requires me to physically interact with it to confirm that I can handle suicide, which I can't do because I'm asleep.

Is there a way to permanently opt in through some setting? It just seems loony that I have to click through each time.

03-13-2024, 03:41 AM	#1
StackTime Here's the kicker Frank Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2008 Location: For heaven's sake don't buy these coins Posts: 248	Stupid trigger warnings I guess I need some perspective here. Or at least some input. I've noticed that when watching UM (both Stack and Farina) on Amazon Prime, there are what amount to be trigger warnings if there's a gender dysphoria (potentially F64.x) matter. Yet the murders, suicides, kidnappings, bombings, rapes, robberies, unexplained missing persons cases? Some with graphic details and even photos and/or re-enactments? Nothing aside from the little 90s TV rating (i.e. TV-MA) and a brief list of topics (i.e. smoking, violence, alcohol use). Not a full stop trigger warning about how it was wrong but being streamed as originally aired. The murder of Ethel Kidd does not get a special trigger warning but the fraud of Jerry Dean Michael does??? Doesn't the former seem more deserving of such a warning than the latter? I'd prefer no such warnings but come on. This is ridiculous.

03-13-2024, 09:48 AM	#2
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,673	I choose to watch something, it's on me if I'm "triggered" not on them. I usually roll my eyes at those warnings. Sometimes if I don't know what a movie is about I might try to read a few reviews and sometimes I'm alerted to something I know I don't want to see so I skip it. But again, that's on me. I take the responsibility. Anything could in theory "trigger" a person so they can't put the warning on everything.

03-13-2024, 09:59 AM	#3
Killarney Rose Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 24, 2010 Location: AL Posts: 656	Eye rolling here.

03-13-2024, 10:35 AM	#4
Labonte18 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 28, 2018 Posts: 900	The one that makes me laugh is the "Smoking" one.. I mean, the flashing lights is.. Ok.. I know, epileptics, so, at least there's some logic there. But the ones that put up a warning about people smoking. Now, apparently not only do people think you can get cancer from secondhand smoke, but you can get it secondhand through a TV screen.. Think about that one.. How overwhelmed with hate for something do you have to be to need to be warned that you'll see it on TV? That's not a warning for parents that their kids might see smoking, either.

03-13-2024, 10:51 AM	#5
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,673	LOL, oh the horror. If it's triggering, just turn it off. It's not hard.

03-13-2024, 02:09 PM	#9
Killarney Rose Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 24, 2010 Location: AL Posts: 656	Shaking my head at what things are coming to.

03-13-2024, 03:53 PM	#10
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,043	Who decides what needs a trigger warning or what was wrong then or wrong now?

03-13-2024, 05:47 PM	#12
Jon Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 22, 2011 Location: TX Posts: 926	I've seen almost this exact warning in front of certain classic Muppet Show episodes on Disney+ (usually for portraying racial stereotypes). It has the same "wrong then, wrong now" verbiage. That wording is a bit triggering in itself because as others have mentioned, I don't think warnings should have arbitrary opinions. The content "may be offensive to some viewers, discretion advised" is one that's been around a long time (usually applies to "foul" language and violence). That I have less of an issue with, as it's factual - some viewers will indeed be offended, though I would hope that most of us have the capacity to put the content in the context of its own time period. This kind of thing seems to be spreading like wildfire. They're now going to be putting warnings in front of 1960s James Bond films in the UK, and I'd think it will happen in America too. All the more reason we should not be so quick to abandon physical media. Not to sound hysterical, as at this point it is only a warning and the content is unedited, but I'd think any company who has the right to distribute streaming can certainly edit it how they see fit, especially under intense pressure from certain online advocacy groups who will label them as anti-this or anti-that if they won't relent to their demands.

03-13-2024, 07:13 PM	#13
StackTime Here's the kicker Frank Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2008 Location: For heaven's sake don't buy these coins Posts: 248	Phew, seems like it's not just me. Thanks for your replies, fellow fans. I just don't want the thread to start trending too politically because that's not what this forum is for. However, in this case, the way it's crept in to UM? I had to say something. And I could use a trigger warning for Georgia Rudolph, myself. "Warning: The following segment is likely to directly contribute to cerebral atrophy. Viewer discretion is advised."

03-14-2024, 07:33 AM	#14
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,605	I watch on Amazon Prime and never get any of those stupid warnings. It's mostly hollow virtue signaling. UM went out of their way to be as inoffensive as possible and it was ahead of its time in ways that they presented certain segments (Debbie in North Carolina comes to mind).

03-14-2024, 12:34 PM	#15
wackerstack Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 07, 2019 Posts: 31	I like to put Unsolved Mysteries on YouTube while I sleep, and all too often I wake up to find the screen has shut off because it was paused on the self-harm disclaimer that requires me to physically interact with it to confirm that I can handle suicide, which I can't do because I'm asleep. Is there a way to permanently opt in through some setting? It just seems loony that I have to click through each time.