Post by mercy on May 28, 2012 12:42:03 GMT -8
Identifying and Protecting Members
From The Use of Hate Speech and Triggers
Trigger Warning! This page can cause PTSD.
This is a guide explaining what Triggers are, and therefore it gives examples of a wide range of Triggers.
The issues concerning hate speech and triggers are extremely important, and here at All That Wander we want to create an inclusive community where everyone is safe and free from discrimination. What does this mean for you? It means that we ask that you do not use Hate Speech on this forum, and that you warn members about Triggers in posts.
Trigger Warnings
What qualifies as a Trigger?
A Trigger can be anything--a word, a picture, a scene, a video that will cause someone to have a traumatic flashback to a harmful event in a person's past. This is sometimes called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD). Although we cannot quantify everything that is a Trigger, we ask that you use your common sense, and furthermore if you are ever uncertain, please do not hesitate to ask a staff member. We will never ask for you to not post what you are about to post, but we will ask you to warn members in the subject of posts containing triggers (and sometimes in the post body). In addition to warnings in the subject and body, you can hide the section of the post that contains the trigger under a spoiler. You do not have to do the spoiler, but you can if you wish.
But, here's a list of some general and most commonly seen triggers.
A lot of this deals with common sense, and because of this every Trigger is not always quantifiable. A helpful way to look at this is that a trigger can function like an allergy. We label the foods we eat, that way if something contains peanuts a person who is allergic to peanuts will not eat that food. No one is asking you not to make that food, rather to warn people of what is inside. Ultimately the goal of this forum is to make this a safe place for everyone to exist. Labeling your posts with Trigger Warnings makes it a safe place for everyone.
What are the effects of being Triggered?
What affects the trigger has varies for each person. It can cause stress, anxiety, blackouts, flashbacks, seizures, headaches, relapses, self harm, and even thoughts of suicide. Everyone responds to their triggers differently, but all responses are valid, and their need for a trigger must be respected.
How do I label my post with a Trigger Warning?
If you are making a new thread (not a Roleplay thread, see later for specific Roleplay rules) and this thread will cause possible PTSD, then in the title of the thread include "Trigger Warning: ______." If the trigger is in just one post inside a thread, make the subject of the thread (where the RE: Thread Title automatically generates) into the "Trigger Warning: _______" and mention it at the very beginning of the post as well. After the colon please include what kind of Trigger your post will contain.
However! Do be aware that words such as rape, suicide, cutting, ect. can cause PTSD. So, to prevent this in your Trigger Warning please use a general descriptive, such as Health Body Image Discussion, Trigger Warning: Eating Disorders.
Unfortunately something as small as using the word anorexia can be a Trigger, in rare cases, so we want to prevent this at all costs. This is why we ask that you use a broad term such as eating disorders, or self-harm.
In roleplay threads, because there is so much in the title already, you don't place the trigger warning in the thread title. Instead, in the body of the first post of the roleplay thread, you need to write a warning about your roleplay if you foresee it having future triggers (or if down the road your roleplay has triggers, you need to modify this first post) list those triggers. In the individual roleplay posts that actually contain the triggers, change the subject of these posts with the trigger warnings and mention it in the beginning of the body of these posts.
In addition to the warnings, you can hide a post containing a trigger with a spoiler. You do not have to do this, but you can. How do you use a spoiler? Simply highlight the triggering part of your post and then click the spoiler button above the smiley faces. Above your spoiler place a Trigger Warning, such as: Trigger Warning: This post of my blog talks about my friend's struggle with an eating disorder.
What if I'm not sure if what I'm about to post needs a Trigger Warning?
Then, please, please, please, contact a staff member! We are more than happy to help you out, and promise that you will not be penalized in any way for asking for help.
Oh no, it looks like my post caused someone to have a flashback! What now?
Firstly, alter your thread title or post subject, so that it includes a Trigger Warning! That is step number one. We're assuming that by this point you have already apologized to the person whom it caused to trigger, because you are obviously following the first right of a Wanderer, to give that person respect. This is a learning process, and we understand that mistakes do happen. However, if it becomes a matter of no longer making mistakes, but rather of disregarding Trigger Warnings than this will result in disciplinary action.
I was reading a thread, and it caused me to have a flashback. This is really upsetting, for obvious reasons, what can I do about this?
The first step here is to either contact the person who made the thread/post or a staff member (or both) and notify them of this. The problem will be taken care of immediately. We want to create a safe environment for everyone.
Hate Speech
What is Hate Speech?
In understanding Hate Speech it can help not to look at it as "hateful speech" but rather as "oppressive speech." This means that saying things like "I hate the color blue" does not qualify as hate speech. You hating blue is your opinion and you are entitled to it, no matter what. Hate speech is a certain kind of speech, or group of words, used to further oppress minority groups. This means that anything used to oppress groups such as, but not limited to, gay/trans/bisexual/lesbian/a woman/a person of color/asexual/queergendered/queersexual/ect. will not be accepted. Examples of this include, but not limited to: faggot, tranny, slut, cunt, whore, bitch, and racial slurs.
Why is Hate Speech not acceptable here?
Hate Speech is not acceptable, because when we give you the right of respect, that means that this right needs to apply across the board for everyone. Hate Speech only serves as a purpose to further oppress minorities such as gay/trans/bisexual/lesbian/a woman/a person of color/asexual/queergendered/queersexual/ect. What using words like gay, tranny, cunt, whore, slut, ect. instead of "bad" does do is it does censor people, and minorities in particulay, because it revokes the minorities of having any sort of comeback. This is because there is no derogatory language (or almost none) aim just towards "normal" people. For example, to describe something as straight, but in terms of meaning "that's messed up" no one would understand what that means, because no one perceives being straight as messed up in our society. The bottom line is that Hate Speech is not acceptable because it systematically oppresses and marginalizes people, and gives others privilege.
What does this ban on Hate Speech try to accomplish?
There is a reason that we have this rule, and it is not just to protect and respect everyone on this forum, but it is to stop the system of marginalization and privilege. Further more, we are trying to stop the idea that it is okay to criticize a person for being inherently one way that goes outside the normality of society. This kind of attitude will not fly here.
Oh no, it looks like my post uses Hate Speech! What now?
Firstly, modify your post to remove said Hate Speech! That is step number one. We're assuming that by this point you have already apologized to the person(s) whom you used derogatory language against, because you are obviously following the first right of a Wanderer, to give that person respect. This is a learning process, and we understand that mistakes do happen. However, if it becomes a matter of no longer making mistakes, but rather of disregarding our policy on Hate Speech than this will result in disciplinary action.
I was reading a thread, and there is Hate Speech in it. This is really upsetting, for obvious reasons, what can I do about this?
Contact a staff member, so that we can remove the language and speak to the poster about this.
If you have any questions pertaining to this subject, please post them here or ask a staff member.
Thanks to Rachel & Reilly for putting this together.
