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TWO MINUTE RANT
Why Trigger Warnings Trigger Me
Genuine care or legal disclaimer?
“The film was created by and with individuals who have struggled with eating disorders, and it includes realistic depictions that may be challenging for some viewers.” — To the Bone, Netflix
Challenging for some viewers?!
To be honest, this disclaimer was precisely the reason why I watched Netflix’s To the Bone. A movie about a 20-year-old anorexic who goes on a journey of self-discovery and then finds herself at a random group home run by Keanu Reeves. Sounds amazing, right?
The reason I watched that movie just days after it had been released was my own eating disorder — but not in a good way. I wanted to be triggered. I wanted to be challenged by what I was about to see. Some would call it Thinspiration. It’s a deeply disturbing term, but that was what I was after — some inspiration to remain fragile, thin, and very unhealthy. And the trigger warning fueled my determination to watch that movie.
Woooow. Unhealthy!
Trigger warnings have always been a wildly controversial issue, and I am not going to ruminate on all the pros and cons here.
Yes, it might be helpful for some. But no, not for me.
