“Trigger warnings” have been on my mind lately. Posted caveats about loud noises, bad language and adult content, which have long been a part of our entertainment world, have crept into universities and the arts, spreading to include those with sensitivities of all sorts. They range from legitimate concerns about flashbacks for war survivors to the coddling of those who apparently grew up without hearing the rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”
My thoughts on this have mostly been about balance. I think it’s probably good for a stage production to warn theater-goers about strobe lights that might bring on a seizure in some, but probably going too far to post a warning about violence in “Macbeth.” Trigger warnings make a good start of discussion among those interested in the arts.
My weird mind, however, doesn’t always stay on subject. What if there were trigger warnings for vacations? Hmm. For North Caicos, they might look like this.
WARNING to those who get seasick: You’ll need to take the ferry to get to North.
WARNING to those who need constant distraction and entertainment: You make your own fun here, without zip lines, parasailing, arcades or casinos.
WARNING to those who were unreasonably traumatized by “Jaws”: Yes, there are sharks. It’s the ocean, dummy!
WARNING to device addicts: Sometimes the Internet just doesn’t work. Live with it.
WARNING to those who fear solitude: You’re going to have to raise your own crowd for our beaches, where seeing four people qualifies one as being packed.
WARNING to germaphobes: Natural beaches have seaweed, decaying dead things and stuff that you just won’t want to touch. Don’t bring the year-old who puts everything in his mouth.
WARNING to shopaholics: You’ll find very little to buy. Seriously. Finding a T-shirt might be a challenge.
WARNING to cheapskates: There will be sticker shock. If it’s going to ruin your vacation, reconsider your destination.
WARNING to picky eaters: What’s available is what’s available. You’re not going to find a McDonald’s or, on the other end, a kale-quinoa salad.
WARNING to those who insist on being the center of attention: Where do you think you are, Disney World? The people of North Caicos do not get paid for sussing out and fulfilling your every whim. Get over it.
All right, N.C. peeps. Did I forget anything? Feel free to chime in.
My thoughts on this have mostly been about balance. I think it’s probably good for a stage production to warn theater-goers about strobe lights that might bring on a seizure in some, but probably going too far to post a warning about violence in “Macbeth.” Trigger warnings make a good start of discussion among those interested in the arts.
My weird mind, however, doesn’t always stay on subject. What if there were trigger warnings for vacations? Hmm. For North Caicos, they might look like this.
WARNING to those who get seasick: You’ll need to take the ferry to get to North.
WARNING to those who need constant distraction and entertainment: You make your own fun here, without zip lines, parasailing, arcades or casinos.
WARNING to those who were unreasonably traumatized by “Jaws”: Yes, there are sharks. It’s the ocean, dummy!
WARNING to device addicts: Sometimes the Internet just doesn’t work. Live with it.
WARNING to those who fear solitude: You’re going to have to raise your own crowd for our beaches, where seeing four people qualifies one as being packed.
WARNING to germaphobes: Natural beaches have seaweed, decaying dead things and stuff that you just won’t want to touch. Don’t bring the year-old who puts everything in his mouth.
WARNING to shopaholics: You’ll find very little to buy. Seriously. Finding a T-shirt might be a challenge.
WARNING to cheapskates: There will be sticker shock. If it’s going to ruin your vacation, reconsider your destination.
WARNING to picky eaters: What’s available is what’s available. You’re not going to find a McDonald’s or, on the other end, a kale-quinoa salad.
WARNING to those who insist on being the center of attention: Where do you think you are, Disney World? The people of North Caicos do not get paid for sussing out and fulfilling your every whim. Get over it.
All right, N.C. peeps. Did I forget anything? Feel free to chime in.
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