This is my thinking as well. If Episode made, say, a warning image saying “This story depicts substance abuse,” writers might think that since there’s an official screen for that and not one for “This story depicts abduction and hostage situations,” that the the first example justifies a warning while the second doesn’t. I think the general nature of this image does not highlight certain triggers as more severe than others, but puts the onus on the writer to know their own story and warn accordingly.
And it’s definitely better than “mature content and language” or whatever the older one was. Mature people comfortable with “mature” content and language may still have deep-rooted traumas that can be triggered. People who have triggers aren’t “immature.”
All that said, Episode really needs to encourage writers to give serious thought to trigger warnings, and I think Tyler’s post on the topic and the subsequent thread is something they should encourage authors to read. And they REALLY should take it into consideration for their own stories as well as the ones they put on permanent shelves and even monthly shelves (I.e. suggesting warnings as part of their review process). People shouldn’t have to report sexual assault in stories being featured in order to have warnings added.
The problem is that things that may trigger some people may not trigger others. Some people are triggered by violence. Others by self harm. Others by strong language. Or discrimination. Need to be a little more specific.
@Melani3 You guys should consider having multiple ones. The ones before as well as now are simply too vague and so does not do it’s intended job well. At all.
Would I need a trigger warning for murder?? I’m not showing anything and my story is a murder mystery but as it contains the concept of murder would I need to put a trigger warning?
