Protests and Trigger Warnings

The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

In their signature unvarnished style, your co-hosts, Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow aren't afraid to push boundaries, and explore taboo subjects often left undiscussed. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, as these two plumb the depths of protests and trigger warnings, from refreshingly candid angles.

First up, Stuart and William dive into the nature of protests, which was prompted by the following question from listener Imelda in Pichincha, Ecuador - “Does effective protest have to be disruptive and noisy?”

Stuart ponders if art can be a form of protest, while William wonders aloud what even constitutes a true "protest". From silent sit-ins to raucous street marches, they explore the many faces of activist expression.

Next it's on to the prickly topic of trigger warnings, where your co-hosts are triggered into the conversation by the following listener question, which came from Layla in Bahrain - “Are trigger warnings really needed? I know they are good for strobe lights etc that can have physical impacts, but let's focus on things like Shakespere plays, where we half expect to see scenes of violence. It can have more impact if we’re not fully expecting it. Should TW’s be on podcasts like yours, because I worry about the potential learning by the listener being exposed to such material, is watered down because we might be pussy footing around people's feelings too much? It's vital we get the balance around this right, but where is that balance, and who dictates where that is? Balance means different things in different countries too”.

Stuart argues some trigger warnings are necessary (like seizure warnings), but that we risk being overly cautious. William raises the example of film ratings providing upfront content advisories. But is there value in experiencing art's shocks and surprises organically and unexpectedly? The pair debate whether ubiquitous trigger warnings diminish their purpose and cause us to live lives of avoidance, or if they are simply a necessity in our hyper-connected age.

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