I received a note on another site from a guy I’ve known online for a long time who wanted me to consider editing a story of mine. There’s a scene in MIMBO DROPS 2 where a police-officer subdues someone by kneeling on their neck – I’m sure this is true, but I don’t remember and haven’t read the story in ages.
Anyway, he wrote, given all that is currently going on in the USA regarding police brutality, perhaps I should edit that out of the story? He realizes that would be a logistical nightmare – even if I was interested in doing it – but it “triggers” him to the point where he can’t read the story anymore. Apparently, he can’t even read part 1 because he “knows part 2 is coming.”
Last year, I was posting another old story of mine, MILK MAN 2 (another sequel, too…) on the GSS and someone commented that the Alpha Male Bull that led his “herd” of milk-bearing bodybuilders in the story reminded them of the Real Life “noodlesnbeef” tragedy – more, I must be somehow connected to them in order to convey my characters so realistically.
This story, he complained, triggered him badly.
Forget that both stories were written nearly two decades ago and could therefore have no prescience on current events, they’re both works of fiction. As I wrote to the guy on MM2, I should hope no one lives their lives as these characters do, enslaved to a dom alpha male – but the point is they’re NOT real, therefore we can explore their reality and know we can close the book and be back in our own.
I feel the same way about the cop thing. Yeah, police brutality sucks! But how can I as an author write anything if I spend all my time worrying about what may or may not trigger people?
“Triggering” is not a new concept, it’s just got a word, now. There are things that “trigger” me – movie gore for one – so I avoid them. And if I come across them, I look away or pause or exit…
…or stop reading!
Looking for thoughts/ opinions?