Trigger Warnings and I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream

[Uratoh]

So I think I'm going to LP this game next, since it's in my wheelhouse and I've never completed it myself, though I do know what it contains. Obviously I should note it's very, very dark at the start, but one specific scene makes me wonder if the video containing it should have a special disclaimer regarding the...'elevator scene'. I generally laugh at and even mock a lot of the easily offended types, but I'm not ignorant of the realities of things like this. I'm wondering the best way to 'warn' about it/etc, if it needs it.

 

[Dandark]

What is the elevator scene and why is it so bad that it would need a separate warning aside from "This game is very dark and has disturbing themes/imagery"?

 

[Uratoh]

ah. for those not familiar, the 'elevator scene'...

contains the game's female character being forced to remember the details of a rape that broke her mentally, and confront it.

 

[Uratoh]

ah. for those not familiar, the 'elevator scene'...

contains the game's female character being forced to remember the details of a rape that broke her mentally, and confront it.

Yeah, because we need trigger warnings for rape but not for all the other acts of violent shit that is shown, portrayed and played out in games?

Fuck the oversensitive people and fuck the people who are perfectly fine with disturbingly violent acts but rape is a big no no.

My concern isn't with the act itself so much as how built up it is. it's a payoff, as it were, to her entire chapter, culminating with the game slowly recounting the events of her life where she took every curveball it threw at her until that one night. Everyone's got their dark secret in the game, and there are tons of atrocities (especially in Nimdok's chapter, being a nazi doctor), but hers is, intentionally so, exceptionally personal. I tend to be jaded and it makes me a tad uncomfortable.

 

[ItouKaiji]

I don't think that particular chapter needs to be called out specifically. Just give a friendly warning at the start of each video that the series contains graphic content and mature themes.I think people can be overly sensitive, but a friendly warning never hurt anyone and since I could see people being just as offended by a

Spoiler

Nazi doctor as a disturbing depiction of how an act of sexual violence could ruin someone's life.

 

[Tilly]

Just use the good old fashioned warning at the beginning that it's a rough experience. You don't need to buy into pseudo-scientific silliness in order to properly prepare your audience.

 

[MysticSlayer]

I think you should just as a courtesy. Is it really that hard to put a short disclaimer at the beginning of each video that it will contain disturbing content, perhaps an extra message in videos where the content may hit a little too close to home for some people? I mean, yeah, if you just want to stick it to "dem evil feminists", then go ahead, don't put the disclaimer; but I'm not sure that the effort necessary to recognize the potential part of your audience that has had a similar traumatic experience is so great that you really need to debate this.

 

[Uratoh]

I don't think that particular chapter needs to be called out specifically. Just give a friendly warning at the start of each video that the series contains graphic content and mature themes.

True, I've been thinking of making opener/ender bits anyway. Probably be good practice.

 

[giles]

So I think I'm going to LP this game next, since it's in my wheelhouse and I've never completed it myself, though I do know what it contains. Obviously I should note it's very, very dark at the start, but one specific scene makes me wonder if the video containing it should have a special disclaimer regarding the...'elevator scene'. I generally laugh at and even mock a lot of the easily offended types, but I'm not ignorant of the realities of things like this. I'm wondering the best way to 'warn' about it/etc, if it needs it.

The story is about how a computer hatefully tortures a group of people for 109 years. It features horrors of all kinds, including mutilation of mind and body, forcefully changing someone's sexuality, a Nazi "doctor", rape, turning people into helpless slobs of flesh and pain (kinda where the title comes from) etc. etc.
Singling out the rape scenario is bloody ridiculous.

 

[Silvanus]

If I were you, I'd go with "Disturbing content/imagery".

I'd also be quite interested in watching this LP, because I've read the short story (of I Have No Mouth) but not seen the game.

 

[Uratoh]

If I were you, I'd go with "Disturbing content/imagery".

I'd also be quite interested in watching this LP, because I've read the short story (of I Have No Mouth) but not seen the game.

It's sort of an alternate 'what if' to the story. it references some elements of it, such as the cans of food on the ice, but since the game is occuring at all, the story clearly didn't end the same way. The game designers worked closely with Ellison (he even voices AM in the game) and had to wrangle with his vision of the story vs the idea of a game being 'winable'.

I may as well just leave this here since you're interested:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Uratoh42

I'll be starting to upload videos from it Monday. I think I'm going with the short intro-warning image idea.

 

[Lucane]

I'd suggest a content warning in the first few episodes of the major stuff like you said the "Elevator Action" scene and, Murder, Torture, Traumatic events and the Doctor's Scenario's Location and Employer. I don't know your general audience but I'd think people would be more upset to be shocked by those things rather than possibly have a traumatic relapse if they've been in a similar incident.

You wouldn't have to outright say what they are in each episode just say like "Okay here comes the X part." and watch this earlier part either for what's about to happen or might happen if you wanna list the bad parts in that will happen later on before the series getting going.

 

[bliebblob]

There was a good series of articles on trauma, PTSD and triggers on this very website not too long ago. If you haven't read it, that's a perfect start because it adressing directly the sense and nonsense of trigger warnings when concerning video games. After that you should be reasonably equipped to make an informed call yourself.

 

[ExDeath730]

Like a lot of people already said, put the Mature themes and disturbing imagery bit at the start of every video. Not only because it covers a lot, but because of it. This scene seems pretty relevant to the history, and i don't think it would be good to spoil it with a trigger warning. Just let the viewers experience the game as it should.

 

[Phasmal]

I don't see a problem with putting a simple warning on your LP's.

If you don't need a warning, congratulations, but some people would like one- and it isn't hurting anyone to put a short, simple warning about what the videos contain.

I don't understand the crowd that takes offence at those trying to be considerate to others.

 

[Fox12]

snip

Inconsequential. I know multiple male and female rape victims as well, and numerous victims of PTSD. If you've suffered through that, then I'm sorry, but you do not have the right to tell other people what they can and can't be offended by. No one said murder isn't bad. No ones crying for censorship. Someone asked if they should add a warning tag as a warning for people who may be personally affected by that type of scene, and you have the nerve to tell people to go fuck themselves. I'll ware that warning as a badge of honor, because I stand by every word I said.

 

[Fappy]

Maybe if they changed the term "Trigger Warning" into "PTSD Warning" people would have less of a hissy fit over something that ultimately doesn't affect them in the least. If you think the scene is disturbing enough to potentially harm rape survivors who may see it then go ahead and slap a warning on there. Really, it's no different than putting a seizure warning on something.

 

[Parasondox]

Look who's making assumptions. I've dated girls who have been sexually assault or raped. Even one of my male friends was raped by another guy after having a fair bit to drink and possibly being drugged. They don't crawl into a little ball at a video games depiction of it.

Not to mention myself. I was in the Military and developed PTSD because of it. I didn't break down during games like Spec Ops, nor do I get offended at games like Call Of Duty trying to portray war and loss and doing a very laughable job of it. If fucking videogames of all things are what "triggers" you, you sure as shit shouldn't be playing them in the first place.

It's a pretty sad mindset one must have to cherry pick which traumas people should have trigger warnings for, but have no issue with any of the others that are portrayed far more than rape.

As much YOU went through a lot and handled it the way you did, you need to understand that not everyone reacts the same way to very serious events and moments in their lives.

Have some consideration and respect for others. Is that to hard to ask without being an ass about it?

 

[chadachada123]

Citing what content specifically is included, I feel, does a disservice to the work. As an example, telling someone that there's, say, a scene involving animal abuse makes the reader, subconsciously or consciously, look out for it, lessening the impact when the scene finally appears. When the scene finally hits, part of their mind is going to say, "oh, so that's what the warning was for."

You should just stick with a simple "Shit gets pretty fucked up, yo", warning. (Or, "Something something disturbing imagery and themes").

 

[DEAD34345]

ah. for those not familiar, the 'elevator scene'...

contains the game's female character being forced to remember the details of a rape that broke her mentally, and confront it.

Yeah, because we need trigger warnings for rape but not for all the other acts of violent shit that is shown, portrayed and played out in games?

Fuck the oversensitive people and fuck the people who are perfectly fine with disturbingly violent acts but rape is a big no no.

Eh, I kind of agree with you that it's silly that the focus is always so much on rape, but these are just warnings, so why not? If the "oversensitive people" were demanding that the game be changed or something I would be right there with you in pointing out the ridiculousness and telling them to fuck off, but with trigger warnings everybody wins. People who are fine with the potentially objectionable content still receive it, and people who aren't fine with that don't have to. I say slap trigger warnings on anything and everything, and then maybe we can all play whatever games we want without having to make them safe enough for everyone or receiving a ton of bitching and moaning.

OT: Why not add trigger warnings for all the "offensive" content people may not want to see? Rape is the obvious one, but anything involving a nazi scientist probably needs a lot of trigger warnings too.

Edit: Or if you'd rather not spoil things, a general warning as suggested by chadachada123 would work well too. Something like:

"This stuff is fucked up, don't watch if you are sensitive to anything or have any triggers.

...

Don't say I didn't warn you."

If anyone watches after that and has a bad time it's their own damn fault.