Lately, our social media feeds have been flooded with commentary on political happenings and social issues. Amid rising political division and controversy, the use of trigger words seems to have exponentially increased. When one tweet spirals into a heated debate, words like “racist” are often fired into the conversation.

This is not to say that the use of trigger words is unwarranted. In fact, these words have survived generations as call-outs to genuinely derogatory comments, as issues such as racism and homophobia still exist in today’s society. However, our divisive political climate has made it difficult for one to compromise or endure another opinion, and trigger words have since been used more and more to attack anyone with a differing viewpoint. Hence, trigger words have been reduced from tools to expose corrupt ideology to mere labels. Furthermore, the irresponsible accusations have discouraged meaningful political discourse, a necessity in a time of polarization.

In online dialogues, the use of condemning words in response to differing opinions tends to halt discussions between individuals or groups of people. After all, who would be willing to participate in a game of name-calling? Moreover, the frequent sight of these dialogues can inadvertently suppress voices. Many individuals would refrain from contentious topics, fearing that their dissenting opinion will trigger a deluge of accusations dangerous to their reputation. This would not be a new development: during the cultural revolution in China, many censored themselves on the fears that they would be labeled as “western” or a “class enemy.” 

The silencing effect of trigger words has spilled into political discourse, where there has been a trend in the labeling. Since the 2016 election, Republicans have often been categorized as white supremacists and sexists; likewise, Democrats have often been assumed to be radical socialists and “snowflakes.” These arbitrary generalizations, coupled with the careless use of trigger words, can close off opportunities for fruitful dialogue across party lines.
 

When exposed to contrasting political opinions, we must be open-minded instead of immediately dismissing the other side. Not only can civil conversation widen one’s perspective, but it can also reveal common ground between two differing people. As we head into a new year, it’s critical to avoid the overuse of trigger words in online discussions as it will only widen our political schism. Although it may be difficult to stray away from our prejudices of certain political groups, listening, rather than belittling other people’s opinions, can normalize open discussions and mend our divisive political climate.