What made the term "trigger" really take off? [View all]

[Orrex]

This is an honest question, rather than snark.

I swear that, in the context of traumatic experiences, I've encountered the term "trigger" more in the past week than in the previous four decades. This is anecdotal, I admit, but even on DU it seems to have gained particular momentum in recent days, whether it's about the sleepwalking underwear statue, a video about oppressed majority, Dylan Farrow, or any of a dozen other topics. A quick search of DU in months past shows that its use was much more limited even a few weeks ago.

I don't doubt that the term has enjoyed a longer history in specific circles, but I'm struck by its sudden surge in general usage.

I think that it's a powerfully effective and evocative term. Any idea what accounts for the recent uptick?


Just curious.