Triggered

“How much longer will we let the fear of offending others suppress our freedom to speak?” This book challenges you to stand boldly for your beliefs in an increasingly censored world.

1. Identity Politics Deepens Division

Today’s left emphasizes identity categories such as race, gender, and sexual orientation as defining factors in discourse. Instead of fostering equality, this practice has created fractures by assigning value to opinions based on identity rather than merit.

The trend of weighing one's voice according to their "oppression status" places people into hierarchies. A person identifying with multiple marginalized groups is often elevated, while others seen as privileged—such as white, wealthy males—are dismissed. This exclusion stifles authentic dialogue and cultivates animosity among groups.

Donald Trump Jr. emphasizes that such obsession with labels contradicts Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of judging people by their character rather than the color of their skin. Labeling opinions as valid or invalid based on who speaks them further exacerbates societal divides.

Examples

• Social media outrage erupted when doubts arose about Jussie Smollett's story before it was confirmed to be fabricated.
• Conservative voices are often dismissed outright in spaces dominated by progressive ideologies.
• Individuals in liberal circles find it acceptable to exclude people considered privileged from conversations.

2. Speech Is Not Violence

The left equates words with violence through concepts like micro-aggressions. This perception transforms innocent conversations into contentious interactions, often discouraging honest communication between groups.

Micro-aggressions stem from subjective interpretations rather than clear intent. For example, asking someone where they are from, though well-meaning, can be labeled offensive simply based on how it’s perceived. Such scenarios foster fear around verbal engagement, further dividing society.

This narrative pushes people to avoid conversations that could promote understanding. Engaging across different communities becomes riskier, leaving stereotypes and distrust unchallenged, fostering isolation instead of connection.

Examples

• Families and friendships experience strain as everyday phrases are misinterpreted as offensive.
• College campuses discourage dialogue by portraying opposing ideas as attacks.
• People avoid conversations for fear of saying something unintentionally perceived as harmful.

3. Fear and Fragility Are Rising

Progressive spaces increasingly demand protections like safe spaces, trigger warnings, and censorship, highlighting perceived fragility. This approach contradicts human resilience, as growth often arises from challenging experiences.

Economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s concept of anti-fragility asserts that people grow stronger under adversity. Shielding students and others from uncomfortable ideas, as seen in trigger warnings on classic literature, prevents intellectual growth and adaptability.

Educational institutions that should foster open debate now constrain students' exposure to diverse viewpoints, creating environments where they feel entitled to avoid discomfort, instead of learning to critically reason through it.

Examples

• Oberlin College students petitioned for trigger warnings on "Antigone" due to its violent themes.
• Controversial conservative speakers are regularly banned from universities under claims of protecting students.
• Campuses promote ideological echo chambers, limiting exposure to opposing viewpoints.

4. Victimhood and Hypocrisy

Claiming victimhood has become a strategic tool for the left to justify exacting retribution—including violence and hate—against political opponents. Ironically, the behavior they condemn is mirrored in their actions.

Trump Jr. highlights media warnings before the 2016 election that right-wing supporters would riot upon losing. When Trump won, it was instead left-wing protestors who took to the streets in destructive protests. This double standard perpetuates hostility and division.

College campuses reflect this mentality, with conservative students facing exclusion and derogatory generalizations about their beliefs and character. Such hostility undermines the notion of tolerance that progressives often promote.

Examples

• Yale's student op-ed labeled all Republicans as bigots, creating an unwelcoming campus environment.
• Riots at UC Berkeley halted a conservative speaker, resulting in over $100,000 in damages.
• Antifa movements claim moral high ground while employing force and intimidation against opponents.

5. Social Media as a Weapon

Social media platforms have become battlegrounds where reputations are destroyed and careers are canceled in the pursuit of ideological purity. Public figures, regardless of merit, become targets for past statements.

One tactic involves dredging up old posts to frame a person negatively in today's context. Kevin Hart, for instance, lost his chance to host the Oscars over decade-old jokes. Activists frame these resurfaced statements as representative of current beliefs, ignoring any growth or changed perspective.

Another tool is doxing, where private information becomes public to intimidate or silence individuals. Targets often feel forced to remove themselves entirely from public discourse.

Examples

• Roseanne Barr lost her TV show after a misinterpreted tweet caused widespread outrage.
• Erika Christakis resigned after her private email questioning Halloween costumes went viral and led to protests.
• Kevin Hart’s old tweets were used to derail his hosting opportunity at the Oscars.

6. Social Media Companies Shape Public Debate

Platforms like Twitter and Facebook exercise discretion that influences political narratives, often shadow-banning or censoring conservative voices under the guise of neutrality.

Jack Dorsey admitted Twitter blocked access to hundreds of thousands of users, mostly conservatives. By manipulating which posts gain visibility through algorithms, these companies silently shape the information users consume.

Examples like Sarah Jeong’s offensive comments about white people went uncensored, contrasting starkly with the prompt action taken against conservative figures like Candace Owens in comparable scenarios. These double standards tilt dialogues leftward.

Examples

• Twitter banned Candace Owens for replicating Sarah Jeong's tweets with altered references.
• Users found themselves mysteriously unfollowing or unable to like certain political posts.
• Professor Hanania’s study revealed that conservative voices vastly outnumbered others among banned accounts.

7. Conservative Voices Are Marginalized

The left’s hold on accepted discourse makes conservatives hesitate to voice their ideas for fear of backlash. Trump Jr. claims this suppresses meaningful political debate and marginalizes dissenting perspectives.

Conservative students, in particular, report environments hostile to their views. Campus cultures dominate conversations, leaving those on the right sidelined and even derided for their affiliations.

Highlighting the impact, opposing voices are often not given a chance to share their narratives, paving the way for ideological conformity and groupthink instead of lively discussions that encourage growth.

Examples

• University professors have been silenced or removed from positions for holding conservative views.
• Right-leaning students feel pressured to keep opinions private.
• Campus newspapers openly portray conservatives as harmful to community values.

8. Fewer Channels for Free Speech

The United States has witnessed the erosion of free speech primarily through the actions of progressive institutions and activists. Cancel culture silences certain ideas before they spark productive dialogue.

Public protests that spiral into violent acts shut down opposing perspectives while simultaneously discouraging neutrality. These actions reflect broader societal trends where differing thoughts are increasingly seen as threats instead of opportunities to learn.

This creates a culture of fear where people self-censor rather than risk repercussions for dissenting opinions, harming democracy's foundation of open exchange.

Examples

• Protestors in Berkeley effectively shut down a scheduled conservative speech.
• Online campaigns blackmail corporations into firing individuals with opposing opinions.
• Teachers like Erika Christakis face social repercussion for questioning liberal norms.

9. Hypocrisy in Progressive Censorship

Trump Jr. challenges progressive claims to uphold democracy, citing their active role in restricting conservative discourse. Public opinion is shaped through unfair channels that promote one narrative.

This lack of balance undermines American freedoms. By targeting dissenting voices, the left betrays its claimed stance for protection and inclusivity, exposing a hypocritical dynamic.

Examples ranging from unchecked political bias by tech companies to campus environments that enforce ideological conformity underscore the need for transparent and inclusive democratic practices.

Examples

• The overwhelming majority of accounts banned on Twitter belong to Trump supporters.
• Sarah Jeong’s hateful tweets were deemed acceptable satire while conservative responses were banned.
• Mainstream media narratives marginalize traditionally conservative viewpoints.

Takeaways

1. Ensure your online presence is secure by updating privacy settings and periodically auditing your social media accounts for changes.
2. Engage in discussions with individuals holding differing viewpoints to challenge your thinking and foster open communication.
3. Advocate for balanced platforms where diverse ideas can coexist without fear of suppression or backlash.