Is texting bad news a good idea?
簡訊分手 渣或酷？ 用簡訊告訴別人壞消息，這樣好嗎？
Many English speakers know the saying, "Bad news travels fast." This saying goes way back to the 16th century. If it was true then, how much truer it is today! Electronic devices allow us to send news, good or bad, almost immediately. Perhaps the fastest method is to fire off a text message from one's phone. Texts take only seconds to tap and send, and even fewer seconds to read. The questions is, should we send news - especially bad news - instantly, just because we can?
Friends Joey and Tim are having lunch together.
How are things going with Anita? You've been dating for, what, three months now?
Not great, actually.
Oh, that's too bad. Did something happen?
No. I'm just losing interest.
Oh? I think Anita is very nice. Is she aware there's a problem?
No, I don't think she has a clue. But I've decided to break up with her.
I'm sorry to hear that. So when do you plan to inform her?
I'll just send her a text later.
Info Cloud
trigger
Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, tonight we're all going to see that new horror movie. Want to join?
Absolutely not. I get really triggered by horror movies. If I go see that movie, I'm sure to have nightmares.
That's unfortunate. But here's a good opportunity to tell our students about the word triggered.
The dictionary defines trigger as a piece such as a lever connected with a catch to activate a mechanism. Whew. That's a complicated definition.
An easy way to think of this is to imagine the trigger on a gun. When you pull it, the gun goes off.
From the standpoint of psychology, a trigger is an event, image, word or experience that makes someone go off, making them have a negative response.
So when someone is triggered, it means they have already begun to experience those negative feelings.
A recent phenomenon that has showed up online has been the trigger warning. A trigger warning means that the following information or images may make some people upset.
Now trigger does sometimes have a negative connotation. If someone is easily triggered, it means that they are easily offended.
Don't worry, Anne Marie, I'm not easily offended. I just usually don't like horror movies.
I don't blame you, Rex. And if I feel like talking about the film after I see it, I'll be sure to give you a trigger warning first.
今天要跟大家分享幾個跟trigger有關的流行用語，首先，trigger是手槍的板機，當作動詞使用就是扣下板機，當你說: I am triggered by horror movies. 那就代表你看恐怖電影的時候，會有一些負面的情緒會出現，因為字面上來看，trigger扣下板機開槍，有一種令人不悅的畫面會出現。
另外，trigger warning 就是警告，以下的資訊或是畫面可能會使某些人出現負面的情緒。
最後，當你形容一個人為 easily triggered，那就在形容這個人很容易被激怒，或是情緒很容易被負面地影響。
Language Lab
device n. 器具、儀器
/dɪˈvaɪs/
an object, machine, or piece of equipment that has been made for some special purpose
- When David got on the plane, he turned off all the electronic devices he had with him.
David 上了飛機後，就把他攜帶的每一件電子用品關掉。
something that is done in order to achieve a particular effect 設備、裝置
- Robert did not know that the device on the wall was a security camera.
Robert 不知道牆上的裝置是保安監視器。
devise v. 非常巧妙地設計或發明
/dɪˈvaɪz/
to invent or plan (something that is difficult or complicated)
- The sales manager wanted to promote the new device, so he devised a plan.
業務經理為了推銷新的器具，所以就想出了一個計劃。
instantly adv. 立刻、馬上
without delay : immediately
- When the mysterious woman walked into the meeting room, everyone instantly stopped talking.
當神秘女郎走進會議室時，大家立刻停止說話。
- Janice tried to act normal, but her grandmother instantly noticed something was wrong.
Janice試著裝著一副自然的樣子，但是她的外婆立刻發覺有問題。
instant adj. 立即的
able to be made very quickly : partially prepared by the manufacturer so that final preparation is quick and easy
- Anna was too lazy to cook a meal, so she just had some instant noodles for dinner. Anna 懶得煮一頓晚餐，所以她就只吃泡麵。
instant n. 一個片刻、一瞬間
a very short period of time : moment
- The store clerk was only gone for an instant, but the thief was still able to take a lot of things from the store.
店員才離開了那麼一下，小偷卻還能夠偷走店裡很多東西。
aware adj. 明白、知道、意識到
knowing that something (such as a situation, condition, or problem) exists
- Jeremy is taking Sheryl to the park, and she is not aware that he is going to ask her to marry him. Jeremy 帶著Sheryl 去公園，但是Sheryl 不曉得Jeremy 打算跟她求婚。
- Tyler was not aware of how dangerous it was to be in the jungle at night.
Tyler 沒有意識到晚上在叢林裡有多危險。
- Amy often travels by herself and is always aware of what is going on around her.
Amy 常常一個人旅行，所以總是會注意身邊發生什麼事。
inform v. 通知、告知
to give information to (someone)
information n. 資料、消息
knowledge that you get about someone or something : facts or details about a subject
- I can’t make a decision because I don’t have enough information.
我因為資料不夠，所以無法做決定。
- I did not go to the meeting because no one informed me.
我沒有參加這個會議因為沒有人告知我。
informed adj. 非常瞭解情況、知識廣博
having information; based on information
- Sandra always wants to know the latest news because she wants to stay informed.
Sandra 喜歡得到最新的消息，因為她要瞭解狀況。
