Complaining about things you think are virtue signaling isn't meant to be useful; it's a manner of virtue signalling.

Wow, I whole-heartedly disagree. This is a constructive criticism of a communication technique.

If a person is lacking in the mental fortitude to be exposed to unexpected information- but that person is still putting themself in unexpected information situations, it certainly suggests that they have judgement problems.

I don't think that many people have judgement problems when it comes to avoiding pain. I agree with OP. Virtue signaling seems like the far more likely explanation for this behavior.

> but that person is still putting themself in unexpected information situations

Being able to reduce or temper that exposure is literally the point of trigger warnings.

Are you virtue signaling?

That's the joke.

Trigger warnings are harmful for society as well. Grown adults at university get coddled with the stuff, then released out into the cold, cruel, uncaring world. Not a good turn for society.

I notice a trend, at least in online fora, to glorify or almost celebrate anxiety and neuroticism. I'm not weighing in on the cause for this phenomenon but I wouldn't be surprised if this is related in some way.