#TheTriggering, a hashtag meant to ridicule politically correct attitudes, exploded on Twitter and became a major trending topic in the United States.

Activist Lauren Southern came up with the idea a few months ago:

Can we start a day called "The Triggering" where everyone just posts "offensive" things on their social media in defense of free speech? — Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) September 19, 2015

#TheTriggering will take place on March 9th the day after international Women's day and the day before Osama Bin Laden's Birthday. — Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) September 19, 2015

And boy did people respond:

If you are going to blame white ppl alive today for slavery you also have to thank them for ending it. #TheTriggering — マイル (@martian_munk) March 9, 2016

It's not unreasonable to demand that immigrants adopt your laws and values. #TheTriggering — DoublePlusUnFine (@Kansokusha10) March 9, 2016

Auto mechanics have a more rigorous intellectual discipline then gender or race studies majors. #TheTriggering — Lee Stranahan (@stranahan) March 9, 2016

Islam is not a religion of peace. #TheTriggering — Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) March 9, 2016

You talk about 'Diversity' as if it's suppose to solve all problems. It doesn't #TheTriggering — Ice Cap (@Cuodriko) March 9, 2016

"Mansplaining" isn't a thing. What you are describing is being pretentious and/or condescending which anybody is capable of.#TheTriggering — Radagast the Brown (@ZombieNeith) March 9, 2016

#TheTriggering Some children will always be "left behind" because some children are in fact stupid. — The Deuce (@ibbibby) March 9, 2016

I believe in free speech, freedom of expression and diversity of opinions (even yours). #TheTriggering — Mark Kern (@Grummz) March 9, 2016

Mexicans need to stop running from their failures & fight to build a thriving country of their own#TheTriggering pic.twitter.com/WKTNn64wZR — Jared Wyand (@JaredWyand) March 9, 2016

Blaming society for your problems in the United States is just an excuse for you to be a failure. #TheTriggering — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 9, 2016

#TheTriggering People much better than you (and me) died to protect your right to free speech F**k you for disrespecting them — Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) March 9, 2016

Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen beats blue hair, cubicles and fast food every day of the week. #TheTriggering — Alice Teller (@AliceTeller) March 9, 2016

I have ZERO "white guilt" In 2016 shouting racist is a tactic used to gain an advantage#TheTriggering pic.twitter.com/Dj2KWVhzmd — Jared Wyand (@JaredWyand) March 9, 2016

My anatomy does not preclude me from having an opinion about abortion. #TheTriggering — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 9, 2016

Parroting Islam is "the religion of peace" does not obscure the fact that it is mired in murder and mayhem #thetriggering — David Vance (@DVATW) March 9, 2016

Oh, and of course there was a lot of snark/backlash over the trend:

If you are triggered by anything, avoid #TheTriggering at all costs.

Smug white men actively trying to trigger people. Disgusting — Jed Ritchie (@Jediritchie) March 9, 2016

Very nice of Twitter to create a place for right-wingers to post all of their garbage opinions and not annoy everyone else => #TheTriggering — read the piece (@SeanMcElwee) March 9, 2016

Like most hashtag movements started by 4chan and reddit, #TheTriggering is populated mostly by cis white people. — ✨Kat Blaque✨ (@kat_blaque) March 9, 2016

I'm looking at the #TheTriggering hashtag, and reactionaries are simply appending the hashtag to the same, boring things they say everyday. — Izzy Galvez (@iglvzx) March 9, 2016

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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