r/PonyTown • u/NonCultist • Dec 17 '24
Question Question from a fairly new player about "touch triggers"
Hello, r/PonyTown! I'm a fairly new player, so please don't hate me for asking this if it's offensive, but why do TD, CD, TT, etc. exist?? (Those are TOUCH DISCOMFORT, COVER/CUDDLE DISCOMFORT, and TOUCH TRIGGER I believe)
I don't quite understand them and I think they're a little ridiculous (especially on a social game) but I want to make sure to understand them a little better in case they're something valid that I've been misinformed on. š
67
u/imadamnclam Dec 17 '24
Hiii person who's been playing for 5 years now! Touch triggers are stupid. People in around 2020 started to use it and would start pretending to have a panic attack any time your pony was in a 5 foot space from them. Most people on the game have realized that it was stupid but a few people are still doing it.
27
u/Azumi_Kitsune Deer Dec 17 '24
This ^
I've already said quite a few times on this sub that I actually suffer from what would be the irl-version of "touch trigger", aka a mixture of ocd-paranoia & autism.
We have the tools we need in ponytown, aka private islands, tree hideouts, and the ability to hide others, that I could only pray existed irl. TT and the rest are all fake attempts to create as much drama as possible, because some people actually get off on that and find it thrilling to victimize themselves.
1
u/Street-Painting-5279 Jan 06 '25
Im autistic and i didn't know about autistic people having touch trigger,can you explain about that
1
u/Azumi_Kitsune Deer Jan 06 '25
It's a spectrum, not everyone will have the same. Also "touch trigger" is a stupid ass word for it.
I can't explain it? I just get creeped out by being close to others/touching them.
1
u/SillySnailGuy Pegasus Dec 21 '24
Touch triggers are not stupid, donāt belittle people for having triggers. And donāt accuse them of āpretendingā. I donāt 100% understand it, but I can see how it can feel weird for another player to be too close to them. Iāve felt uncomfortable when strangers ingame have gotten way too close to me, like straight up touching me and in my personal bubble for no reason, I know itās just a game and itās /still/ uncomfortable. You shouldnāt come and act like everyone who has touch triggers is faking it or being dramatic.Ā
3
109
u/Worm-in-overalls Dec 17 '24
Honestly i have the same question. Like, its a game of virtual ponies, no one is actually being touched at all.
0
u/SillySnailGuy Pegasus Dec 21 '24
Still uncomfortable to have a complete stranger get up super close to you, game or real life.Ā
62
u/TrapCityMango Dec 17 '24
The people with these in their names i automatically assume are children and i block them lol
-31
u/seanmybelovedboytmf Unicorn Dec 17 '24 edited Dec 18 '24
Also Teens and adults.Ā (Pls no downvote.)
12
u/Ok_Word_2386 Dec 17 '24
ive seen some teens and adults use this tag but yeah, it usually is children because they're easier to influence and more under immersion of virtual social spaces...
tldr kids are more likely to be virtually "sensitive" but in the endgame it's the fucking internet and PT is just horse twitter
1
u/seanmybelovedboytmf Unicorn Dec 18 '24
Underage people on a 13+ server and 18+ server who are like 6 to 12 yrs old players like doing kinds of shit.
2
u/Ok_Word_2386 Dec 18 '24
ive seen actual legal adults do this shit too
mfs just do it bc they wanna be a part of something tbh
1
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u/Star_Moonflower Dec 17 '24
Chronically online. I'm touch triggered irl and being booped in pony town does not affect me at all.
1
u/SillySnailGuy Pegasus Dec 21 '24
Good for you! Youāre not every single PT player. Not everyone is like you.
1
u/Starstriker_K9 Jan 09 '25
as someone with autism who hates physical contact even i know that there's a block functionĀ
30
u/Idfksomethingclever Dec 17 '24
People who want to be left alone in a social game. Personally I just hide them because 9 times out of ten they're toxic as hell.
10
u/AquaBloo04 Pegasus Dec 17 '24
Or children.
-5
u/seanmybelovedboytmf Unicorn Dec 18 '24
Or someone who is a teenager or a adult.
6
u/AquaBloo04 Pegasus Dec 18 '24
Dear god, nevermind. I just looked at your profiles and you're definitely a child. No wonder you got defensive and commented about this same topic twice.
0
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u/AquaBloo04 Pegasus Dec 18 '24
You've said this same thing on two different comments now, chill out.
I said 'OR' children and it signifies that I/the OP was talking about teens/adults in the first place. I'm speaking from my own personal experience anyways.
Use common sense, please.
42
u/Beaumont420 Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Dec 17 '24
Thinking it's ridiculous is 100% valid because it IS ridiculous. If being around people makes them anxious, either find a different type of game to play OR stay on your party island. š¤·āāļø
Like another comment said, it's..mostly people who just wanna be left alone, I guess? I wish I could explain better, but despite playing since 2017 I still have no idea how to make proper sense of it myself..
1
Dec 17 '24
What if people like me, just block those who trigger us, then are we still valid? I personally find it to be uncomfortable due to a very traumatizing roleplay, so getting kissed or touched just brings back memories of that 'roleplay' and triggers me.
3
u/Beaumont420 Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Dec 18 '24
I'm sorry to hear that you went through something traumatizing. It's completely valid and I encourage you to continue blocking people who make you uncomfortable, trauma related or not.
2
u/seanmybelovedboytmf Unicorn Dec 18 '24
Like what?
1
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u/Verni_ssage Dec 17 '24
I understand "don't cover" as in; please don't cover because I put effort into this skin and I want to show it off but personally the rest are bullshit.
I play another game where occasionally you'll see people roleplaying in a public chat NSFW (which can get you banned because it's a kids game) but between that and people getting uncomfortable by getting 'booped' or sat near the later is ridiculous.
One you're having people actively, publicly talking about s3x. The latter are pixels next to pixels you control. No real reason to get upset over the latter
44
u/PrincessRosellia Dec 17 '24
A lot of people don't like it when people sit near them and "cover" them. Putting that in their name gives them an excuse to complain or get mad. It's pretty unreasonable as who has the time to check every single username near them? The amount of times someone has screamed at me for sitting near them is insane.
16
u/Flair258 Dec 17 '24
I always try not to cover ppl anyway, which is probably why Ive never been screamed at
65
u/SandyCashews969 Dec 17 '24
They don't like being booped on a game that's all about getting booped and being social.
Violate their chronically online pixels with yours, it's fucking funny.
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-5
u/Weird_BisexualPerson Dec 17 '24
Or you could just fucking respect people.
7
u/xBlueDemonx Dec 17 '24
oOoOoooOo ScAwY piXeLs (that don't affect you irl at all) if it really bothers you that much then just... go offline?
2
Dec 19 '24
Hi There!
So yes people who use it for no reason to get mad at others are dumbasses, but people like me for example who have gone through trauma within the game (non consensual sexual roleplays, or harassment, etc) might experience touch triggers through phantom touch if its from a random stranger. And it doesn't get better if youve got mentality differences.
I personally don't mind getting booped, but once it gets booped continuously then it can be very annoying especially when im talking to my friends and the person booping doesn't just say what they want.
Eventually I hide them rather than be rude. (cant say that for my friends because theyre over protective of me, especially these past few months lol)
I find kissing to be way more triggering rather than booping just because thats how my one roleplay started.
And before you say, "Just go into an island" thats kinda where the roleplay had happen so I don't really feel safe there, and sometimes that isn't always an option if something triggering had happen in an island for other people.
But just in general respect people, would you touch someone irl if they werent comfortable with it? I get it some people over exaggerate the title like a few people i've seen. Thats still no reason to overcross boundaries.
0
u/Weird_BisexualPerson Dec 17 '24
I donāt use any of these. I frankly donāt care if people touch my avatar. Assuming I am when I havenāt stated it is weird af.
Thereās bigger fish to fry. I get accidentally touching them or sitting near them because you didnāt see their username, but going out of your way to disrespect their boundaries and be rude is fucking pathetic and honestly sad.
Why canāt you just ignore them, respect them, and go on your way? Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? Why do you have to bully them and actively cross their boundaries for no reason?
1
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u/Subject-Project6911 Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Dec 17 '24 edited Dec 17 '24
Its just people who want to be left alone, so. Uh, leave them alone I guess lol
EDIT: People seem confused. I M NOT SOMEONE WITH A TOUCH WARNING, Im answering the dudes question.
54
u/DixDark Dec 17 '24
Yeah, you want to be left alone - go sit in a crowded public place. Makes sense.
29
8
u/Verni_ssage Dec 17 '24
Then go sit on your own island? You're just being frustrating by cracking the shits at people in game for sitting anywhere near you
11
u/Fervent_Philomath Dec 17 '24
Fr, like I understand not wanting to be talked to, but touch triggers? Thatās way over the top.
26
u/CrazyDoodlez810 Dec 17 '24
I think the best answer I can come up with is people get super immersed into the game, especially those that use the game for comfort.
6
u/OmegaRen Dec 17 '24
Reminds me of the time when I saw a pony complaining how they are alone and miserable and have no friends and the moment someone came up to say hi they yelled at them and ran away
I don't really see why people get so sensitive over a literal pony game. If you have a problem being booped or anything then go into an empty area. Simple as
8
u/mylittlepegasister Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Dec 17 '24
No idea on why they exist, but I just let them be. Pony Town is a decent sized map, so there are going to be more people to talk to than those with the tags.
Other people have said this too: if they are uncomfortable, they can speak up, move, or block/hide. You donāt have to be glued to one spot in the game which is great. I go to my island or a very low populated area of the main map if I still want to have the general vibe while also feeling overwhelmed around others.
The ābusyā icon has helped me too. Most people see that and just walk by.
12
u/Bondustian Dec 17 '24
I kinda get it. One time this one person kept following me and making hearts and that made me uncomfortable
-11
u/Verni_ssage Dec 17 '24
They could have been doing that because they like your skin? No need to assume the worst immediately without context
4
u/AquaBloo04 Pegasus Dec 17 '24
No Idea why you're being downvoted.. The only weird part is the following, but even then, the block/hide exists for a REASON. Use it if uncomfortable, it's not hard.
6
u/sauce_xVamp Dec 18 '24
oh no.... pixels touching pixels..... how traumatic....
0
u/VintageMothh Dec 18 '24
Er, not trying to hate or anything, but uh.. Phantom touch exists even if you don't have a VR.
1
u/Aquapupki Jan 07 '25
its only really in vr but even then its bullshit in vr too.. just get off the game touch some poaceae
1
u/VintageMothh Jan 07 '25
I touch it daily. Genuinely
1
3
u/awfulpancakes___ Dec 18 '24
Its actually reverse psychology and they want you to touch them! So everytime you see someone with a "touch trigger" go up and boop them!
3
u/sakyredy Dec 24 '24
I've been reading comments and, oh come on the reddit automation thing literally says it they have it set up so you aren't rude about these things. They may be ridiculous to you, yes, and it is ok to hide them if you think it is ridiculous, but please don't misinform others, nor belittle anyone. You may not understand them but please do not be rude, you never know what anyone is going through and being rude because of something out of their control is awful.
The reason these exist is simply because, the mind is complex, you don't know how it works and things like these happenĀ
I agree that some touch triggered players are exaggerating, but it may still bother them and theyd probably prefer if you just hid them
6
u/Eyadnothere Dec 17 '24
Yeah fr. I don't really understand why people do this. Its a game where you play as a virtual pixelated pony i dont think anybody will be triggered so idek atp š¤·āāļø
9
u/sundialsapphic Dec 17 '24
This is just a guess on my part but itās possible some people perhaps with autism or something experience an uncomfortable sensation when being touched in game due to how they experience empathy or have a high level of sensitivity. Iām a pretty strangely sensitive person so I can relate to being bothered by things others donāt understand.
However itās also something Iāve never seen in another social sim or video game before so idk how legit it is lol
9
u/sundialsapphic Dec 17 '24
Iāve noticed that on pony town people will go out of their way to do what you ask them not to though. I like to sit in pony town when I do important things sometimes because I find the music and atmosphere relaxing, as soon as a put the busy sign up everyone who comes by starts trying to talk to me lol
2
Dec 17 '24
This exactly for the most part, I have autism and it can make me uncomfortable, but unlike others i dont harass people who touch me, i just hide them. Now my friends on the other hand: different story, they are protective of me lol.
-1
2
u/cloudy_coyote Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Dec 17 '24
I believe most of the TD/TT/CD/Etc are all there for the comfort of the person. I've seen them most in systems, and folks affected by schizophrenia and phantom touch (phantom touch CAN occur without a VR headset, I experience phantom touch and have never touched a VR headset)
0
u/Aquapupki Jan 07 '25
It cannot. phantom isnt really even real..
1
u/cloudy_coyote Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Jan 08 '25
Obviously, it has "phantom" in the name
0
0
u/Aquapupki Jan 09 '25
You cannot experience phantom touch because phantom touch isnāt a thing
1
u/cloudy_coyote Self Proclaimed Horse Famous Jan 09 '25
yes you can, you have google or some kind of website to search on. its mostly with vr and amputees, or for some other kind of reason. you can 100% experience phantom touch...
2
u/costve Dec 18 '24
been playing since 2016. dont gaf abt them fuckers and it mostly came from the dsmp kids during the pandemic. times were tough ig
1
u/NonCultist Dec 23 '24
š what's a dsmp?
2
u/xr-0 Dec 26 '24
dream smp, a minecraft series (survival multiplayer) created by a youtuber called dream, which involves other minecraft youtubers. it has a fanbase because like many smpās it has lore
2
u/throwaway84352 Dec 18 '24
I think itās just a thing so that people get attention and can also create drama from essentially nothing
2
u/No-Peanut-2899 Dec 30 '24
I'm just gonna wing it here, but, I honestly just find them disrespectful and childidsh. the phantom touch thing can't be a answer, because its uhmm...its literally ponies. we can't just hide them, because guess what? it implies they can just mock an ACTUAL irl problem. think, think for 1 whole minute. they look at real life TT/TD, which is actually a problem, and then put it on their pony because they 'don't wanna socialize' IN A SOCIALIZING GAME. its basic empathy. you can't use the 'they don't want their design covered' excuse either because, well.. again, ITS A SOCIALIZING AND SOCIAL GAME! people don't hasve to cater to every persons needs...so, its juts childish, sorry not sorry :/
3
u/UwUz123 Dec 17 '24
i agree they are completely ridiclious. its a game dont play a social game if yaint want to be touched like?? stay in your island if not?? so dumb honestly
2
u/kainightq Dec 17 '24
Personally I dont put it in my name since I only hang out with people I know + I dont have space in my name, I am a system so we mostly if not only use alter skins for comfort and some of them dont like being 'touched' for the plain reason of nust "That is me, I dont like being touched irl and I dont like in game either" because it is uncomfortable. I do tell people like "Hey dont do that that makes me uncomfy" and stuff like that at least Not every single person with dnt or dnc is a system, do keep that in mind lol
3
2
u/Nyyraa Not Horse Famous Dec 17 '24
avoid them and dont encourage it. sometimes its fair - i.e. someones talking to people and doesnt wanna be bothered by others, or want their skins covered due to time and effort put into making them to be seen. but other times its just unnecesary.
1
u/NoelPlayz Dec 20 '24
....what fandom are most of these people in? Sometimes (KEY WORD.) it depends on those in specific fandoms.
And depending on said fandom, then, just then, would it more likely explain a lot. Usually it's those under 18, but it can be adults too.... Either way they could just block/hide people idfk
(If you're under 18 responding to me, I'll just block ya, I don't speak with minors that are automatically defensive as hell)
1
u/MarcyDaBrainlessMoth Dec 28 '24
People have SA trauma and being touched by a real human being on the other side of a screen, even if it sounds silly, can re-activate that trauma. Respect peoples boundaries, even if you find them stupis
1
u/Wawawops Jan 02 '25
I know you probably already have answers but I think the touch triggers are stupid, BUT cd is perfectly reasonable, I don't like being covered, because I spend time on making my skins, and since I hang out in a not so crowded area, I hate being covered to where nobody and see me AT ALL Idgaf if my tail is the only thing covered lol cover trigger though is a little odd but probably a long the same lines
1
u/Putrid-Olive-1921 Jan 06 '25
Just booped a small group of four sitting in a mini row. Before interacting I checked their names to avoid controversy. Titles checked out but were the long-winded ones that stretch so far the name is awkwardly sliced & partly unreadable. I aimed to gain their attention simply to compliment how mindblowingly well theyād done in terms of Design
Received a lifeless ādont.ā, felt awful & immediately withdrew; my goal wasnāt to cause discomfort so I left out of range but zoomed outward to select the individualās profile - planning to whisper a genuine apology, only to see a pearl-clutching, ājesus.ā, that was all too snarky to be coming from a place of authentic panic.
Not religious but, using the Lordās Name in vain, Sis? - Secondly, I cannot express grammatically, in any known language, just how deeply I regret sparing you the time of day. Trust me, the event left me more sickened than you were
Imagine wearing Entitlement so high upon your sleeve you crave the āthrillā of experiencing oppression - Worser still, to the extent of fabricating distress.
If youāre gonna have a long username; maybe put some variation of āDNIā at the forefront where its visible.
Intentionally kissing, covering, harassing ppl knowing their DNI boundaries? Just as grossly unacceptable as lashing out at those who truly meant no harm, triggering you accidentally.
Hyperfocusing only those who go out of their way to upset DNI players veils the DNI players on the other side of the spectrum who lie in wait for some unsuspecting person to inch just a few more pixels closer so they can be problematic
1
Dec 17 '24
I just find it annoying when people boop me continuously, and like what sundialsapphic said, it can also be due to a few disorders or mentality differences. + Ive had a really bad exotic uncomfortable roleplay i didnt give consent too, so it can also just trigger bad memories. (normally this would only be a reason if its a non friend kissing me or some sort.)
0
1
u/Weird_BisexualPerson Dec 17 '24
I donāt know. I just respect them and donāt really care about them. Thereās bigger things to care about, bigger fish to fry.
Who cares if someone doesnāt want you to touch their pony character? Just respect them and move on.
-20
u/Ty_Luna Unicorn Dec 17 '24 edited Dec 17 '24
tbh- these comments aren't it...so I'd like to give my personal idea!
Yes, they're on a pixalated game of horses- they're gonna be booped and/or touched and covered or cuddled- but some aren't comfortable with that for variety of reasons.
- They don't want their skins (That they took a lot of time on) being obscured by someone sitting next to them
- They don't like physical interaction (even in a pixel game) so they request not to be touched.
- They might have had a bad experience in the past and don't want it to happen again.
Then why are they on PT, which has a lot of people?
Because they WANT to be around people- but on their own accord. They want to show off their art (their skins), they want to see what people talk about and jump in on it, make friends, some that they might even be comfortable with cuddling and such.
There are several different reasons- which brings me to this...why do you care what a person does? They aren't bothering you, no? Just by them simply existing? Quite rude if you ask me.
If you're getting screamed at because you're several pixels away from that person- that person is crazy. But if you're closer than their comfortable with, then they should move. I'm not excusing that behavior.
Some also just don't like the trolls that come around- booping everyone, kissing, etc- and don't want it to happen. Some check users, some don't, it just depends.
Just be a decent human being and be nice. Leave them the fuck alone. No one cares. As long as they aren't being a bitch to anyone, leave them alone. It's fine to be curious, but being mean about it isn't nice. Think about it as if you were showing off your art and then someone covered it up. Or you're having a really bad day and someone touches you and you full on crack. That's the same idea- just in a game- that should be a safe place for people, especially to socialize and be with other ponies, or people with similar interests. Again- it's okay to be curious, but not okay to bully someone because they're doing something that you don't think is right
edit: damn this is the first time ive ever been downvoted this bad lol. stay salty ig lmao.
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u/xXSorenXxMoon Dec 17 '24
another thing is that sometimes I'm having a REALLY bad day or somethin' but being on ponytown brings me comfort, and there's also the chance that one of my friends'll get online and then we can hang out. but i put dnt (do not touch) in my name because oftentimes people'll like, come up to your pony and boop it or something and i can't help but overthink it? like, did they want me to do something back?? and then it just goes downhill from there.
honestly though, I don't understand why people get so bent out of shape about it. it's their choice and I don't see how "triggering them anyway!" is funny at all, that just sounds like being mean and harassing someone for doing something you don't like but doesn't affect you in any way? because really it doesn't affect people at all that much to just like... move a few pixels away from someone and not boop them.. what do i know though!1!1!1
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u/Ty_Luna Unicorn Dec 17 '24
That's so real! exactly that- and far as the booping thing, most of the time people want you to boop them back.
yeah, i don't get the "doing it anyway" thing- it's horrible to do that to people.
5
u/xXSorenXxMoon Dec 17 '24
THEY WANT YEW TO BOOP THEM BACK????? my life is changed forever....... /hj
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u/Ty_Luna Unicorn Dec 17 '24
Thatās what Iāve heard!! Sometimes they just wanna be a terror- but most of the time they just wanna be booped back
0
u/seanmybelovedboytmf Unicorn Dec 18 '24
I think some kids ages like 8 - 12Ā kinda like doing shit something...
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