> There's a stark difference between what people who dislike the concept of "safe space" think a "safe space" is and what a "safe space" actually is. The conce

> There's a stark difference between what people who dislike the concept of "safe space" think a "safe space" is and what a "safe space" actually is. The concept of safe spaces originally came out of the societal intersection of the LGBT, Riot grrrl and 3rd wave feminist movements of the late 80's/early 90's, where there was an existential threat of violence and intimidation from opponents/bigots/homophobes/just dicks. As you say, vital for those movements and the people in them at the time. Where the threat is not of violence and intimidation, but rather of hurt feelings due to encountering someone with different political or religious views from you, I think it's better for society as a whole for those feelings to get hurt; or preferably some spirited and hopefully non-intentionally inflammatory discourse to occur between people of opposing views so that we can better understand each other and progress as a society. I'm not saying that safe spaces are not needed any more, just that they seem to be increasingly used where they are not necessary.