5 ms·

I don't have a problem with safe spaces. To me, they're like office break rooms. Sometimes you just need a minute to disengage. But, if you're spending your who

by fnovd 10y ago

I don't have a problem with safe spaces. To me, they're like office break rooms. Sometimes you just need a minute to disengage. But, if you're spending your whole day in there, I'm going to question why you show up to work in the first place.

kayone 10y ago
the problem is when you try to make the entire university campus a "safe space"
- Pigo 10y ago
  I think it sets a bad precedent, and fosters unrealistic expectations for when they leave. Most universities have counselors and psychologists you can talk to, for free, if your struggling with something. Bubbles and kittens don't help actual victims of violence.
CaptSpify 10y ago
Legit question for you: Why can't "safe spaces" equate to "I just want to disengage" ? I find that when I personally want a "disengagement break", I get more relaxation in just holing myself up at home vs taking over someone else's area.
- fnovd 10y ago
  I think that's exactly what they were supposed to be. As for "taking over someone else's area," to me that's just politics. There are ebbs and flows of power and control. Trump's victory is going to legitimize a lot of criticisms and possibly over-correct, though hopefully we will be in a position to have a reasonable understanding of what a "safe space" should be within the next decade.
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    My understanding is that the safe-spaces movement wants dedicated rooms and even classes to be safe-spaces. That sounds like the opposite of what I described. Is this simply a disconnect from what the original intention was vs the current movement?
    - fnovd 10y ago
      What is a women's bathroom but a safe space to "air your grievances" without the meddling of the opposite gender? Start making "safe spaces" for Trump voters to talk about their candidate without being called ignorant and you'll start to see people's attitudes shift on what the sensible limitation of safe spaces should be.
duaneb 10y ago
Sure. Do you think they are a right? Everyone can choose their environment to some extent.
Zikes 10y ago
Safe spaces as I've seen them implemented are exclusionary and discriminatory. A women-only safe space is sexist, as the implied "safety" of not allowing men implies that men are inherently unsafe. A POC-only safe space is racist, as the implied "safety" of not allowing whites implies that whites are inherently unsafe. If anyone were to even suggest the opposite implementation, a men-only or whites-only "safe space", then the discriminatory nature is immediately apparent and everyone rallies to shut down the idea before it ever reaches implementation. Edit: Oops, I've invaded HN's safe space. Disagree with me all you like, but as we learned earlier this week it's not the votes that matter. Tell me why I'm wrong, I'm genuinely interested in hearing your opinion.
- Swizec 10y ago
  Remember, if you are a white male it is fundamentally impossible for you to experience hardship. Only people of color and women ever have problems in life. You know why there are no activist/support groups for "fresh off boat" immigrants? They're too busy actively and constructively improving their lives. Fundamentally safe spaces and related are a thing of privilege. If you have time to think about that, you're part of the privileged group. I could be wrong. Maybe I've just never come across a support group organized by and for poor people, or by and for immigrants. Are there any?
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    The poor peoples campaign was one. They demanded an economic bill of rights. Martin Luther King was the founder of it, he believed that poverty the main issue in America at that time. A month later he was assassinated and the whole thing fell apart. "The Poor People’s Campaign was motivated by a desire for economic justice: the idea that all people should have what they need to live. King and the SCLC shifted their focus to these issues after observing that gains in civil rights had not improved the material conditions of life for many African Americans. The Poor People’s Campaign was a multiracial effort—including African-Americans, whites, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Native Americans—aimed at alleviating poverty regardless of race." His assassination (by government or business interests) is the only conspiracy I subscribe to. I believe we would live in a different world if he had a few more years on this earth.
basch 10y ago
Maybe they start as office break rooms, but they turn into gated communities and ghettos. The way to stop ghettos from forming, is to do the opposite of building gated communities, and instead subsidize housing in the wealthiest districts. Intellectual ghettos should be treated the same way. To prevent like minded hate spaces from forming, dont cast people you dont like, off to the side. Integrate dissent into every place you can. It will make us less partisan and more prepared to change our minds when introduced to evidence.

by fnovd 10y ago

kayone 10y ago

the problem is when you try to make the entire university campus a "safe space"

Pigo 10y ago
I think it sets a bad precedent, and fosters unrealistic expectations for when they leave. Most universities have counselors and psychologists you can talk to, for free, if your struggling with something. Bubbles and kittens don't help actual victims of violence.

CaptSpify 10y ago

Legit question for you: Why can't "safe spaces" equate to "I just want to disengage" ? I find that when I personally want a "disengagement break", I get more relaxation in just holing myself up at home vs taking over someone else's area.

fnovd 10y ago
I think that's exactly what they were supposed to be. As for "taking over someone else's area," to me that's just politics. There are ebbs and flows of power and control. Trump's victory is going to legitimize a lot of criticisms and possibly over-correct, though hopefully we will be in a position to have a reasonable understanding of what a "safe space" should be within the next decade.
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  My understanding is that the safe-spaces movement wants dedicated rooms and even classes to be safe-spaces. That sounds like the opposite of what I described. Is this simply a disconnect from what the original intention was vs the current movement?
  - fnovd 10y ago
    What is a women's bathroom but a safe space to "air your grievances" without the meddling of the opposite gender? Start making "safe spaces" for Trump voters to talk about their candidate without being called ignorant and you'll start to see people's attitudes shift on what the sensible limitation of safe spaces should be.

duaneb 10y ago

Sure. Do you think they are a right? Everyone can choose their environment to some extent.

Zikes 10y ago

Safe spaces as I've seen them implemented are exclusionary and discriminatory. A women-only safe space is sexist, as the implied "safety" of not allowing men implies that men are inherently unsafe. A POC-only safe space is racist, as the implied "safety" of not allowing whites implies that whites are inherently unsafe. If anyone were to even suggest the opposite implementation, a men-only or whites-only "safe space", then the discriminatory nature is immediately apparent and everyone rallies to shut down the idea before it ever reaches implementation. Edit: Oops, I've invaded HN's safe space. Disagree with me all you like, but as we learned earlier this week it's not the votes that matter. Tell me why I'm wrong, I'm genuinely interested in hearing your opinion.

Swizec 10y ago
Remember, if you are a white male it is fundamentally impossible for you to experience hardship. Only people of color and women ever have problems in life. You know why there are no activist/support groups for "fresh off boat" immigrants? They're too busy actively and constructively improving their lives. Fundamentally safe spaces and related are a thing of privilege. If you have time to think about that, you're part of the privileged group. I could be wrong. Maybe I've just never come across a support group organized by and for poor people, or by and for immigrants. Are there any?
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  The poor peoples campaign was one. They demanded an economic bill of rights. Martin Luther King was the founder of it, he believed that poverty the main issue in America at that time. A month later he was assassinated and the whole thing fell apart. "The Poor People’s Campaign was motivated by a desire for economic justice: the idea that all people should have what they need to live. King and the SCLC shifted their focus to these issues after observing that gains in civil rights had not improved the material conditions of life for many African Americans. The Poor People’s Campaign was a multiracial effort—including African-Americans, whites, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Native Americans—aimed at alleviating poverty regardless of race." His assassination (by government or business interests) is the only conspiracy I subscribe to. I believe we would live in a different world if he had a few more years on this earth.

basch 10y ago

Maybe they start as office break rooms, but they turn into gated communities and ghettos. The way to stop ghettos from forming, is to do the opposite of building gated communities, and instead subsidize housing in the wealthiest districts. Intellectual ghettos should be treated the same way. To prevent like minded hate spaces from forming, dont cast people you dont like, off to the side. Integrate dissent into every place you can. It will make us less partisan and more prepared to change our minds when introduced to evidence.