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I thought it was a reasonable article also. But it isn't a defense of "safe spaces" as they are commonly referred to. Those are spaces where certain subjects wo

I thought it was a reasonable article also. But it isn't a defense of "safe spaces" as they are commonly referred to. Those are spaces where certain subjects won't be brought up for fear of offending or triggering others. What the professor proposes is a different sort of space with different conversational norms. Just to clarify, I don't think it was a bad opinion piece. I thought the title was provocative and misleading.

uberman 5y ago
Thanks. I'll freely admit to not knowing/understanding the norms and etymology of the term. I was under the impression that these were spaces where people (traditionally marginalized peoples) could speak about their beliefs and feelings particularly as they related to the dominant norms without fear that their view points would be further marginalized or silenced. At some level, that seems also to be what the professor is now advocating for as well. Though perhaps he may be doing so only because the marginalization is (also) being inflicted on those with political views he supports.
- em-bee 5y ago
  that's exactly what safe spaces should be: everyone is treated with respect. ideally this should happen everywhere, but the problem is that we still need to learn how to engage with each other respectfully. the spaces that this professor creates are where this can be learned. other safe spaces that are somehow free of anything potentially offensive can only function with heavy censorship and lead to nowhere. if we want to get rid of racism for example, we need to engage with racists and enable a respectful and sensible debate. locking them out will not help them change their mind and understanding. same goes for any other issue.
zozbot234 5y ago
> But it isn't a defense of "safe spaces" as they are commonly referred to. Those are spaces where certain subjects won't be brought up for fear of offending or triggering others. This is not a definition of safe spaces, but rather a common dynamic that may appear in any context. A safe space, properly understood, is simply a space where participants are not made to feel socially or physically unsafe as a result of their participation: this is exactly how OP is using the term. By contrast if you take seriously the radical idea that even the slightest "microaggression" is an act of violence and thus a physical threat, the logical consequence is to view everywhere as not-safe; the whole idea of a safe space becomes altogether self-defeating!

uberman 5y ago

Thanks. I'll freely admit to not knowing/understanding the norms and etymology of the term. I was under the impression that these were spaces where people (traditionally marginalized peoples) could speak about their beliefs and feelings particularly as they related to the dominant norms without fear that their view points would be further marginalized or silenced. At some level, that seems also to be what the professor is now advocating for as well. Though perhaps he may be doing so only because the marginalization is (also) being inflicted on those with political views he supports.

em-bee 5y ago
that's exactly what safe spaces should be: everyone is treated with respect. ideally this should happen everywhere, but the problem is that we still need to learn how to engage with each other respectfully. the spaces that this professor creates are where this can be learned. other safe spaces that are somehow free of anything potentially offensive can only function with heavy censorship and lead to nowhere. if we want to get rid of racism for example, we need to engage with racists and enable a respectful and sensible debate. locking them out will not help them change their mind and understanding. same goes for any other issue.

zozbot234 5y ago

> But it isn't a defense of "safe spaces" as they are commonly referred to. Those are spaces where certain subjects won't be brought up for fear of offending or triggering others. This is not a definition of safe spaces, but rather a common dynamic that may appear in any context. A safe space, properly understood, is simply a space where participants are not made to feel socially or physically unsafe as a result of their participation: this is exactly how OP is using the term. By contrast if you take seriously the radical idea that even the slightest "microaggression" is an act of violence and thus a physical threat, the logical consequence is to view everywhere as not-safe; the whole idea of a safe space becomes altogether self-defeating!