So what's the deal with safe spaces?

Student Lounge College Life
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No @iwannabeBrown I’m not satisfied, because you gave up your position in the debate, unless you’re being sarcastic, which I’ll say it’s both, which it’s a shame. Oh and you “wannabe_Brown”? I could actually see you among the Brown University student body. Take that as you will.

Islam isn’t bad, per se, but at the same time, Islam has groups that get the most attention of the media, which are, in fact, ISIS and Al-Qaeda. You can’t argue with that. I’m aware that not all of Islam enjoys blowing themselves up and flying into buildings, all while shouting “Allahu Akbar”.

The thing about this entire thread, though, is it’s exactly how I envision the opposite of most safe spaces, with people being scrutinized for their opinion, especially my own, now known as unpopular, opinion. I hate safe spaces, still, but I can actually understand people arguing for safe spaces.

Some say it’s just a break from the dissenting views of other people so that those having to endure those views can mentally recuperate. But how can you try recuperating when you know someone still holds the same views? It’s pointless.

Others argue that frats and, outside colleges, alcohol and drugs support groups are safe spaces. But frats and sororities are clubs. Support groups are support groups. While on the argument of support groups I did find this https://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/current-students/student-services/safe-space-program. They call it a safe space, but, to me, it’s another support group.

People argue that these safe spaces won’t permeate out classrooms, but students are already asking for them, such as with the Chloe Lew example.

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And those groups are great for people who have real life problems. Rehabilitation groups exist to help people recover from, or live with, debilitating conditions/lifestyles/habits, whereas safe spaces exist mostly to accommodate those who don’t want to listen to differences of opinion (and/or are sensitive to provocation). There is a difference…

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If I’m not mistaken, they are an alum… So. Uh. Good job? LOL. Stupidest crap I have read on this site today.

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I just want to point out that the reason why certain groups that identify with Islam get the most attention in the media despite being an incredible minority relative to the Muslim community at large is because “ISIS blows up Iraqi Mosque” is a more interesting headline than “Muslim girl in Indonesia eats sandwich for lunch.”

Islam is not violent. It is also not peaceful. It is not any one adjective. You cannot reduce incredibly complex enterprises that span borders, cultures, governments, languages, and races into single faceted ideas.

No one ever seems to peg the Westboro Baptist Church or the KKK/Neo-Nazis as representatives of theological or cultural Christianity, lol.

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Once again, can anyone name one of these groups? OP and fractalmstr keep throwing around this idea without any examples. I asked for this twice now with no avail. In fact, all of the groups that have been linked to have proved exactly the opposite, even with the OP in agreement.

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You don’t “recuperate.” You just get the occasional reminder that no, you aren’t crazy. You aren’t a freak, or disgusting. You deserve friendship, happiness, whatever. And you aren’t alone in what you’re going through. Think of it as gaining a more balanced and “real-world,” perspective.

People can still have differing opinions, disagreements, and debates within safe spaces. Because everyone comes from a different background and has different perspectives. I don’t know why people would go to a “safe space” that didn’t give them the liberty to be authentic and express themselves, albeit respectfully.

But if people don’t like “safe spaces” that discourage certain opinions–those that they perceive as “harmful”–what does their ideal space even look like? Should everybody just allow (and even encourage) provocative opinions? Using the LGBT example, because that’s what I think of first when I hear “safe spaces”…

Should people who are homophobic be allowed into an LGBT safe space and accommodated while they say insulting, demeaning things (I’m not talking about, “I don’t support gay marriage” that would “provoke” an especially “sensitive” person. I’m talking about throwing around slurs and adjectives that would insult anybody). Because we don’t want everyone to start thinking that gay people are people too; we don’t want to form some kind of hivemind…

Genuinely confused…

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[Dear Universities: There Should Be No Safe Spaces From Intellectual Thought](Dear Universities: There Should Be No Safe Spaces From Intellectual Thought | TIME)

I think there are many excellent points made in this article.

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@fractalmstr I understand your position. I really do. Completely. I’m just not going to agree with it.

To my mind, there is absolutely no reason why, say, a 19-year-old transgender student at UT Dallas or UChicago or anywhere shouldn’t have a space to retreat to relax, away from the judgment of everyone else. It’s no skin off your back. It’s not shielding anyone “from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome” because the moment they walk out that door onto the quad, into class, into the lunchroom, into the bathroom, on to the bus, they are going to be faced with it. It might not be verbal, but there will be looks and near constant scrutiny. It gets exhausting for anyone having to put up with that.

So, yeah, I’m completely in favor of institutional-sanctioned “safe spaces.” And I fully understand that you and Karin Agness are against them.

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The psychological well-being of LGBT people, people of color, people with disabilities, rape trauma victims, and other marginalized groups should take precedence over anyone’s “standards” for how other people should attend college and tolerate abuse that is constantly directed towards them.

If you don’t like “safe spaces” and want to have the right to say whatever you please without consequence, then by all means don’t enter any safe spaces.

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Maybe if this were a conversation about censorship instead of safe spaces, there would be some more balance of opinions. Having a higher power (school administrators in the article) censor “harmful content” may protect people from speech / pictures / text that could potentially cause PTSD symptoms or a relapse in self-destructive behaviors, which is important. But then that comes with 1. stifling what others have to say, and 2. the people who are at risk for being “triggered” missing out on whole works of literature, whole dialogues, whole schools of thought, etc., and thus the chance to learn, be challenged, etc.

Or even creating opinion groups in response to other opinion groups and calling them “safe spaces.” Like in the article, where the students made “alternative safe spaces” in response to an anti-feminist (?) speaker. Or a secular society in response to there being religious groups, or a pro-choice group to oppose a pro-life group. In that case, I think it’s more of 1. a statement that “Your opinion is wrong, and we won’t tolerate it, and every time you open your mouth, we’re going to try and talk over you,” and 2. a cop-out to coming together to debate the issue and learn to do so respectfully and with an open mind.

But I think the “safe spaces” most people are thinking of is neither of the above. I think we’re literally arguing about two different concepts right now.

If you put your hand on a hot stove by accident, you pull it away, and then you treat the burn with something. Safe spaces are like that response. They are a place for people to remove themselves from a situation (their daily lives) that may be painful and then process it with others. Safe space =/= staying in a locked room to prevent yourself from ever getting burnt. But intentionally prohibited this kind of safe space may be like forcing somebody to keep their hand on a hot stove. You know, to prepare themselves for the real, pain-filled world.

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One of the reasons why people often need safe spaces is because many people would argue that you didn’t actually burn your hand in that scenario. You’re just claiming victimhood or being overly sensitive. Even without a safe space, no one is holding your hand to the stove, it’s your culture that’s keeping it there. When will your leadership speak out against putting your hand on the stove? I mean, this isn’t the salem witch trials where you’re being burned at the stake. This is a little interaction with the stove. Plus it’s not like the stove meant to hurt you. What about intent? Shouldn’t that matter more?

Why else would people put marginalized groups in quotes as was done by more than one poster in this thread?

And yeah, I went to Brown - it’s incredible that you could pick up on that/picture me there (Do you think the big Brown B with ivy on it - one of Brown’s logos - as my photo gives it away? ) I don’t agree with the Ray Kelly talk being shut down and while I thought the play-doh and kitten videos in the safe space during Wendy what’s her face’s talk sounds silly - who am I to judge what people need to cope with stress and anxiety.

I agree with you @OnMyWay2013, the censorship issue is a much different idea than safe spaces. Safe spaces exist often to avoid the need to censor. Usually when people argue for the expansion of safe spaces they’re referring to conscientiousness and inclusiveness. Is there a better way to say what you’re going to say? Should you articulate your point slightly differently to avoid being unnecessarily hurtful?

Should we really be surprised that people are straw manning a movement meant to empower marginalized groups?

@preamble1776 speaking of non muslim terrorists, did you happen to catch this?: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/18/guess-why-this-christian-terrorist-plot-against-muslims-isn-t-getting-any-press.html

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A Safe Space is a place where anyone can relax and be able to fully express, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome.

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Oh and @bodangles , you haven’t said a single thing related to the subject, you just insult me. Do you actually have anything to even say about safe spaces? This is your time to shine, after all.

EDIT: if this looks weird, it’s because another comment is in consideration.

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My first comment addressed part of your question – I suggest you go back and read it. My second comment was talking to someone else. My third and fourth comments (spaced over a week apart) pointed out how silly two of your personal attacks were. How, exactly, do you think “I could actually see you at Brown” is “related to the subject”? Congrats, you properly identified someone’s alma mater. What kind of insult is that??

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But what do you think of safe spaces?

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I’m not really any type of minority (except female in engineering, but that doesn’t count for much) so I’d never be in a position to use them. The rest of the seven billion individuals on this planet should do what they want. If some people want to have safe spaces and use them, great! If other people want to avoid safe spaces, great!

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After a lot of time thinking about this subject, I’ve decided that I have no time to worry about such foolish things. I should focus on getting into my dream college, and worry about this crap later.