[Noisebridge-discuss] Discussion: the meaning of Safe Space

[Steve Phillips]

I believe that we should have an analogous *but more polite* response
(compared to the responses to people offended by piercings/alt hair
colors), I should have said.

On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 6:54 PM Steve Phillips <steve at tryingtobeawesome.com>
wrote:

> A few things:
>
> 0. I am impressed with the responses thus far and extremely happy that I'm
> not the only one who's been worried about the more extreme interpretations
> of what a "safe space" is.
>
> 1. As an ex-philosophy major I am happy it has been pointed out that the
> more extreme interpretation of a safe space -- namely as a space free from
> discomfort -- is self-defeating, because that very thing causes discomfort.
>
> 2. I hadn't heard of the notion of a "Brave Space" until Naomi linked some
> of us to some information explaining it.  It seems to preserve the good
> (and originally intended) parts of safe spaces, particularly freedom from
> harassment, without creating an environment that transforms the most
> sensitive person into some sort of all-powerful dictator who can prevent
> others from speaking certain (totally non-harassing) words and discussing
> uncomfortable ideas.
>
> 3. 15 years ago, when many old people said they were "disturbed" or
> "offended" by piercings and unconventional hair colorings, our response was
> to say things like, "too bad", "that's your problem", "then don't look",
> "it doesn't affect you", "stop trying to control me", and the like.  I
> believe that we should have a similar response when someone says, "it makes
> me uncomfortable when you say/discuss/express things like that", provided
> that the discomfort wasn't caused by an expression of bigotry and is not a
> form of harassment.
>
> @Naomi Would you like to elaborate on the notion of what a Brave Space is?
>
> --Steve
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 6:29 PM Sean Purser-Haskell <
> sean.purserhaskell at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> “Safe space” means to me only one thing: that the person saying it claims
>>  unaccountable power to exclude others at their whim.
>>
>> - Sean
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 6:16 PM Sparr <sparr0 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> The existence and maintenance of a space where someone might be excluded
>>> to avoid someone else's discomfort, despite not having taken any
>>> wrong/bad/unreasonable/irresponsible/inconsiderate action, makes me
>>> uncomfortable.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 3, 2018 at 6:08 PM Naomi Most <pnaomi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Does “safe space” mean “freedom from discomfort”?
>>>>
>>>> This discussion cannot take place on Slack because it causes
>>>> discomfort. So I am asking the question here.
>>>>
>>>> I would like to hear from the widest variety of perspectives on this
>>>> one.  It is pertinent to the community conversation we are having tomorrow
>>>> at 6pm at Noisebridge.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your calm consideration.
>>>>
>>>> —Naomi
>>>>
>>>> #bravespace
>>>>
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