contrapoints – Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0

The term “safe space” originates in LGBT communities and designates a place where homophobia isn’t tolerated.

The argument usually goes that safe spaces keep people from encountering ideas they disagree with, that they have an infantilizing and silencing effect.

I respond that when gay people are so sheltered that they have no idea what homophobia is, well, then I’ll admit that maybe things have gone a bit too far.

In the meantime, gay people not experiencing enough homophobia is not really striking me as a pressing social issue.

lamardeuse:

gravedelight:

[►]

this is the best most concise takedown of safe space critics I’ve ever seen

“Safe space“ did not originate with the “LGBT communities”. It originated in the early days of social psychology (often credit is given to Kurt Lewin, a great Jewish German-American behaviourist who did a lot of work in group dynamics that is still used today) as a space with explicit rules of confidentiality and freedom of judgement *and* to be a place that allowed people to mention concerns, be frank and challenge others, and discuss strategies of change without fear of condemnation or being thrown out.

It was popularized in the women’s liberation and gay liberation groups who brought in that the explicit rules would also include that sexist and/or homophobic behaviour would be pulled up on and challenged and much of today’s use of safe space comes through that as well, but it’s origins in psychology and group dynamics work are important – it shows how it works and why these things are important – as is remembering that safe spaces weren’t really about silencing ideas but giving a protected space where they could be aired and dealt with and those using it otherwise is either making up bogeymen of ‘the snowflakes’ or aren’t really using safe spaces in either the liberation or psychological sense.

lamardeuse:

gravedelight:

[►]

this is the best most concise takedown of safe space critics I’ve ever seen

i-gwarth:

On the surface (and in depth) this video is about Incels and exploring their stunted, socially-illiterate and viciously mysoginistic views on sexuality and society.

But

On another level it’s also about self-destructive internet habits. Looking at websites and searching for experiences that tear you down, depress you and confirm your deepest fears about yourself. “I was right, I really am unlovable/uncreative/insufficiently feminine”. Masochistic epistemology, the digital equivalent of cutting yourself. And haha… ha [sweats] boy oh boy do I know about cutting myself, digitally or otherwise.

I think that’s an aspect of mental illness that’s insufficiently explored. It’s central to Incel communities, but one can find it in all sorts of places. And the draw of it, at least to me, has always been real. At least as real as the desire for self harm, at least.

So yeah, give it a watch