General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How is it NOT a display of white privilege to mock the idea of "Safe Spaces"? [View all]TeacherB87
(249 posts)Before I explain, let me go ahead and let it be known that I very much agree that people on the margins face greater threats to their safety than most white people can ever imagine; and I know that violence against people of color, trans people etc. is a real problem that we urgently need to deal with aggressively.
But that has nothing to do with the creation of "safe spaces" on college campuses et al.
More often than not, people are running off to these places because of the WORDS of another. Rather than sticking around to confront those with whom they disagree, they flee the scene. Words cannot be allowed to wield that much power, given the fluidity of language it makes no sense. To react this way to someone's speech is a mockery of the freedom and perpetuates a regressive notion of how we should think of speech in general. I don't buy it.
And what do these safe spaces look like? At least in some cases they are like pseudo-adult play pens. The whole concept is frankly infantilizing to an embarrassing degree.
We will not be able to confront the evils that exist in the world if progressive people just start hiding in "safe spaces" whenever someone says something we don't like. It serves no long term purpose for individuals or the movement.
It's not as if those that hold disagreeable opinions are supporting any kind of violence against those that seek safe spaces away from them. Again, this is about giving words too much power.
I know the problems we face are difficult to deal with, and I know that there are many out there who disagree and hold awful/backward opinions about virtually every problem people on the margins face in the U.S. and elsewhere. But the solution cannot be to bury our heads in the sand. We can't afford a generation of minds completely deprived of oxygen.