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Original poster

When did this board become a "safe space"?

306 replies

OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 07:25

Long time poster here, name changed.

I've recently seen this board as being described as a "space space"? This has happened a few

Wikipedia says The term safe space refers to places "intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations".

Well, going by that, it's hardly a safe space, is it? We have robust discussions here that are rarely seen on other parts of the internet.

I don't know, I feel cross and disheartened to hear the term "safe space" being ascribed to this board as if we're too fragile to cope. Ugh.

Instead I would describe this board as broadly supportive, wouldn't you?

OP posts:
terryleather · 10/11/2022 10:21

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 08:42

I was told yesterday by long standing posters that a post I made showing support for a male detransistioner made this board unsafe and could isolate some women as this should be a men free space.

Centering men means excluding some women, it's not that hard and nothing to do with safe spaces.

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 10:05

whatstheprobdog Oh gosh, really?

It absolutely isn't. I've already talked about people being supportive and protective towards the poster. I'm supportive of her too.

My thing is just about the use of safe space in context of this board.

OP posts:
whatstheprobdog · 10/11/2022 09:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ as it's the work of a PBP.

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 10/11/2022 09:31

People start bleating about echo chambers when they come here with pseudo scientific bollocks and are robustly challenged on it

it feels like an attack to them because of course they can’t sensibly justify their beliefs because they’re sexist claptrap

they do also find themselves out numbered, which must feel attacking. However women who believe sex is important often find themselves in that position too

i don’t think genderists are actively chased away from this board, they just get asked questions until they are too uncomfortable to stay

SantaCarlaCalifornia · 10/11/2022 09:31

I hate the term 'safe space' but I think can be more than one meaning.

It can mean a place where you will never hear anything you don't want to hear/don't agree with or a place where you are safe to discuss things some people may not agree with.

Obviously, I think this board is the latter.

TastefulRainbowUnicorn · 10/11/2022 09:29

I think there are some individual threads on here which should be treated as safe spaces, and are treated that way by most posters - support threads and the Trans Widows threads. Most of the board definitely isn’t!

SantaCarlaCalifornia · 10/11/2022 09:27

PinkyU · 10/11/2022 08:46

I think “safe space” is being used in lieu of “echo chamber”.

As opposed to the rest of the internet where you get banned for saying TWANW?

CheeseIsMyPatronus · 10/11/2022 09:25

It’s a naff expression but I took it to mean “you don’t have to self-censor here”

Helleofabore · 10/11/2022 09:22

If it’s the situation I’m thinking of, that chap had been pushing women’s boundaries and not accepting no for an answer, right?

I believe so.

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:22

I wasn't keen on the term "safe space" to begin with but having had it used to chastise and belittle me I like it even less.

I really don't want your thread to be deleted Omi so will not discuss my thread any further.

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 09:18

So far, no one seems to like the term "safe space".

OP posts:
BernardBlacksMolluscs · 10/11/2022 09:18

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:16

male pattern behaviour so often wins out, eh?

What do you mean?

Not accusing you of being a man!

I meant the chap in question who had previously been role playing as a woman.

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:16

male pattern behaviour so often wins out, eh?

What do you mean?

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 10/11/2022 09:15

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:12

If it’s the situation I’m thinking of, that chap had been pushing women’s boundaries and not accepting no for an answer, right?

support such men if you like, but don’t expect that to be unchallenged on a feminist talk board

But I wasn't aware of that. I made it clear I was not on Twitter and had no idea of the spat he had with a mn poster. I was showing support for the LGBA pod cast.

Fair enough

male pattern behaviour so often wins out, eh?

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 09:14

PinkyU · 10/11/2022 08:46

I think “safe space” is being used in lieu of “echo chamber”.

Here? Or do you mean, generally?!

OP posts:
BernardBlacksMolluscs · 10/11/2022 09:14

Ps, I don’t approve of the term ‘safe space’ at all

I support the right of any and all posters to dance attendance on various men (glinner, Stephanie Hayden and so on) and I support the right of me to roll my eyes and ask them why they’re actively making a fuss of men on a feminist talk board. Men have pretty much the whole rest of the internet where people indulge themselves instinct to always centre men

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:12

If it’s the situation I’m thinking of, that chap had been pushing women’s boundaries and not accepting no for an answer, right?

support such men if you like, but don’t expect that to be unchallenged on a feminist talk board

But I wasn't aware of that. I made it clear I was not on Twitter and had no idea of the spat he had with a mn poster. I was showing support for the LGBA pod cast.

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 09:09

Omi I don't want this to be a TAAT either but I felt bullied and wasn't aware that this was a "safe space" in the sense that you cannot mention anything positive about men.
I find that sad as if that's the rule then this board will quickly become an echo chamber which would be such a loss.

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 10/11/2022 09:09

CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 08:42

I was told yesterday by long standing posters that a post I made showing support for a male detransistioner made this board unsafe and could isolate some women as this should be a men free space.

If it’s the situation I’m thinking of, that chap had been pushing women’s boundaries and not accepting no for an answer, right?

support such men if you like, but don’t expect that to be unchallenged on a feminist talk board

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 09:04

ArabellaScott · 10/11/2022 08:47

The original meaning of 'safe space' was a place people could talk openly about contentious ideas without judgement or censoring.

Pretty much the opposite of that wiki definition.

Yes, but like many words and terms, the meaning has changed over time. It's implication is different now. It's used to shut down discussion.

crossstitchqueen I saw that thread and partly triggered this thread, actually.

I don't want this thread to be TAAT but I didn't agree with the term being used. I think there's a difference between "safe space" and supportive and protective. I think the posters were being the latter, but you posted in good faith, without knowing what had happened.

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 10/11/2022 08:47

The original meaning of 'safe space' was a place people could talk openly about contentious ideas without judgement or censoring.

Pretty much the opposite of that wiki definition.

PinkyU · 10/11/2022 08:46

I think “safe space” is being used in lieu of “echo chamber”.

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 08:42

GeriSignfeld · 10/11/2022 08:27

The Genderists say Mumsnet is a haven of wicked Terfery

I think that should be the board's byline.

OP posts:
CrossStichQueen · 10/11/2022 08:42

I was told yesterday by long standing posters that a post I made showing support for a male detransistioner made this board unsafe and could isolate some women as this should be a men free space.

Original poster
OmiOmy · 10/11/2022 08:39

Helleofabore · 10/11/2022 08:04

I find the term ‘safe space’ to be a real issue. It used to have meaning, like most words did, but is now rendered meaningless through it being overextended to
now mean a place where someone won’t disagree with you.

Who wants to live in a world where people don’t or won’t disagree? Blimey. It would be awful.

However, there is a difference between disagreeing and coming to shame people who think differently. Of course there is.

The nuance really could be that here people can disagree and not be banned for just disagreeing (as opposed to personal attacks, negative generalisations , etc) . In that sense, yes this is safe.

And you don’t generally get death threat tweets or gifs depicting violence here.

Yes, I agree with all this.

I think my thing is that I have a visceral reaction to the term, similar to when I hear "be kind".

OP posts:
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