The Rubinshteinic Critical Philosophy Towards "Safe Spaces"
Updated: 4 days ago
Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge.” — Buddha.
Introduction
"Safe Spaces" are organizations, or specific events, where people gather and communicate, in an attempt to have, even for a while, a safer time with other people. By "safer", I do not refer to what we usually refer to as security, but rather, to the safety of "the heart", per se.
The safety of one's emotional balance, where one is "immune" to insults, hate, and so on, temporarily. The point isn't to protect one's life, but one's sense of emotional and interpersonal security, even for a little while.
Essentially, Safe Spaces are designated physical or virtual environments where individuals can gather and interact freely, shielded from the harsh adversities of the external. These spaces are designed to foster a sense of emotional security, allowing participants to express themselves openly without fear of judgment, discrimination, or harm.
In safe spaces, vulnerability is embraced, not lambasted. It is the same in true love, however, when you are in love you also need to embrace risk-taking. On the other hand, Safe spaces are there to be risk-free.
Safe spaces sound very much ideal, however I would like to argue that this search for idealism is, well, very sad. As such I'll explain why I avoid them...
Part I: Why I Avoid Them
Such specific safety appears to be one that many seek nowadays. I also sought it once, but eventually gave up on the attempt. That's because I realized that it goes against my best interests as a philosopher.
I too am more sensitive than average, yet I find it counterintuitive to submit to this liability. Instead I prefer to overcome it. I prefer to overcome any liability and every disability as much as I can by thinking beyond their lens. Allow me to demonstrate how...
Submitting to it would mean that I would not have the courage or desire to engage in philosophical discussions with people and gain insights as a result.
A philosopher needs insights to write good books, articles and so on. One way to gain insights is through risk-taking.
Taking risks require courage. Therefore, safe spaces prevent us from developing courage within us.
Safe spaces may not require us to develop any virtue in general. That is despite the fact it is important to develop many virtues within us as a way to survive in society.
Also, the more we develop virtues such as consideration, compassion and peacefulness, the less we would need safe spaces in the first place.
People in safe-spaces need to be strong enough to accept others. This strength by itself is a virtue and safe-spaces don't encourage such development of virtue but simply encourage you to be yourself. They do not necessarily encourage you to make something out of yourself, which has to do with self-improvement.
To allow people to be themselves we need to be strong enough for it.
Thus, safe-spaces require strength, or toughness.
Part II: The Value of Laws How They Are Counter-Intuitive Here
Logic applies even in safe spaces by the rules of which safe spaces are based on. As discussed elsewhere, logic is cold and does not have to consider your emotions, thus making your emotions irrelevant even in the context of safe spaces.
Weirdly enough, your emotions, when too difficult to contain, can prevent you from being in a safe space, as the other members in the space may cancel your emotions thus cancel yourself..
Safe spaces do not require you to have empathy towards other people unless stated by the rules. At their core basis, they are there to contain people in a shared context under the virtue of honesty.
As such, you are not really safe in them if you want people to care for your distress and emotions. Your expectations don't have to be addressed, and you don't have to address people's emotions either. That's the idea about being yourself beyond the usual, social requirement to act.
Their caring is their own prerogative, and they are not obliged to care. They are only obliged to not disregard anything else that is required by a space's law to regard. Empathy is not only a choice but something that may require a certain degree of intellect, regardless of emotion. It's known as cognitive empathy.
In safe spaces it is only those who are more liked than others that will receive empathy for their distress. Do You understand why?
Safe spaces are about allowing people to be more of who they are, rather than compel them to do things they do not want, such as caring for people they do not want to care about.
This may lead to conflicts between people because different authentic selves may collide with other authentic selves, along with their interests. In other words you are not compelled to care for others in safe spaces (other than the bare minimum demanded by the rules), and others are not compelled to care for you.
The problem comes when we need to empathize with other people in order to understand their situations. And in the lack of understanding, people may get into conflicts with one another, thus making safe spaces not exactly safe. How can safe spaces be safe when there are conflicts within?
Safe spaces may of course encourage secrecy. Secrecy is one of the ways safe spaces foster safety. However, people in general may feel to tell secrets to others from that safe space, ruining the safety of the safe space in the process.
Safe spaces are built on trust. To trust someone you need luck. Luck, or in other words, a higher-than-average probability that the other side is indeed trusted beyond your understanding of them.
Some people deviate more than others, naturally appearing distant as a result. This distant, aloof behavior may naturally create distrust.
Trust requires the virtue of vulnerability, and vulnerability compels us to sacrifice ourselves.
People in higher positions of authority may find it harder to be vulnerable with others. As such it is lonely at the top.
Profound intellects, or geniuses, are always lonely at the top of understanding. Easily appearing as enigmas even to their dear ones, trusting them will be more difficult in general.
People who are more shallow may judge you according to shallow demographic data, such as your race, your gender, your nationality and so on. Not everyone even understands some people exist beyond such demographics. As demographics divide people, they also divide trust.
Part III: The Essence of Empathy
There will always be some degree of potential conflict between people, and the best way to reduce it is by having empathy.
Cognitive, emotional, does not matter. If you are unable or unwilling to empathize with other people, you are not going to be safe in a safe space, and that applies to other members as well. Ironically it is this very component that brings us safety.
Cognitive empathy is basically the ability to understand someone using your intellect. However, the intellect is limited by many things such as depression and other depravities.
Emotional empathy allows you to understand using emotions. However, emotions are limited by your energy and tendency for fatigue.
The Struggle To Understand Others Without Empathy
Heated debates may stem from wanting to be righter than understanding the other side one argues with. And heated debates may exist in safe spaces as well. It is even more problematic in safe spaces because moderators may censor some exchange of ideas.
How can you be more of yourself in a safe environment if you are not allowed to discuss topics you'd like to be discussed?
Psychopaths may struggle immensely in safe spaces because their empathy is mainly cognitive. If they don't really care about you, they would easily dismiss you. If they care about you, on the other hand, they can actually read you like an open book.
Like with anyone else you can't expect psychopaths to care. A true desire to care always comes from within. When people have other matters to handle, known or repressed by their minds, apathy turns a regular aspect of human life.
Many people have a depravity that makes them want to be seen and appreciated. However they may struggle understanding how to do it, how to make themselves seen and appreciated by others in ways that will not make them feel judged, guilt or shame.
Guilt and shame will only compel them to withdraw back, despite their need to be embraced and even loved by someone who is more than a mere friend to them. That's the value of friendship!
Part IV: Sensitivity As An Issue
I do support the reduction of sensitivity in humans in general.
Should we be more tough, we can either eliminate or significantly reduce the need of safe spaces.
When you need moderators to make you feel protected because you are sensitive, then sensitivity is a problem. Why? Because you then turn dependent on them.
That's despite the fact that these moderators/guides/supervisors/admins have lives of their own.
Sensitivity is a problem when it causes you to get into meltdowns and panic attacks.
It is hard being a philosopher or being in certain other occupations if you react abnormally to insults, for example.
The Value of Toughness
The whole idea of being tougher lies on the notion that you would be able to better endure other people better and not be very affected by their interactions....
Tougher people do not need the safety element of safe spaces because they do not require the help of moderators to "protect" them from insults or other triggers.
Tougher people already have that/these safety mechanism/s within them.
Sensitivity Together With Toughness
Sensitivity isn't necessarily a disability, but sometimes it appears that some people just submit to it as a fact they can't change. They, as well as I, were wrong, as it still possible to reduce sensitivity.
Something to understand about sensitivity...
Essentially, it is but a synonym to being vulnerable, and the reasons as to why people do not want to be less vulnerable, is because vulnerability is hard to do in a world where it can easily, easily be exploited by those with malice or ulterior motives.
People with ulterior motives are often ulterior even to them. You can call this unconscious manipulation. To solve unconscious manipulation you need to be honest with yourself, not only with others.
In theory our unconscious mind may manipulate us as a way to restore ourselves (and others) back to greater wellbeing. The unconscious can be regarded as the will of the universe itself.
Excessive sensitivity can prevent harmonious discussions. As such, as Sun Tzu would put it: The wise warrior avoids the battle.
Insights, experiences, meaningful relationships with other people, and even love -- all of those can be absent from you as long as you lack the courage to endure the inevitable possibility of adversity, found in any human interaction.
Part V: Notes About Philosocom
Philosocom is not a safe space, as reading this site and its many articles rests on your shoulders only.
I've written here a lot on darker topics, and some of which, may also be depressing.
I do not wish for this site to be a safe space, because as a philosopher, it is a part of my occupation to explore and exchange with you, ideas that might be difficult to contain.
The whole point of philosophy is to seek the truth, no matter how grim it may be.
It takes much courage to learn as you can see. You have to open yourself up to ideas you might otherwise not desire to consume in the first place.
Furthermore it takes time to process and reflect on the insights of my glorious article empire.
Philosophy in general fosters reflective thinking, or the ability to think about previously-consumed insights.
When you seek to learn you better develop intellectual humility, and respect that of which you don't understand.
Safe spaces expect you to be yourself/who do you wish to brand/rebrand yourself as. I expect you to understand my material independently as I too have my own life to lead.
I understand that, in order to understand much of this reality in my research, I have to grow my relentlessness and my ruthlessness.
For geniuses, ruthlessness is a virtue. Ruthlessness can of course be regarded as what? As insensitive...
Conclusions
I believe it is imperative upon each individual to cultivate personal growth. This includes...
The conscious choice of what information to consume.
The conscious choice of what people to hang around with.
The conscious choice of when to consume content, and when to talk to other people.
The more we make conscious choices, the safer lives we can lead... safer, accordingly to our heart's true desire.
It is essential to maintain emotional resilience and to avoid allowing the opinions of others to dictate one's own well-being. While I may be sensitive to the feelings of others, I ultimately bear responsibility for my own emotional state.
Bonus Conclusion: The Safe Space As Personal
Remember... we ALL have our safe spaces! We just need to look within ourselves and define what would our own safe space would entail!
The pursuit of success often requires sacrifice! By choosing to share my thoughts and ideas publicly, I have willingly exposed myself to criticism and potential backlash. However, I am determined to mentally survive and to continue to pursue my goals, regardless of the challenges I may face.
Per this lofty ambition of mine, I do not seek refuge in safe spaces. Instead, I find my "safe space" in researching ideas, experimenting with them and examining a diverse range of perspectives, both online and offline. That's my safe space...
What... what would be yours?
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