A Safe Space for Thee but not for Me Share This:





Times changed.



First, those of us who went off to university were often amazed to discover kindred spirits. In the less popular fields -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Math -- we found others who thought the



Then, computers became personal. After years of being thought a bit odd for wanting to play with these hulking machines -- not to mention being reviled for supporting what were considered to be instruments of war, or of government control -- we became the guys who could help you install a printer on your new PC. Silicon Valley exploded, computer entrepreneurs became rich, and computer science became both a cool major, and a lucrative one. And for the first time, it began to attract those who are not socially challenged.



Conflict ensued.







But then our behavior was condemned. Remember us, the social outcasts, who survived high school and finally found acceptance in college? A marginalized group who finally found -- or constructed -- a



Safe space is a term for an area or forum where either a marginalised group are not supposed to face standard mainstream stereotypes and marginalisation, or in which a shared political or social viewpoint is required to participate in the space.

I'm all in favor of safe spaces. If women, or racial minorities, or LGBTs, need a space where they can be away from my white-male-heterosexual presence, I certainly will respect that. And I'm also all in favor of my fellow "geeks" developing social skills -- after all, my college friends and I eventually did, and most of us are happily married now.



But there ought to be a safe space for "geeks" -- where the socially inept can relate on their own terms, without marginalization from the rest of society. Where they can require their own social viewpoint for participation -- even if that viewpoint is, "we love computers, and we don't care about feminist issues." A space where the participants can "let their hair down" and stop worrying about whether they're harassing or oppressing or demeaning someone.



I won't join that space; I've moved on. But I recall my past well enough to sympathize. And I don't see why one group gets to have a safe space, but not another.

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People who never before complained about underrepresentation as "geeks" -- or as lumberjacks or truckers or trash collectors -- began to demand access to the lucrative jobs. And we were fine with that: there's plenty of work, not enough talent, and those who discovered our special joy were always welcome.But then our behavior was condemned. Remember us, the social outcasts, who survived high school and finally found acceptance in college? A marginalized group who finally found -- or constructed -- a "safe space" I'm all in favor of safe spaces. If women, or racial minorities, or LGBTs, need a space where they can be away from my white-male-heterosexual presence, I certainly will respect that. And I'm also all in favor of my fellow "geeks" developing social skills -- after all, my college friends and I eventually did, and most of us are happily married now.But there ought to be a safe space for "geeks" -- where the socially inept can relate on their own terms, without marginalization from the rest of society. Where they can require their own social viewpoint for participation -- even if that viewpoint is, "we love computers, and we don't care about feminist issues." A space where the participants can "let their hair down" and stop worrying about whether they're harassing or oppressing or demeaning someone.I won't join that space; I've moved on. But I recall my past well enough to sympathize. And I don't see why one group gets to have a safe space, but not another. Printer Friendly Brad - Monday 18 August 2014 - 13:50:55 - Permalink I grew up when the word "geek" was a rather cruel insult. "Nerd" was not much better. We were the kids who went to the regional and state-wide science fairs. We didn't become athletes or cheerleaders; we weren't elected class president or prom queen. Most of us were "socially challenged." Few of us were physically attractive. Some of us got beat up a lot.Times changed.First, those of us who went off to university were often amazed to discover kindred spirits. In the less popular fields -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Math -- we found others who thought the Euler identity was beautiful, or the PDP-11 was elegant, or that Maxwell's equations were awe-inspiring. We hung out together, and spent all-nighters in the computer center, competing to see who could burn the most CPU time.Then, computers became personal. After years of being thought a bit odd for wanting to play with these hulking machines -- not to mention being reviled for supporting what were considered to be instruments of war, or of government control -- we became the guys who could help you install a printer on your new PC. Silicon Valley exploded, computer entrepreneurs became rich, and computer science became both a cool major, and a lucrative one. And for the first time, it began to attract those who are not socially challenged.Conflict ensued.