“When we say ‘free’, in a way, it’s not really ‘free’,” Professor Viray acknowledges. “There are certain parameters of use. ‘Proper’ space and ‘proper’ use is conditioned by society. This happens because, for society to function as it should, you will need limitations in place.”

Dr Chong agrees. “Free space is free because there is a social construct that makes it free; the construct is that we respect every other person who uses the space. Just like free speech—free speech doesn’t mean that you can say anything you want … If anybody can do anything in any place, there is no free space.”

While these assertions might seem like the sort of equivocal cop-out that political candidates routinely trot out at election rallies, I can see the logic behind Professor Viray and Dr Chong’s views. Even the most socially liberal person has to live within constraints if one does not wish to fight for one’s life in an anarchic society à la The Hunger Games or Fortnite.

But, like the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, it seems to be going too far by granting excessive power to institutions. To paraphrase John Stuart Mill’s harm principle, the only constraint on us that is permissible is if others may suffer for our liberty.

Who is harmed, really, when we sit down at the mall or camp overnight at East Coast Park?

However, I’m intrigued by Dr Chong’s comparison of free space to free speech. Why is it that we get so riled up over restrictions to our freedom of speech, while we seem relatively nonchalant over the shackles placed over our freedom to use space as we wish?

I wonder if it is because most of us are privileged enough to already have our own private spaces—whether it’s a bedroom, our special chair, or even something virtual like a WhatsApp chat with a best friend with whom you can rant about how the bus driver sped off despite seeing you sprint for the bus.

The question that logically followed this train of thought was: as a certain Ms Teo has asked, do we even need that much space in the first place?

Dr Chong thinks so. He sees physical spaces as places where communities can gather to build resilience, where people can build more in-depth and closer relationships with each other.