I think we want to encourage the thinking. That is what we are about as Buffistas. We had a sort of horrible thing about 9/11 we don’t talk about, but it is real with a conversation between two people both of whom do not post here now and one who left completely. I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want to lose people.

My one concern would be that while I don’t want to put any burden on members of whatever community to respond or participate, I also wouldn’t want it to be “here are white people/straight people/cis people explaining what’s right and wrong” either? Not sure how to explain or help that though.

We all own educating ourselves. I agree that the more participation we have from people in those groups, the better. But in the absence, we still have to be committed to growth. Again, we don't put the onus of education on marginalized groups. We are fortunate when they (we) take part.

ETA: There are many (MANY) resources provided by folks in those marginalized communities, so it's not in the absence of those voices.

Ok yeah—I would hope people are pointing to those resources—def not meaning our marginalized members of whatever type would need to participate. But I’ve seen a lot of self congratulatory “look we are doing the work” among in groups before where if someone in the group they’re actually discussing came along, itd be obvious that they’re only vaguely touching on reality? If that makes sense? Not sure how that can be guided/avoided, but would hope we’d keep it in mind.

(ETA: this is obvi not voting against opening a thread! More “things to keep in mind once we have a thread”?)

I feel the need to clarify that safe spaces exist to prioritize the voices and concerns of marginalized communities. The world at large is a safe space if you're white, male, cis, straight, able-bodied, etc. For example, in a discussion on race or trans issues, it is not a safe space for me as a white lesbian to double down or minimize what is being discussed.

But I’ve seen a lot of self congratulatory “look we are doing the work” among in groups before

Yes, same, I also have this concern.

And this wouldn't be a call-out thread, right? Like, "Joss, meet me in [thread] so I can explain where you went wrong"?

I know I'm not here much, but I'm definitely in favor of this thread. EDIT: Provided, of course, that it's not a call-out thread, but an education thread.

The intent is not to be a call out space, but to be a place of learning and growth. That said, if someone is doubling down anywhere on the board? Yeah, I think that would be a time to go to this thread and discuss. Someone says something and is told in-thread that it's problematic and they apologize and move on? No need to take it to this thread, except maybe to add the issue to discuss (not to point fingers at the original discussion, but to have it be its own topic for learning). Does that make sense?

And re: the woke thing - absolutely agree with you. There is never a time when you've (in general) reached the end of this work. It is a life-long process that will continue long after we are all gone.

Sounds like a good idea, glam.

I am confused about this:

We had a sort of horrible thing about 9/11 we don’t talk about, but it is real with a conversation between two people both of whom do not post here now and one who left completely. I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want to lose people.

I don't remember what you're referring to, Sophia, and I'm not sure if you're saying a space like Glam is proposing would have helped or hurt.

I'm in favor of such a thread. I'd like to avoid hurting people unintentionally, and it's hard to do if you don't know where some of the pain points are.