I am interested in keeping out non-helpful cruft comments that don't enhance the conversation. But what a wonderful opportunity to illustrate my idea!

The premise here says a public conversation is special and the right to join it even more so.

Since you don't know me, you might believe I am interested in fact-free safe spaces. I can't personally think of one person in my life that would say that of me. What we have here is an accusation without a relationship. If someone close to me had told me what you did, I would have to take it to heart. But you feel justified in saying it for your own reasons, and it's not based on truth of knowing me or understanding what I am proposing.

In other words, you joined a public conversation without earning that right. You must show driving proficiency to past the drivers test before getting your license to drive a heavy vehicle at high speeds, why not earn the right to join a public conversation?

The "safe space" notion isn't a bad one. Most of the time, I want a safe place. Many times I don't. A better way to think about it is an incubation space for thoughtful people to inspire each-other. Safe from attacks yet full of cognitive dissonance.

Here's how the situation would have gone if under the proposed paradigm: You come across a post of mine and want to comment. Since the community doesn't know you, you can't post yet, lest you drag down and discourage me from posting again. The community would comment on my post, as they had many times before and I had to their post. If I were to post again and you had just been admitted to the community, you would never squander such a privilege with an unfounded character attack because you don't want to loose your privilege. Rather than attacking me, you would say something helpful. You comment: "You're just interested in your fact-free safe space" could have read: "This paradigm shift would lead to a lack of debate and criticism". Then, your perspective, the thing which no one else in the world has, can enhance a public conversation!

In this scenario, you get to decide to stay on the attack and not participate, or be helpful and participate. The community gets to focus on honing themselves through constructive dialog and idea sharing. They can let in as few or as many members as they like.

In the end, this comment was helpful!