I agree with the title.
My problem with safe spaces on Reddit and to a less extent other web forums is a clear separation between them and discussion forums.
Reddit ( and other forums ) didn't have a way to visually and otherwise separate them from other discussion forums.
They looked just like every other sub where everyone was free to give their polite opinion.
That or you are enjoying a sub, a new crowd shows up, new mods show up, and you begin getting attacked along with everyone else who wasn't there for a safe space.
I think safe spaces should be very visually different from discussion forums.