So there's this educational theory called the
learning zone model that is applicable to what's going on in this abortion of a comic. It's an idea developed by this German dude named Tom Senninger. Here's a helpful graphic to get us started:
As you can see, the center of the graphic is the comfort zone. The idea is that it's important to
gently push someone outside of their comfort zone into an area of unfamiliarity so they can absorb new experiences. Safety is still within reach. The learning zone is full of exciting new challenges and opportunities for growth. The learning zone also contains risks, but they're acceptable risks. Failure in this space is safe, and it won't lead to an accident or meltdown. The challenge of teaching lies in keeping the student within the learning zone without letting them become too comfortable and without pushing them so hard that they enter the panic zone.
Outside the learning zone is the panic zone. It's an area full of anxiety and fear. Learning becomes impossible in this environment because it is so far outside of the comfort zone that the learner no longer has any frame of reference. It's an alienating environment. It's not the hallmark of a great teacher or even a great person. Shitty teachers and shitty people do this. Abusive spouses to this in order to maintain control by keeping their victim disoriented. It's hazing wrapped in a 'this is good for you' wrapper to make it acceptable to outsiders. Glip, apparently, thinks the panic zone is where everyone needs to be in order to become better.
Another context where this is applicable is in therapy. Someone in therapy for a traumatic event needs to be gently led by the therapist into a space where they can process what happened to them while still remaining safe. Intentionally triggering the fuck out of someone with legitimate PTSD isn't going to help them get better. Glip, through her OC mouthpiece, is advocating disguising cruelty as care. It's arguable that intentionally pushing someone into a state of overwhelming fear and anxiety in order to 'help' them could be considered abuse.