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Original poster

The Samaritans: a "Specific Demographic"

87 replies

Jaysmith71 · 02/08/2021 16:06

Samaritans volunteers abused their position of trust by having sex with vulnerable callers, The Telegraph understands, prompting the charity to 'listen in' to conversations for the first time.The “shocking” incidents are believed to include volunteers meeting up with callers for inappropriate relationships.It is understood that there was a “specific demographic” of some "middle-aged men” who were abusing female callers by meeting up and having sex with them.The charity, which provides a helpline service for people in emotional distress or at risk of suicide, has strict rules concerning volunteer contact with callers.The incidents have prompted a mass overhaul of policies announced...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/01/exclusive-samaritans-listen-conversations-volunteers-had-sex/

OP posts:
theThreeofWeevils · 02/08/2021 16:38

I haven't placed much faith in the Samaritans' "commitment to confidentiality" since 2014. Google their Radar App...

TheWeeDonkey · 02/08/2021 16:34

Fucking hell, thats dreadful. Is there nothing that predators won't do? Silly question, no need to answer.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 02/08/2021 16:30

some of the men were wanting to know if the sex was consensual (massively missing the point), with one even suggesting that if so then it was 'fair game'

He was right first time. It's sneaky predator and prey with cover given by fellow males for this strategy when it's identified.

It reminds me of so many religious figures who counsel bereaved/traumatised parishioners/congregants and have inappropriate relationships with them (sometimes against vows of celibacy or marriage vows). In a male-female dyad (as it is in many faiths) it's very often the woman who's blamed. If the (typically middle-aged) man is mentioned at all, it's because he was tempted. And if it can be represented as consensual it was all absolutely fine - aside from the whole breaking of vows aspect and then "We're all human" comes into play.

ScreamingMeMe · 02/08/2021 16:29

This is so disgusting. Predatory men will seek out vulnerable women anywhere they can.

Original poster
Jaysmith71 · 02/08/2021 16:24

But who do you call if you've been traumatised by your contact with the Samaritans?

OP posts:
WagnersFourthSymphony · 02/08/2021 16:21

Appalling. Very depressing.

I saw a twitter thread about this. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some of the men were wanting to know if the sex was consensual (massively missing the point), with one even suggesting that if so then it was 'fair game' - by which he seemed to mean, on backtracking a little, that it might have been exploitative but it wasn't illegal. I despair - this is the mentality that brought shame on Oxfam.

It's sad but necessary that Samaritans are talking of bringing in call monitoring. I wonder how many people may be discouraged from being open about their desperate situation when they think someone else may be listening in.

Deliriumoftheendless · 02/08/2021 16:20

Jesus.

FloralBunting · 02/08/2021 16:19

FFS.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 02/08/2021 16:18

a move that has caused fear among some volunteers that the charity's commitment to caller confidentiality is being undermined because of a minority of rogue actors.

Here's the thing - nobody will know if it's a minority of rogue actors until there is an audit. And if the audit is announced, it's likely to change conduct for the time period or encourage subterfuge.

archive version if it helps anyone: archive.is/AiYLT

EishetChayil · 02/08/2021 16:14

This confirms my belief that there is not a single place on Earth or online where women are safe from men.

ArabellaScott · 02/08/2021 16:11

So depressing.

Shedbuilder · 02/08/2021 16:08

Am I surprised? No. Sexual predators will do anything to gain access to vulnerable people. And the vast majority of sexual predators are male.

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