DV Select Committee contributor wants to browse adult sites on train wifi

[BrightonReSisters]

By now you've probably all seen, or at least heard about, Karen Ingala Smith's wonderful contribution to the Women & Equalities Select Committee yesterday. If not, you can see it here:

parliamentlive.tv/event/index/0d07ff13-636e-4b51-a946-2877e583dc4c

You may NOT have seen this re one of the other contributors, Diana James. Diana works with refuges in the south West. On the train to the Select Committee yesterday, Diana wanted to shop online for sex toys. Diana wasn't happy that GWR blocked the online sex toy shop from their WiFi, due to the adult nature of their products. We know this because Diana publicly tweeted to GWR to complain.

That Diana thinks it appropriate to visit an adult site on a public train is disturbing. That Diana thinks it's a good idea to broadcast this publicly is odd. That Diana thought GWR would bow down to Diana's demand to access adult content on their WiFi is downright bizarre.

Diana was invited to give evidence about provision of services for survivors of domestic violence and that makes behaviour even more worrying than if we were talking about a teenage boy or suited commuter.

Diana can of course do as Diana pleases within the bounds of the law. That said, this is a red flag.

When someone in Diana's position thinks this kind of behaviour is appropriate we must ask questions. The first question is probably the most obvious: why ask a this person, with questionable boundaries, to speak for vulnerable abuse survivors?

It's a small mercy that at least GWR seem to have their heads screwed on.

Well, sometimes a woman just has to expose her penis in public transport and sometimes she just has to expose a plastic one.

What matters is a girl’s sexual rights to expose penis everywhere — on the train, bus, in the toilets, in the coyly-curtained shower beside your pre-teen daughter, and coming to a hospital bed beside you as you recover from surgery.

Enjoy! (winks, blows kisses)

Can we just call a spade a spade? This is a men’s sexual rights movement. It has fuck all to do with oppression.

I can promise you that there will be other men who, when they realize this truth, will rise in violence to quash it, in order to protect mothers, wives, and daughters. I’d prefer that not happen. Governments need to get real here. They are stoking a fire.

You shouldn't be using public wifi to pick your sex toys, and you should be shamed for even trying.

Exactly.

Where is even a hint of fucking safeguarding? Some kid innocently googles something and ends up looking at a double ended dildo or latex vagina.

But that's all fine as long as you can settle down to some personal perusal?

I did a google image search against the name. Well, suffice to say that has now made perfect sense of Diana’s sense of sexual entitlement

What kind of man desires access to spaces where vulnerable women and children are?

Answers on a postcard.

As I'm home on my own, and not in public, I had a look at the site Diana was trying to access.

The first thing offered on the front page is a "Strap on and Pegging class" (£35 if you are feeling frisky ladies)

The menu options are

New Toys
Sex Toys
Sex Essentials
Bondage BDSM Toys
Sensual Pleasure
Lingerie
Erotic Books
Gifts and Games
Classes

It's all fine and dandy, and it's all aimed at consenting adults. But FFS checking out the Satisfyer Pro Penguin Clitoral Suction Toy , or signing up for the 'anal for everyone' class is not someone you do in a public yet confined space.

Noticeable difference in the no. of likes between the two tweets too. Well done, Andy.

Some trains don’t even have recharging ports for dildos.

It’s shocking, I say, just shocking.

@michelleoftheresistance there are a lot overworked shockometres down here in Brighton, and yet even now we occasionally manage to be surprised!

If anyone has a minute to spare, you can raise your concerns with Maria Miller by emailing [email protected]

And just in case you're reading this: Andy, if you're ever in Brighton, the ReSisters would love to buy you a pint

Oh dear, someone going to great lengths to show how well they do womaning.

It's all attention though, isn't it? Why would anyone complain about that, then air their grievance on Twitter, unless they enjoyed the fact that they'd garner satisfying dollops of shock/horror?

Funny how Diana missed out the word erotic in that tweet
Fair play to Andy for the response.

The tweet appears to have been deleted.
What a wanker.

All the other responses still there though

mobile.twitter.com/GWRHelp/status/1131225586226085896

Well, I've tweeted support for Andy. And mentioned that the Select Committee was apparently about domestic violence. My tweet could either float off into the aether, or bring down the wrath of the TRAs.

I've just watched the parliament.tv evidence from Diane James and the other two witnesses. James seems to have spent a lot of time in evidence-giving taking pains to portray lesbians as dangerous and women as violent. I see you, Diana James.

(And yes, eeeew to accessing porn sites on the train. James is a creep, and is flaunting the fact that there are no sanctions to James being a creep.)

I'm watching it now while doing boring paperwork.

Karen Ingala-Smith is a legend - she is awesome in her clarity and knowledge.

Not got to the TW evidence yet ...

Diana actually deleted that tweet?? Shame about the screenshots huh Diana.

We see you.

Who the hell NEEDS to browse sex toy sites on a train? Can’t it wait? Unless it’s being done to intimidate or publicly indulge a fetish, which as we all know never happens...

I wonder if they were expecting a grovelling apology and widespread admiration for how brave they were being, standing up for all women's right to browse for sex toys on the train? 😂

Why? Why are TRAs so unfailingly gross?

Glad this person was slapped right back down into place. Worrying lack of boundaries considering the vulnerable group they work with.

To be invited to give evidence to the Select Committee must have been seen as the Ultimate Validation.

We can imagine the overwhelming sense of triumph, ecstasy and power coursing through the veins en route to Westminster. Is it any wonder that the tension and excitement could only be satisfied by perusing women's sex toys and broadcasting your kink online? Said no woman ever.

Funnily enough, KIS had mentioned to the Select Committee, in passing, that a proportion of trans needed to be excluded because of their fetishes around female victimhood.

I feel concerned for DV survivors in Cornwall (where DJ volunteers).

It's all attention though, isn't it? Why would anyone complain about that, then air their grievance on Twitter, unless they enjoyed the fact that they'd garner satisfying dollops of shock/horror?

It is about attention seeking but it’s also about finding where society’s boundaries are. How far they can push their sexual fetishes on to the wider world. Some AGPs also get a huge kick out of making other people uncomfortable- a true display of dominance.

Diana has deleted that tweet, but the GWR response stands. Must be one if the most liked customer services tweets - over 200 likes.

Makes me want to fund a new shelter in Cornwall.

Well done GWR for being clear and robust in response.