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.

Sorry Lass - what the previous poster said. The organisation that James volunteers for runs at least couple of refuges - one men only and one women plus transwomen (don't think it was clarified where transmen went).

James didn't seem on top of the organisation's policies and procedures and unusual to have a organisation rep by a volunteer rather than the head. The trans status therefore seemed to be the main reason hence my previous post.

I agree good to have survivors' experience represented but given that James was the only one, the panel makeup seemed odd.

twitter.com/dianalouisej/status/1133020453906341890

Here is James calling women a slur that gets you banned from Mumsnet and agreeing that said women are 'a cult' which grooms the vulnerable. Just who you want working in a women's refuge. I always remember - every accusation is an admission. Agree that James' inclusion on the panel was a very bizarre choice, maybe Maria Miller thought that after inviting Jess Bradley anyone would look good?

The weird thing about that "cult" thread is that most of it's true. Yes, I am really happy to be identified as a woman who is part of the movement saying to women that it's OK to have boundaries, that they are not responsible for the abuse men dish out, and that it's possible to find a supportive community of women. How terrible! How "cultish"!

ArcheryAnnie I was just coming on to say the same thing about the twitter post!They even talk about T**f is a slur website. Almost like a reverse somehow... Pointing out real examples GC women have issues with but saying we are the cult. Bizarre.

Ha, that cult thread is ridiculous.

That cult thread is parody right?!

That thread is weird.

Women help women subjected to domestic violence?

And that's wrong because...?

Looks like this has hit the press

www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/passenger-complained-great-western-railway-16330620

Eh?

They are actually using the terf is a slur website, and transwomen who they confirm have committed crimes?

I don't get it.

Looks like this has hit the press

"Jay" comments: "Don't let the feminists see this"

What was it we were saying about the obfuscating effect of using 'preferred pronouns'...?

What was it we were saying about the obfuscating effect of using 'preferred pronouns'...?

Exactly. Times a million. The entire crux of the issue is missed.

Women help women subjected to domestic violence? And that's wrong because...?

The only possible answer: because encouraging women to have boundaries, to recognise and avoid abusers and leave abusive relationships and to stand up for their rights is a big inconvenience to males who wish to treat women badly.

As usual the writer has no idea what they're talking about and isn't aware of the basic definitions of a cult or what one is. (For a start there are no penalties whatsoever for leaving MN at any time. We have a flouncers corner even so you can do it with style. And then be back next day. Nobody cares one way or the other.) So it's a copied word being randomly flung around in an attempt to make some mud stick. Rather like a child in a tantrum shouting words that 'sound' bad in context.

'Hit the press' - with all the key information missing.

Diana is a transwoman. This was not a biological woman. Hence the comment about sexual dominance displays. Without context that has no meaning.

Diana had just got back from a select committee meeting and runs refuges which will have extensive connections to vulnerable women and safeguarding, where the job could reasonably be expected to demand high standards of personal conduct, awareness of safeguarding and basic boundaries on sexual conduct in public places.

Pronouns concealing facts. Facts that there is a very strong public interest for sharing.

I'm imagining us "whispering in ears"

Lol.

part of the movement saying to women that it's OK to have boundaries, that they are not responsible for the abuse men dish out, and that it's possible to find a supportive community of women. How terrible! How "cultish"!

It’s the return of that dangerous cult of the 1970s The Women’s Liberation Movement.

We thought that the bro-liberal Ladette movement of the 1990s got rid of them. hmmm looks like we’d better re-form the Spice Girls.

Ahem

I call to order the first offical meeting of the whispering groomers of Mumsnet. Right then, down to business.

Does everyone here know the difference between a man and a woman? Yes?? Great. Well that's about it really. Sex is a protected characteristic, single sex spaces and sports are legal. The care of children should be backed up with medical evidence.

Do you feel brainwashed? Great!
You're all honorary mumsnet cult members now, "whether you like it or not" (quoting there from the not at all cultish Mermaids) .

Women are adult human females. Women are adult human females. Women are adult human females. Women are adult human females.

Yup, completely brainwashed by a dangerous cult.

Oh, I'm famous

That was my response they quoted in the report.

Was going to say I wish I'd been less cryptic with my "dominance", as I wanted to say male dominance, but then they probably wouldn't have printed it and I'd have been dogpiled for "transphobia".

Almost like a reverse somehow... Pointing out real examples GC women have issues with but saying we are the cult

This type of narcissistic reversal is a form of gaslighting and power games and for me a clear TRA signature move I've observed many times over the last 5 years or so. I honestly think they love this element of it more than anything else, including sex stuff.

I must be particularly vulnerable to joining cults. Just a few years ago I was part of a cult that didn’t believe comet Hale-Bopp was a spaceship that I could board by committing suicide.

Before that I was part of a cult that boarded ourselves up outside the Waco compound of the Branch Davidians.

I'm sceptical that dildos etc are top of the list of priorities for marginalised women but I can't educate myself because that website seems to be down.

When Yaniv finally solves period poverty, dildos to the developing world will be next on the agenda.

Ereshkigal Now that I think about it and how you've explained it, I have seen that same kind of writing over and over and over again by TRAs. I've also seen it in some other forums like incels on Reddit, before they were shut down... Power game really explains the behavior of a certain cyclist also.
Thanks for that I'll definitely be more aware now when I see it.

It's going up the arse, isn't it?

That's what I thought.

But all the fuss about accessing a woman's sex shop, by a woman, and taking to Twitter over a woman's outrage?

Your first explanation sounds plausible too.