outed by the news of the world (98)

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4 May 08, 12:17 PM
Jayed
UK(S), 5 yrs

The News of the World is sadly out of step with public attitudes to this sort of thing if it is seriously presenting its report as an exposure of vice. Just what is it exposing? The fact that British people enjoy a varied and exciting sex life? Some news!
What this represents is another example of titillation for the readership dressed up in an old fashioned kind of 'for the public good' investigation. It's nothing of the sort. The Sun, only last week, published an article on the trip one of their reporters made to a dominatrix to learns some spanking tricks to spice up her love life. This included whipping a man with crop as he bent over a bench and using a paddle. There was a photo of her, holding the crop against the man's bottom. The papers have the same owner.
Reporters and editors are not literary groundbreakers. They do not have creative imaginations. That is why they draw on traditional narrative forms to present such stories. It is outmoded and meaningless. I don't want to make light of the potential harm it can do in this instance. Clearly the woman's job will be under threat. Though I think she has to argue, as she is, that this is a private matter and does not impinge on her capabilities at work. She rightly refusing to absorb the guilt a Victorian mode of disproval demands. We should all trust the publics' liberal attitudes more. It is not the dominant mode of thought, but it is huge, influential and growing.
It's rather like those images of Bin Laden when he threatens us with destruction. He's a silly old man in a cave, too scared to leave it for fear of being captured or shot. We should just laugh at our bogey men. Rather like News of the World reporters and their not-very-shocking stories.
jayed

4 May 08, 12:20 PM
Professor_Tim
UK(HP), 4 yrs

The photo in PVC was off Saffy's IC profile. But anyone who knows her know where the other one was taken? My gut instinct says her school.
If the article was at least balanced, accurate and fair, that'd be something but it's littered with obvious lies.
This has got me really downcast. But that's nothing on how Saffy's feeling. Good people don't deserve this. *hugs*
x

* * *
Sunbeams are not made like me.
Edited 4 May 08, 12:22 PM by Professor_Tim

4 May 08, 12:21 PM
The_Inner_Whore
UK(E), 3 yrs
Jayed wrote:
The News of the World is sadly out of step with public attitudes to this sort of thing if it is seriously presenting its report as an exposure of vice.
Yes and no. Atittudes have changed a lot, yes, and m,ost people claim not to care what others do in private.
BUT...
When presented with the reality of a school teacher, social worker, or similar, who also moonlights as a sex professional of some kind, the public will still choose to feel, at the very least, uncomfortable.
Cultivate your inner whore

4 May 08, 12:23 PM
Pierced_Knight
UK, 2 yrs
From the article...

But our revelations will horrify head teacher Lynn Samwell-Smith at The Simpson School in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
And Hamilton's days of violent sextra-curricular activities will soon be numbered.
As has been discussed on numerous occasions, this is just another NOTW article that is extremely successful in selling this newspaper. These stories will NEVER change, no matter how much people complain.
I would like to know the follow up to this story. Does anybody know if this disclosure has affected this woman's professional career?
Is this story spreading fear and forcing people to hide themselves deeper OR has the outcome proved that apart from the embarrassment of public 'naming and shaming', this has not affected her work.
Does anybody know?
Regards,
Pierced Knight.
Educate to Liberate! Liberation through Education!
"ci, jian, bugan wei tianxia xian"

4 May 08, 12:26 PM
MistressAnath
UK(DN), 2 yrs
£
While I empathise very much with Saffy and what is happening to her, it remains a fact that all teaching contracts contain phrases about engaging in activities that will bring disrepute and can result instant dismissal.
The defense of being able to have a private life does NOT work if one advertises (ergo NOT private) as a pro-Domme. It DOES work if "just" involved in a lifestyle context.
There is also a requirement in teaching contracts to declare any external/additional business interests.
I know because this was a position I was in personally. While I was working as a teacher I was very careful about any links between my BDSM interests and my name/vanilla job. As an adult I accepted the risks and minimised them.
IF I elect to return to teaching I will be doing it under very different circumstances and will be "out" about my personal preferences and activities. But those are my choices.
Despite all that I have said above, I do feel for Saffy (even though I don't know her) and the trauma she must be going through. Her choice in how to out herself (should she desire to) has been removed from her by some gutter-snipe at a rag of a paper.
Go on....flame Me....it'll feel like home!
www.mistressanath.co.uk Queen of the Dark Dance

4 May 08, 12:42 PM
stableboi
UK(LS), 16 mths
She's a woman victimized by 'shit disturbing' elements in the media.
Unfortunately all of us professional types have to be careful of what we engage in publicly and discretion is key...
I can't afford to be indiscreet. Nor can any other IC member who works for the public.
We are always going to be of more interest than those who work for private firms/institutions- it's as if members of the public feel they have an inherent right to criticise and control our lives because they pay for us to do our jobs.
-sb

4 May 08, 12:44 PM
Lady_Ice
UK, 12 mths

Pierced_Knight wrote:
From the article...

But our revelations will horrify head teacher Lynn Samwell-Smith at The Simpson School in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
And Hamilton's days of violent sextra-curricular activities will soon be numbered.
As has been discussed on numerous occasions, this is just another NOTW article that is extremely successful in selling this newspaper. These stories will NEVER change, no matter how much people complain.
I would like to know the follow up to this story. Does anybody know if this disclosure has affected this woman's professional career?
Is this story spreading fear and forcing people to hide themselves deeper OR has the outcome proved that apart from the embarrassment of public 'naming and shaming', this has not affected her work.
Does anybody know?
Regards,
Pierced Knight.
From the thread Ms Saffron started on this

Littleboots wrote:
(S)- Well as expected the NOTW printed total lies about me. I have left my job earlier than I had wanted to (although already had handed my notice in).
I will remain a proud member of the fetish community and I will be back out at clubs once the article is no more than chip shop wrappers.
Thank you to all for you support.
Sx
Edited to add
I fail to see the News in this article- thoughts and support with you.
I have the perfect body
But its in the basement and is starting to smell.
Edited 4 May 08, 12:45 PM by Lady_Ice

4 May 08, 12:48 PM
shellshocked
UK, 2 yrs
Y! Gutted for you,but i think you knew there was always a danger of this happening(not that it makes it right).If anyone is strong enough to get through this its you,so keep your head up.always here for ya x

4 May 08, 12:56 PM
Nemi75
UK, 12 mths

Pierced_Knight wrote:
I would like to know the follow up to this story. Does anybody know if this disclosure has affected this woman's professional career?
Is this story spreading fear and forcing people to hide themselves deeper OR has the outcome proved that apart from the embarrassment of public 'naming and shaming', this has not affected her work.
Does anybody know?
Regards,
Pierced Knight.
I get the impression from this thread and the previous one that she has already handed in her resignation .
Problem is even if her school were supportive, the voice of even a small group of parents can be horribly effective in removing a staff member, and if her students know (which they will - kids read their parents papers too), they may not understand exactly what it is 'Miss' is involved in but they will be more than happy to make snide comments.
Lets face it - if you were a kid and you found something like this out about your teacher can you guarantee you wouldn't be at least tempted? Kids can be cruel. And how much more so when a former figure of authority suddenly becomes a target. We all had teachers we gossipped about when we were kids, often unfounded.
In this situation the gossip has a foundation and sadly, her professional standing has been fatally undermined. It is appaling that our society still supports this attitude, but sadly, that's the reality of the situation.
I imagine Saffy is a fab teacher and if I had kids I would be more than happy to have them continue in her class, and many people would feel the same. Sadly it's the voices of those who are vocal in opposition that always count the most.
I despair of our society at times.
One of God's own prototypes, a high powered mutant of some kind, never considered for mass production. Too weird to live, too rare to die.

4 May 08, 1:00 PM
ladybabe2
UK(SK), 3 yrs

[/quote]
I was just discussing this with Lucy - I asked her, isn't being a teacher AND a pro domme setting oneself up for this kind of thing? Cos I wouldn't do it.
Lucy said (and I think she is right and am utterly put back in place on this issue) the point is, Mistress S is doing nothing wrong and her ability to be a fabulous teacher is not affected by her private consensual adult activities any more than anyone else's ability to be a good teacher is affected by their private adult consensual activities.
Why should people who have done nothing wrong have to live in fear. Virtually our entire community lives in fear. Why should we have to? It's an outrage, and it's getting worse fast.
De
[/quote]
Your correct that in an ideal world it shouldn't make any difference to her main job but sadly it does and until we can change societies perceptions of us then people in certain areas of life will be targeted and yes its wrong but thats just the way it is. We have to be realistic to how we are viewed by those outside of BDSM, and changeing that is not going to happen over night, regardless of the rights & wrongs we are and will continue to be in the tabloid news...
You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly....

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