This current sub-topic is very heavy going for me, so I'm going to post in here once and once only.
Before I get started, the brave woman who came out about her experience has stated she has spoken to the police, it is all on record and she feels safe enough to go back to theme parks. She will also not be discussing it any further as she has said all she needs to.
I'm very glad this is now the case and I wish her all the best.
So now, here's my weigh in. I fully support and believe every woman who has shared their experiences in the theme park community. Every single situation I've read has deeply resonated with me because, guess what, I've had many very similar experiences since I joined the theme park community at age 16.
I'm not going to go into each time it's happened to me and who it was. But what I will include is a previous acquaintanceship with an ex-TPWW member that did indeed involve harassment, verbal abuse and suicide threats. It didn't just happen with me, it happened to a lot of vulnerable girls and young women who were unfortunately put in that position. The number is shocking, quite frankly. And the same has certainly gone for other TPWW members who've shown similar abusive behaviour..
I don't have the evidence, physical or digital, to show what happened to me in that particular situation. I'm not sure how I would've thought to do that at the time when I was scared and intimidated. And I'm not sure who at the time would've believed me if I had spoken up. Because, more than likely, I would've gotten one of these responses:
"Oh he's just being friendly" - "He's just having a laugh" - "Don't take it seriously" - "I've never had a problem with him, he's always seemed nice to me" - "You're overthinking it" - "Did you do anything to provoke him?" - "The way you dress and present yourself doesn't help" - "You're an attractive woman, take a compliment" and so on.
The only evidence I know I can give for all the horrible experiences I've had, on top of a recap, is the trauma of it all. The anxieties, the depression, the gaslighting behaviour, the fears you will get harassed and stalked whenever you leave home, the threats to your safety, the possibility you'll lose friends and so much more I know other women have been subjected to. So much gets undermined about your personality and your mental and emotional states in the process.
And those quotes that normalise such behaviour don't help. It makes it a lot harder to admit to yourself that you're in an abusive and toxic situation with another person, when you've been in so deep. You just think everything was your fault. They make you believe you're accountable and responsible for every single thing they did and said. And it's harder to get out of that situation when you have all of the above resting on your shoulders. Because you don't know how to escape, who will believe you, who you can trust anymore and whether the police will listen, should they need to be involved.
Yes, it is easy to manufacture incidents and doctor evidence. Yes, sometimes accusations turn out to be false.
But it's not easy to come out about such experiences and horrifying situations. Recalling your memories and every detail you can is painful. It's triggering. As can seeing that person who warped you and abused you for so long. Why anyone would want to relive or falsify that for revenge or popularity jealousy is beyond me.
It truly takes a lot of courage to come out about sexual harassment and abuse to anyone. And it's amazing to see that just this one spark has given so many the mettle to finally speak up.
All I ask, for those of you doubting the claims, to take what I've said into consideration.
If you would like to talk further, please privately message me as I won't be responding in the topic. Please stay safe and take care.