December 1st 2024.
A reader recently shared her experience of confronting a man who verbally harassed her on a bus. This sparked a discussion on MetroTalk about what actions men can take to make women feel safe, as part of the This Is Not Right campaign against violence towards women. The article by Rosy Edwards highlights the importance of not walking too close to women after dark and how to intervene if you witness a woman being harassed.
I can relate to this topic as I too have experienced verbal harassment while traveling home on public transport late at night. On this particular night, a group of five men were sitting near me. One of them started by asking if I had a good evening. Not knowing him, I chose to ignore the question. He then made comments about my ignoring him, insinuating that I was deaf or rude. I felt intimidated and upset.
As I was getting off at my stop, something made me stop and confront the group. I calmly told the man that his remarks had made me feel uncomfortable and that he should accept it when a woman traveling alone does not respond to him. It took a lot of courage for me to speak up, and I was surprised to find that I had it in me. A week later, I boarded the same bus and saw the same group. None of them said a word to me until I was getting off, when one of them respectfully said, "Goodnight, love." It made me wonder if my words had made an impact on their behavior and if that man would think twice before making a woman feel uncomfortable again. I hope so.
I strongly believe that women have the right to go about their business without fear of violence. As a victim of both domestic violence and harassment by men, I applaud campaigns like This Is Not Right for raising awareness and promoting safety for women.
Another topic being discussed on MetroTalk is the word "queer" and whether it has been reclaimed or is still considered a slur. Some younger generations may find it easier to embrace the word as they have not experienced the same level of harm and prejudice associated with it in the past. However, for many gay men, including myself, it remains a hurtful word that has been used to dehumanize and harm us. While some may choose to reclaim the word, others may never be able to.
The use of the word "queer" in the 2025 Metro Pride Awards article surprised and upset some readers, as it is a word that has caused them pain and suffering. They question whether it is appropriate for a publication like Metro to use it. Similarly, the N-word has been reclaimed by some in the black community, but it is still a hurtful word for many. It is important to be mindful of the impact certain words can have on different individuals and communities.
Shifting gears, another topic being discussed is who is responsible for fixing public transport. Angela Walker argues that it is the responsibility of ministers to have "common sense" and address the issues with public transport that prevent people from working in certain areas. However, others point out that the current government is working on legislation to put public transport back in the hands of local authorities. In London, where public transport is under the control of the Greater London Authority, it is relatively efficient. It may take some time, but hopefully, the government will be able to address these issues and improve public transport for everyone.
Lastly, there is frustration over self-service checkouts and the lack of efficiency from some customers. Some people need a lot of hand-holding to use these checkouts, causing delays and frustration for others. It's a simple concept – if you see a free checkout, move to it. Don't wait for someone to tell you which one to use. Let's all do our part to keep the lines moving smoothly.
What are your thoughts on these topics? Have your say in the comments below. Let's continue the conversation.
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