Dog leash goths 'hounded off bus'

BBC ^ | 23 January 2008 | Staff

[forkinsocket]

A goth who leads his girlfriend around with a dog lead and collar was stopped from getting on a bus amid fears for passenger safety, a bus firm confirmed. Dani Graves, 25, and his fiancee Tasha Maltby, 19, of Dewsbury, West Yorks, claim they have been discriminated against by bus firm Arriva Yorkshire.

The black-clad couple said they had been told to leave one bus and prevented from boarding another.

The bus firm said safety came first, but it was investigating the complaint.

Bus operator Arriva claimed other passengers could be put at risk if the bus braked sharply.

Operations director for Arriva Yorkshire, Paul Adcock, said: "Arriva takes any allegation of discrimination very seriously and have interviewed the driver regarding Mr Graves' claims.

"Our primary concern is passenger safety and while the couple are very welcome to travel on our buses, we are asking that Miss Maltby remove her dog lead before boarding the bus.

"It could be dangerous for the couple and other passengers if a driver had to brake sharply while Miss Maltby was wearing the lead."

The company said it was writing to Mr Graves "to apologise for any distress caused by the way this matter was handled".

[Grunthor]

ffrom a different article:

Maltby — who lives on state benefits

---

natch.

[the lastbestlady]

I find leashes for kids hilarious!

(probably a good thing I’m not a parent)

[mrsmel]

Haha. I guess that he also cleans her litter box.

[mrsmel]

it’s too bad her family life wasn’t sufficient to teach her that this is degrading behavior and shouldn’t be tolerated.

Seriously. If I wasn't laughing at her, I'd be embarassed for her. It takes a real lack of self-esteem in a grown woman to allow someone to lead her around on a dog leash.

[jdm]

Man, that is low!

[antiRepublicrat]

Haha. I guess that he also cleans her litter box.

Turns out he does, see #115. So she leads a pampered life where he's essentially her willing servant, but going out in public she wears the chain. I guess it's pretty much equal.

[antiRepublicrat]

It takes a real lack of self-esteem in a grown woman to allow someone to lead her around on a dog leash.

Or a lot of self-esteem to not give a damn what people think when they see it.

[uglybiker]

I dont see a wedding ring through her nose.

I think I see it. It's stuck in her eyebrow. :-P

[NinoFan]

I found this on another forum:

[mrsmel]

No way can I be convinced that a grown woman who allows a man to place a collar around her neck, and lead her around, especially in public, by a leash, doesn’t have self-esteem issues. People who pick their noses in public don’t care what others think either, but it doesn’t make it admirable or couth.

[tpanther]

Moreover, let’s say a blind person has a guide dog and begins humping her.

She could very well be arrested for animal cruelty for confusing the poor beast!

[Wilhelm Tell]

Don't worry, I've seen plenty of goth chicks with boyfriends on leashes...

Well, they are just doing literally what is true of most of us figuratively...

[SMARTY]

If he loves her so much, why doesn’t he give her his name and show her that he respects her too?

[reagan_fanatic]

Dog leash goths 'hounded off bus'

Laughed off the bus would have been a more appropriate response.

[Slings and Arrows]

"I'm-so-Goth-I-sh*t-bats!" ping!

[tx_eggman]

Man, that is low!

Thanks, we aim to please

[antiRepublicrat]

No way can I be convinced that a grown woman who allows a man to place a collar around her neck, and lead her around, especially in public, by a leash, doesn’t have self-esteem issues.

Why, if it's just a funny stunt to them?

[Larry Lucido]

Um, you've come a long way, baby?

[Larry Lucido]

BTW, she’s not guilty. He’s guilty.

[martin_fierro]

Yuo teh phunny!!1!