Page 27 | The reaction to National Service on here

MaryMaryVeryContrary · 2024-05-27T18:01:31+00:00

Many European countries (including Scandinavian countries) have NS. Are they ‘ridiculous’? Or are their much-coveted-by-Mumsnet-users communities better because of their sense of individual responsibility and contribution? If 24 days (that’s how long it would be in total) of delivering prescriptions or volunteering as a hospital guide has you talking about human rights violations and Nazi Germany, then it’s very clear that you’re so pampered a bit of NS would do you good. Everyone on here expects the world in terms of a ’village’, generous benefits, a caring society, but wants to do fuck all to contribute to it and think the notion of them having to do ANYTHING for anyone else is insane. It’s nuts!

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2024 20:01

BlackbeardsToast · 27/05/2024 19:29

If it is so good for society and for the people being made to do it, then we should ALL be made to do it. No reason why those turning 18 should be targetted, if it's such a marvellous idea.

Unless of course, it's because they are easy targets and it's nothing at all to do with how 'great' it would be for the country to have an 18 year old spend 25 days making coffee for a cyber analyst and leave with just the barest of skills - because there is bugger all you can really teach someone in that subject who has limited access and only spends 1 weekend a month for a year watching you.

Or how great it would be for the NHS which is stretched beyond function now have to take on thousands of work experience candidates.

Or how useful the suggestion is that if anyone doesn't do this they can never have a public service job in the future - because we have so many people wanting to be teachers it's good to have a way to cut down the candidates.

The military don't want them (Minister of Defence: "it could damage morale, recruitment and retention”).

I actually think back to uni when I was studying about 35 hours a week and working 25 hours a week to help fund it. 60 hours a week of work. Nice to think I would also have to find another day on top of that for unpaid work. Now if they want to do it like other countries and it's part of an 'deal' in which degrees are paid for by the State, that's a whole different matter. But they don't. They want to cancel their failed 'levelling up' scheme to pay for it and have the kids do the actual work. CFs.

No deferments (so no to sharing it one year at a time with another parent of your child), no exemptions for full time work or study...
https://archive.ph/Ol5D6

But my biggest problem with it is that this government cannot organise anything without buggering it up and syphoning off money for their mates. This will just be another way to do that.

Brilliant post

Shinyandnew1 · 27/05/2024 20:01

OhHelloMiss · 27/05/2024 20:00

I don't think today's 'youth' would cope!

They have very little in the way of resilience and not much of a work ethic from what I see!

What do teachers think?

I’m a teacher. I think loads of our kids have shown amazing resilience through the shambles that was lockdown.

HippoStraw · 27/05/2024 20:01

Making it easier for young people to do meaningful community placements would be great. Forcing people who are already committed to jobs, study, and hobbies is less great.

ColdToezzz · 27/05/2024 20:00

coxesorangepippin · 27/05/2024 19:58

Yanbu

The amount of threads on here about feckless young adults is astonishing.

These people would hugely benefit from NS as a form of direction.

Well when this government actually gives something to the youth of today maybe their parents will be more supportive of pushing them into “service”. Until then they can f**k off.

Marjoriefrobisher · 27/05/2024 20:00

LuxembourgBrit · 27/05/2024 19:57

I’m living in Luxembourg at the mo. And the younguns here volunteer to be youth fire brigade because they want to. And it’s amazing knowing that if there’s a fire in the community - a huge part of the population knows what to do! The sense of community and pride is lovely

and yet the whisperings of young adults in the UK volunteering 3 weekends out of 4 has the country “up in arms”

Madness! I volunteered while at University and it was the start of an amazing career

I’m no Tory but the reaction to this has been quite silly. Of course they wouldn’t plan to make Neurodivergent or Disabled children take part - sorry but what a silly suggestion 😂

The lack of critical thinking skills is alarming.

With reasonable adjustments I’m sure many disabled and ND young people could participate, and they certainly should be given a chance to benefit.

Original poster

MaryMaryVeryContrary · 27/05/2024 20:00

coxesorangepippin · 27/05/2024 19:58

Yanbu

The amount of threads on here about feckless young adults is astonishing.

These people would hugely benefit from NS as a form of direction.

Half the teens on here seem to be doing nothing but gaming and abusing their parents (under the umbrella of mental health, of course). I’ve found it quite shocking tbh

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OhHelloMiss · 27/05/2024 20:00

I don't think today's 'youth' would cope!

They have very little in the way of resilience and not much of a work ethic from what I see!

What do teachers think?

frankentall · 27/05/2024 19:59

LuxembourgBrit · 27/05/2024 19:57

I’m living in Luxembourg at the mo. And the younguns here volunteer to be youth fire brigade because they want to. And it’s amazing knowing that if there’s a fire in the community - a huge part of the population knows what to do! The sense of community and pride is lovely

and yet the whisperings of young adults in the UK volunteering 3 weekends out of 4 has the country “up in arms”

Madness! I volunteered while at University and it was the start of an amazing career

I’m no Tory but the reaction to this has been quite silly. Of course they wouldn’t plan to make Neurodivergent or Disabled children take part - sorry but what a silly suggestion 😂

The lack of critical thinking skills is alarming.

What is your definition of "critical thinking skills"?

shearwater2 · 27/05/2024 19:59

ColdToezzz · 27/05/2024 19:58

It’s partly the audacity of it. It reminds me of Cameron” we’re in it together”bilge- no we were not!

Exactly.

coxesorangepippin · 27/05/2024 19:58

Yanbu

The amount of threads on here about feckless young adults is astonishing.

These people would hugely benefit from NS as a form of direction.

Cantgetausername87 · 27/05/2024 19:58

It's no solution to the problems society and young people are facing. Completely ridiculous ill thought out. If you don't like people's reactions - don't read them!

ColdToezzz · 27/05/2024 19:58

It’s partly the audacity of it. It reminds me of Cameron” we’re in it together”bilge- no we were not!

LuxembourgBrit · 27/05/2024 19:57

I’m living in Luxembourg at the mo. And the younguns here volunteer to be youth fire brigade because they want to. And it’s amazing knowing that if there’s a fire in the community - a huge part of the population knows what to do! The sense of community and pride is lovely

and yet the whisperings of young adults in the UK volunteering 3 weekends out of 4 has the country “up in arms”

Madness! I volunteered while at University and it was the start of an amazing career

I’m no Tory but the reaction to this has been quite silly. Of course they wouldn’t plan to make Neurodivergent or Disabled children take part - sorry but what a silly suggestion 😂

The lack of critical thinking skills is alarming.

FlameGrilledSquirrel · 27/05/2024 19:57

Hedgeoffressian · 27/05/2024 19:07

It’s because it’s a proposal from the Tories. Had it been Labour they would all be saying what a great idea it is 🙄

Absolutely spot on.

frankentall · 27/05/2024 19:57

Hedgeoffressian · 27/05/2024 19:07

It’s because it’s a proposal from the Tories. Had it been Labour they would all be saying what a great idea it is 🙄

Bollocks

Meakpumsnethankwand · 27/05/2024 19:57

Honestly the reaction on here to this is hilarious. It's a distraction.

Chickenuggetsticks · 27/05/2024 19:55

I don’t see the big deal, my school did community service, just checked with Dh and his did too. There are probably a few out there who did the same as well. We both think it was fine, probably not how we would have chosen to spend our time if we had the option as kids but in the end we both thought of it as a positive experience.

I’d be all for my child doing it, especially if it was something that would help in situations like disaster relief or broke some age barriers, gave her more empathy towards small kids or the elderly. Maybe she would learn how to work as a team etc. it gives you the chance to do something new.

Regardless of the shitshow that is the tories I don’t think it’s a bad idea.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 27/05/2024 19:54

It IS ridiculous. My dad left his country to escape national service. He just wanted to get a job, earn enough to own a house and build a family.

I went back to his country and had to do national service, and it was very
pointless and repetive. Tasks were given to fill the time rather than learn anything new. It was disruptive to both me as an employee and to my employer.

Everyone deliberately worked slowly and methodically to fill the days, nobody particularly gained anything. Massive waste of time in a country reknowned for efficiency and wealth. God knows what it will be like in the UK…

Zwicky · 27/05/2024 19:54

I worked three jobs to support myself (x2 term time 1x holidays), volunteered on several projects throughout the year (Guides and activities for the elderly predominantly) whilst working hard on my degree and still did very well in the end. I just chose not to sit on my backside watching daytime TV, partying my loans away or indulging in illicit drugs like a lot of my course mates did.

Sounds like you had very little free time. Like most 18yos in fact. What would you have been most likely do give up to do your compulsory volunteering every 4th weekend? It can’t be your sitting around, leisure or socialising time as you don’t have any so what will it be? The non mandated volunteering you already do, or the paid work you do to feed, clothe and house yourself? Or do you think the one weekend in 4 won’t apply to you? Just for other people. Losers who work in care homes but are just too lazy to volunteer with the elderly perhaps?

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2024 19:54

She would do the hobby 3 weekends out of 4 🤷🏼‍♀️

That doesn't work for athletes etc. you need to train and compete where necessary and rest and complete school work inbetween.

The idea itself isn't the problem. It's the un thought out nature of it and the fact they don't have a plan but are apparently sticking to it

MsLuxLisbon · 27/05/2024 19:53

It's a stupid idea. This isn't the fifties, the Tories have done fuck all for us and they now want to demand that our young people give back? I don't think so, mate.

shearwater2 · 27/05/2024 19:53

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2024 19:52

It the fact that suddenly they've decided a NS type future without actually thinking through how it will work and very likely to mean money for mates through forming the royal commission.

It's another "cure" and headline like the Rwanda scheme.

They wouldn't need to spend £2.5b on this if they had spent that money in the education and health system and youth services etc over the years rather than cutting it all and creating a situation whereby they feel they need. Sticking plaster for youth responsibility and mental health.

Hear hear.

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2024 19:52

It the fact that suddenly they've decided a NS type future without actually thinking through how it will work and very likely to mean money for mates through forming the royal commission.

It's another "cure" and headline like the Rwanda scheme.

They wouldn't need to spend £2.5b on this if they had spent that money in the education and health system and youth services etc over the years rather than cutting it all and creating a situation whereby they feel they need. Sticking plaster for youth responsibility and mental health.

ColdToezzz · 27/05/2024 19:52

shearwater2 · 27/05/2024 19:50

Saying ‘oh who gives a fuck then, just in it for myself’ won’t improve anything will it?

That's the attitude our politicians have shown for the last 14 years. And now they want young people to sort the mess out for them, for free.

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I know it’s hysterical!!!! The arrogance. Just no.

Original poster

MaryMaryVeryContrary · 27/05/2024 19:50

It’s interesting to see the quiet majority agree with me!

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