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Original poster

Is there now a lack of personal responsibility?

203 replies

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 14:52

Is there now a lack of personal responsibility?

Another thread inspired me to ask this question.

Now don't get me wrong there have been events over the last few years that have increased the cost of living. COVID, Truss budget, Ukraine/Russia, Iran etc.

Now I am by no means denying they haven't had a big impact, but are people using them to avoid failings in their lives?

OP posts:
OP posts:
Boogery · 02/04/2026 16:28

Well, yep, I directly blame Trump when paying the ridiculously inflated price for petrol and fuel.

My wages haven't shot up in the last six weeks but my expenses have.

MunicipalDarwinism · 02/04/2026 16:27

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:23

Especially in civil service.

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Ooh. Proof?

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:23

Alpacajigsaw · 02/04/2026 16:22

Yes see it in workplaces too. People blaming poor performance/misconduct on things like ADHD /menopause and not taking any responsibility for themselves. Or going off with “mental health” to avoid disciplinary action/performance management

Especially in civil service.

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Alpacajigsaw · 02/04/2026 16:22

Yes see it in workplaces too. People blaming poor performance/misconduct on things like ADHD /menopause and not taking any responsibility for themselves. Or going off with “mental health” to avoid disciplinary action/performance management

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:19

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:15

I didn't cherry pick. Less people owned in the 70's than they do today.

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Your stat is meaningless on its own.
There has been massive change in the whole housing ecosystem since the 70s.

Whosthetabbynow · 02/04/2026 16:17

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:01

Nothing.

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In that case yes, it’s lack of personal responsibility. Too easy to give up

applescentedcandle · 02/04/2026 16:16

I've noticed that some of the people complaining about lack of personal responsibility, are deep down sad that they themselves have had to face some big challenges without support.

I know this because I used to be one of them. I have every sympathy.

I think people always have, and still do, try to do the best for themselves and their families. I also think it's important to notice and complain about governments when neccesary.

But I also think there's an amount of over-negativity sometimes, blinding people to what's actually possible. Eg lots of people say they could never buy a house in my area. It's true the average price here is very high, but there are many small houses that are well below that. My house is one of them.

Some people even say they could never afford a house in my whole city! (Bristol) But their budget is £200,000 - £250,000. There's 123 of them for sale right now on rightmove.

I think it's either a cry for support/sympathy (fair enough) or they feel it's very grown up and mature to be negative, which they call "realistic".

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:15

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:15

If there are effects from national/international politics, then you can't exercise personal responsibility.

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I disagree.

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Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:15

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:12

Hmm

What percentage were in secure lifelong tenancies vs private rented?

And what was the average cost of housing as a percentage of average income?

You really shouldn't cherry pick stats.

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I didn't cherry pick. Less people owned in the 70's than they do today.

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newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:15

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:11

In my opening post I admitted that COVID, Truss budget etc affected matters, but that doesn't negate personal responsibility.

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If there are effects from national/international politics, then you can't exercise personal responsibility.

Frannieisnthappy · 02/04/2026 16:14

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:05

This thread is silly. Of course politics affects people's lives and options.

Was always the same, and people have always discussed it.

Anyone who thinks life is ONLY about 'personal responsibility' doesn't understand the world at all.

Absolutely agree with you.

The OP's view seems quite simplistic.

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:12

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:10

In the 1970's approx 55% of people owned their own property.

In 2026 it's 64%.

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Hmm

What percentage were in secure lifelong tenancies vs private rented?

And what was the average cost of housing as a percentage of average income?

You really shouldn't cherry pick stats.

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:12

Dappy777 · 02/04/2026 16:11

It’s partly the fault of the Left. The Left pretty much run academia, publishing, the BBC and the arts, and they have taught people that if they’re poor they’re victims. And of course ‘victims’ don’t have any responsibilities. If you steal or smash things up, then that’s understandable, because you are expressing anger at the evil ‘system’. And if you are rude and foul-mannered, well, that’s good too because it shows you are ‘keepin it real’ and not imitating the middle-class. It has bred a revolting sense of victimhood and entitlement.

Today you win the internet.

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Dappy777 · 02/04/2026 16:11

It’s partly the fault of the Left. The Left pretty much run academia, publishing, the BBC and the arts, and they have taught people that if they’re poor they’re victims. And of course ‘victims’ don’t have any responsibilities. If you steal or smash things up, then that’s understandable, because you are expressing anger at the evil ‘system’. And if you are rude and foul-mannered, well, that’s good too because it shows you are ‘keepin it real’ and not imitating the middle-class. It has bred a revolting sense of victimhood and entitlement.

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:11

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:10

Sorry, I don't fully understand what this comment means.

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In my opening post I admitted that COVID, Truss budget etc affected matters, but that doesn't negate personal responsibility.

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Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:10

MyTrivia · 02/04/2026 16:08

I think life is much harder today than it was for my parents who could easily buy a house in the 70s on a single teacher’s salary. Wouldn’t be the case today.

In the 1970's approx 55% of people owned their own property.

In 2026 it's 64%.

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newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:10

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:07

Nobody said there was affects.

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Sorry, I don't fully understand what this comment means.

MyTrivia · 02/04/2026 16:08

I think life is much harder today than it was for my parents who could easily buy a house in the 70s on a single teacher’s salary. Wouldn’t be the case today.

Jellybunny98 · 02/04/2026 16:07

I’m not sure whether I agree or not really.

Yes, I think we need to take responsibility for our own choices and situation. But on the other hand my husband is a financial adviser and in the last 3 weeks has had many clients having to come out of deals, rates changing literally overnight with the cost of an average £200k mortgage jumping up in some case by £300-400 a month- that’s a huge jump.

If you’d spent the last year saving a deposit and planning for a certain house price as being affordable and now all of a sudden it’s not as a result of these hikes, I’m not sure how you could have planned for that to avoid it?

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:07

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:06

If the number of advertised job vacancies drops as a result of a global economic shock?

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Nobody said there was affects.

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newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:06

niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:01

Nothing.

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If the number of advertised job vacancies drops as a result of a global economic shock?

Original poster
niknak1234 · 02/04/2026 16:06

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:05

This thread is silly. Of course politics affects people's lives and options.

Was always the same, and people have always discussed it.

Anyone who thinks life is ONLY about 'personal responsibility' doesn't understand the world at all.

I don't think anybody has said that.

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frozendaisy · 02/04/2026 16:06

Well blaming everyone else doesn’t really change much.

There have always been people with a similar outlook, lifting random posts off a message forum is one person, perhaps a handful who agree, none of which you can actually verify.

If you know people in real life who say this it might be worth engaging in a conversation to see if you could offer an alternative viewpoint, which might, just might in the long run help contribute to them removing their victimhood mentality. Which would do everyone a bit of good.

newornotnew · 02/04/2026 16:05

This thread is silly. Of course politics affects people's lives and options.

Was always the same, and people have always discussed it.

Anyone who thinks life is ONLY about 'personal responsibility' doesn't understand the world at all.