AIBU to think I should get reparations?

I have to work to make a living. It’s soooooo unfair!! Maybe the Royal Family should subsidise my wages so I can be a lady of leisure too.

I totally understand the arguments for reparations where slavery is concerned.

But my Grandad was a coal miner and it has never occurred to me that because of this someone owes me money!

OP I assume the point you’re making is that it could be argued that if the UK government pay reparations to countries they historically abused, then maybe they should pay reparations to UK nationals whose ancestors were also mistreated by the powerful people at the time. Is that correct? I agree that the concept of historical liability is interesting and worthy of a debate.

A previous poster says that the crucial difference is that people in the UK weren't slaves, but I would argue that to all intents and purposes they often almost were. In a time of no sick pay, no holiday pay, and no welfare state, employers could do whatever they wanted, and the workers had no choice but to acquiesce. It was that or starve.

This is a really interesting question. Those whose knee-jerk response is to become apoplectic at the thought should stop and engage their brains for a moment at the issue the OP has raised. Especially if you worship the royal family or other extraordinarily wealthy families who still reap the benefit of serf labour from centuries ago today. I’m sure the OP is not seriously going to claim reparations, and as others have said, reparations would come out of current tax revenue. So we workers would be shafted once again (because of course the wealthy understand only too well how to shield their money from the tax man)

Is this serious? Sorry if you're joking, I'm quite tired and can't tell.

All that comes to mind is something my lovely mother in law says- "Catch yourself on!"

No, is my answer if you were being serious.

I assume the OP is engaging in some sort of devil’s advocacy re reparations in general.

Well…arguably most women have been in a position similar to slavery (or worse) for quite a lot of human history (and some still are) so maybe mankind should be paying reparations to womankind?

(fgs no one take that seriously!)

So pretty much anyone except the RF and the members of the House of Lords with inherited titles? I'm in.

I mean, by all means let the unfairness of it consume your thoughts.

But unless you're advocating for complete removal of capitalism, and going to also try and make changes there, then you're on a hiding to nothing.

You're not owed money because you didn't get the leg up richer people have.

😂😂😂😂😂

Alternative employment was.....?

people were just glad to be employed in whatever job they could find.
Indoor jobs were easier than outdoor jobs especially in the winter.

Children started work younger, because education finished earlier for the vast majority.

there were jobs in industry ( Dangerous? yup) which only younger , smaller people could do- it wasnt explotation,it was just the way it was.

My fathers sisters all went into service- waiting on and clearing up behind the richer folks- none of them faired too badly

Key phrase is “they weren’t slaves”

My ancestors include people on both sides of the exploitation coin. I shall have to pay myself some money.

Fucking ridiculous suggestion OP 😂

but the biggest determinant of where someone ends up in life remains where they started.

I too have done alright for myself precisely because I did not want to live the kind of life my parents and grandparents lived.

I think it’s very fair. I’m from a family of judges and lawyers whereas DH comes from a working class family. I shall transfer to him £50,000 to apologise and make up for his ancestral suffering.

It’s the least I can do

Yeah same, and I get where you're coming from. Generational wealth is so important. So my self and my partner are working to bring our children up and will raise them to know how important it is that they do the same. We are trying to build generational wealth for the next generations. We'll see how it goes 🤷

It's still shit for most of the population.The richest 10% own 43% of the wealth, the poorest 50% own 9%.

Is this rage bait? 99% of the population will have come from lowly and poor backgrounds somewhere through the last century or two. It’s the unfairness of life. Luckily nowadays we all pretty much have the same choices and not constrained by socioeconomic backgrounds. Admittedly, we all can’t afford to go to Eton, but we can all get access to a decent education and graft our way out of poverty if we choose to. How about you do that?

You misunderstand, it’s anyone whose long dead ancestors were oppressed.

It’s analogous to (for example) a wealthy and successful lawyer in London getting reparations for their long-gone ancestor being enslaved.

Obviously being a serf is less bad than being a slave, so the amounts should be lower.

FFS 🤦 s this a joke? How about just working hard and trying to better yourself????

Where does the wider concept of reparations begin and end (excuse me while I clutch my fake pearls).

Do we look at reparations for countries - not just race - that were colonised as well. Who actually gets the reparations and how much. Who agrees the sums involved. Not to mention why should today's generations pay for their forebears, not least when some of today's generations are stoney broke.

So, by your reckoning, anyone who hasn't 'had it easy' is owed money?

Lol no. My cousins and I were the first university educated in our family, ever. We’ve worked hard and strived and most of us are seeing the benefits of our hard work. We all come from poor farming stock.

A lot of your male ancestors were exploitative gentry, who took advantage of servant girls.

It is you who owes reparations, because of your male forbears.