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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Disability hate on MN

559 replies

IClaudine · 02/05/2024 13:31

Hi MNHQ

Since Sunak’s announcement on disability benefits, there has been a big increase on MN in hostility towards people who receive then.

The abuse, hate and outright lies (my neighbour’s son’s cousin’s wife climbs Mount Everest but gets PIP etc) being spewed on MN towards disabled people, a group with protected characteristics, has been dreadful and very distressing for disabled people and their loved ones to read,

Please can you do something?

Here is a small selection of the threads where the disability benefit bashers have paid a visit and had a field day. There may be more, but I can’t face searching for them!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5064828-to-be-terrified-about-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share  

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5065470-people-who-work-have-anxiety-too?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5066670-aibu-to-hope-that-able-bodied-people-will-support-disabled-people-against-the-tory-attack-on-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5064856-pip-vouchers-to-replace-money?reply=134966246&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5066331-do-you-feel-bad-for-receiving-a-high-amount-of-uc?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
XenoBitch · 17/03/2025 21:01

CrocusSnowdrop · 17/03/2025 20:36

Yeah... And when disabled posters express their worries, they get told 'well you seem like a genuine claimant, so you have nothing to worry about. We just want to weed out the fakers'. As if the proposed changes won't affect us all and we're silly for worrying. Whenever I see that kind of post I get that sound that trended for a bit on social media in my head, the 'next time you say, the government wouldn't do that... they would' one.

Or the people most worried and vocal about it are the piss takers, because they "know" they will lose money.

CrocusSnowdrop · 17/03/2025 20:36

ValleyClouds · 17/03/2025 19:23

I’ve been hiding threads all over the last few days, it’s a sad and scary time for disabled people and some posters are absolutely gleeful about it. So depressing to see what people will say when they can hide under a fake name. Guarantee the same people will be outraged when people they regard as “genuine” get their PIP cut….

Yeah... And when disabled posters express their worries, they get told 'well you seem like a genuine claimant, so you have nothing to worry about. We just want to weed out the fakers'. As if the proposed changes won't affect us all and we're silly for worrying. Whenever I see that kind of post I get that sound that trended for a bit on social media in my head, the 'next time you say, the government wouldn't do that... they would' one.

ValleyClouds · 17/03/2025 19:23

I’ve been hiding threads all over the last few days, it’s a sad and scary time for disabled people and some posters are absolutely gleeful about it. So depressing to see what people will say when they can hide under a fake name. Guarantee the same people will be outraged when people they regard as “genuine” get their PIP cut….

IClaudine · 17/03/2025 19:22

Well done @CrocusSnowdrop

It has been absolutely disgusting on MN in the past few days. I have given up reporting because MNHQ mainly are not responsive. I guess the mods are only able to delete what they are allowed to delete. Perhaps as far as Ms Roberts is concerned it's all traffic to the site, so all good. The anguish caused to disabled people and their families is a price worth paying.

OP posts:
CrocusSnowdrop · 17/03/2025 17:44

I said it was disinformation and intentionally goady, not sure if that washed more than ableism

CrocusSnowdrop · 17/03/2025 17:43

I did get the post about ADHD getting you a free BMW deleted!

buttnut · 17/03/2025 17:41

Yet another active thread bashing benefits, those who claim PIP and parents of disabled children. People are even scrutinising children getting free transport to SEN schools.

MaidOfAle · 07/03/2025 12:43

flapjackfairy · 07/03/2025 10:07

I agree with every word.
I am fed up with the articles in the media and the threads on here talking about SEN children bankrupting councils due to needing transport etc. .Not that it isn't true but surely it is the failure to fund services adequately and slashing budgets whilst extending the responsibilities on councils to deliver that is at the root cause.
I have even seen some threads debate whether children with high level needs should be kept alive at birth because they have no quality of life etc etc. I have a couple of children with high level needs and it is deeply distressing to see how much actual vitriol is out there towards disabled people in some sectors of society.
And you can call me a conspiracy theorist but I think the sudden push for assisted dying running alongside this narrative is v chilling indeed.
It looks to be heading into law and I really believe the boundaries will soon be moved to accommodate other scenarios.
That way all the people who can't get support and have no quality of life will have an alternative. I think we are in scary times and I have seen a huge shift in people's attitudes towards disability in the last few years.
And yes I am aware that it sounds mad now but just take a look at Canada .

You are correct about this being a shift of the Overton Window towards killing disabled people. I was branded "hysterical" for saying this and citing Canada. Others supporting my views have had similar treatment.

flapjackfairy · 07/03/2025 10:07

HRT · 07/03/2025 07:08

There seems to be a constant stream of threads in AIBU that push the narrative of SEN kids in mainstream schools as violent and disruptive and their parents as useless. A common theme is blaming screens and stating there are no brain differences in autism. This is clearly disinformation as ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and research points to brain differences. It takes two minutes on google to find this out.

There are also many posters insisting people buy a dubious diagnosis to get benefits.

For many years benefit claimants have been blamed for the countries financial problems and have been targeted for cuts. SEN provision and social care are often not meeting people’s needs. I am suspicious these posts are political trolls at work and autistic/ neurodiverse people who need any provision from the state are the targets. They are been portrayed as scroungers.

This is such a dehumanising narrative. It is also deeply disturbing. Dehumanising groups in this way leads to the kind of behaviour seen in Nazi Germany. Disabled people were gassed as they were seen as a burden on society. If someone is whipping up a false perception of SEN and neurodiversity, this is dangerous. Disabled people have already reported more hate crime since benefits have become such a hot political topic.

If some kind of troll farm is at work, individual posters don’t stand much of a chance working against people who do this as a full time job. I feel it would be better if these discussions were shut down. I honestly do.

I agree with every word.
I am fed up with the articles in the media and the threads on here talking about SEN children bankrupting councils due to needing transport etc. .Not that it isn't true but surely it is the failure to fund services adequately and slashing budgets whilst extending the responsibilities on councils to deliver that is at the root cause.
I have even seen some threads debate whether children with high level needs should be kept alive at birth because they have no quality of life etc etc. I have a couple of children with high level needs and it is deeply distressing to see how much actual vitriol is out there towards disabled people in some sectors of society.
And you can call me a conspiracy theorist but I think the sudden push for assisted dying running alongside this narrative is v chilling indeed.
It looks to be heading into law and I really believe the boundaries will soon be moved to accommodate other scenarios.
That way all the people who can't get support and have no quality of life will have an alternative. I think we are in scary times and I have seen a huge shift in people's attitudes towards disability in the last few years.
And yes I am aware that it sounds mad now but just take a look at Canada .

HRT · 07/03/2025 07:08

There seems to be a constant stream of threads in AIBU that push the narrative of SEN kids in mainstream schools as violent and disruptive and their parents as useless. A common theme is blaming screens and stating there are no brain differences in autism. This is clearly disinformation as ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and research points to brain differences. It takes two minutes on google to find this out.

There are also many posters insisting people buy a dubious diagnosis to get benefits.

For many years benefit claimants have been blamed for the countries financial problems and have been targeted for cuts. SEN provision and social care are often not meeting people’s needs. I am suspicious these posts are political trolls at work and autistic/ neurodiverse people who need any provision from the state are the targets. They are been portrayed as scroungers.

This is such a dehumanising narrative. It is also deeply disturbing. Dehumanising groups in this way leads to the kind of behaviour seen in Nazi Germany. Disabled people were gassed as they were seen as a burden on society. If someone is whipping up a false perception of SEN and neurodiversity, this is dangerous. Disabled people have already reported more hate crime since benefits have become such a hot political topic.

If some kind of troll farm is at work, individual posters don’t stand much of a chance working against people who do this as a full time job. I feel it would be better if these discussions were shut down. I honestly do.

MaidOfAle · 05/03/2025 21:38

buttnut · 05/03/2025 16:41

Another thread as well about a ‘disruptive child in DC class’ and loads of comments about how autism diagnosis correlates with ‘crap parenting’ and too much screen time etc.

I wish I was strong enough to just ignore those threads and not read them, it’s really upset me.

We didn't have screens when I was a child.

I'm still autistic.

petuladaisy · 05/03/2025 18:20

It's awful with poverty too. I've seen people shot down in flames when posting about poverty and had people asking stupid questions of the OP.

petuladaisy · 05/03/2025 18:15

Piggywaspushed · 05/03/2025 16:41

We were discussing disinformation on another thread recently. It doesn't get deleted any more. We are supposed to dispute it. It troubles me.

I agree

petuladaisy · 05/03/2025 18:15

buttnut · 05/03/2025 16:41

Another thread as well about a ‘disruptive child in DC class’ and loads of comments about how autism diagnosis correlates with ‘crap parenting’ and too much screen time etc.

I wish I was strong enough to just ignore those threads and not read them, it’s really upset me.

I wish people saying that it's bad parenting had to spend a weekend caring for a child with additional needs and then two days with them in school as their one to one - if they have managed to get one.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 05/03/2025 18:12

I receive the high rates of both components of PIP, which is £737.20
Not that I tell anyone judgemental.
Oh wait, I just did on the other thread. and was called naive.
You can't argue with stupid...

IClaudine · 05/03/2025 17:52

Sadly, MNHQ think it is fine to have such threads.

OP posts:
Deludamol · 05/03/2025 17:10

I haven't seen those particular threads but I agree they need to be looked in to. Our lives are hard enough as it is without absolute bollocks being spread around.

IClaudine · 05/03/2025 16:53

@DawnMumsnet @LilyMumsnet does MNHQ have any comments? As you can see the uptick of these threads recently is upsetting for some members. Why is ableism still tolerated on this site?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 05/03/2025 16:41

We were discussing disinformation on another thread recently. It doesn't get deleted any more. We are supposed to dispute it. It troubles me.

buttnut · 05/03/2025 16:41

Another thread as well about a ‘disruptive child in DC class’ and loads of comments about how autism diagnosis correlates with ‘crap parenting’ and too much screen time etc.

I wish I was strong enough to just ignore those threads and not read them, it’s really upset me.

ValleyClouds · 05/03/2025 16:34

And they always say bollocks like "gets £1000 a month PIP" when the highest rate is around £700, MN should care more about disinformation and obvious whipping up of hostility towards claimants

uncomfortablydumb53 · 05/03/2025 16:29

Yep I've just commented
Heartily fucking sick of these " friends" who are posting how unfair it is to be" disabled enough" to claim PIP
I wish before they post their ignorant shit, they'd walk a mile in their friends shoes
20m is my limit

OP posts:
IClaudine · 22/02/2025 14:14

TigerRag · 22/02/2025 11:55

And the thread in Chat regarding accommodations and Autism. I was told yesterday that I'm not one of those in between the one with severe needs and those who hold down a job, etc therefore I shouldn't get help from social services

(Which I don't get and will need when my parents can no longer help me)

It's great that a total stranger thinks they know hetter

I'm sorry. There are some truly horrible posters on MN.

OP posts:
TigerRag · 22/02/2025 11:55

And the thread in Chat regarding accommodations and Autism. I was told yesterday that I'm not one of those in between the one with severe needs and those who hold down a job, etc therefore I shouldn't get help from social services

(Which I don't get and will need when my parents can no longer help me)

It's great that a total stranger thinks they know hetter