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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Benefit Bashing

823 replies

Kendodd · 18/02/2011 16:40

A mum I know and her DP with two children live in a two bed (nice) HA house. Neither of them work and have not worked for as long as I've known them (two years) I don't know about before then. She has told me they are trying for another baby, not to get a bigger house or anything, just because they want four children eventally. I would love four children but can't have that many because for one we just can't afford four.

AIBU to feel a bit pissed off that they can have more children and I can't or am I just a jealous benefit basher.

ps They are both nice and don't have a flatscreen TV.

OP posts:
Ryoko · 18/02/2011 20:52

Free to live your life without the rat race, free to build a home on any land you like without someone moaning about it, free to not be taxed to death, free to secure your own food.

survival of the fittest, a simple life without the clutter of capitalism and consumption.

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 20:52

Well maybe we should all do it the MN way eh?

Fuck everyone else ...

god I hate these threads

hermioneweasley · 18/02/2011 20:55

i have to take exception with this "it's nobody's business" and "everyone has their choices" attitude.

You are free to make choices if you are funding them. if you are relying on someone else to take care of your family, it is not responsible to keep having more children.

the idea that everyone's choices are equally valid seems bizarre to me.

OnEdge · 18/02/2011 20:57

stuckInTheMiddleWithYou

Would you consider having another child under your circumstances ?

LegoStuckinmyhoover · 18/02/2011 21:01

we all live in this country and are free to vote. we all contribute. as did our fathers/mothers and our children will. we all pay tax through VAT. people may be unemployed but had a job previously and will in the future. the idea that choices are only availiable to the employed/rich is bizzare to me.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:04

Boo-

Kendodd Fri 18-Feb-11 16:51:42

I don't know why they have a HA house. All four of them are well and healthy (as far as I know) thinking back, he did do some seasonal farm work a couple of years ago

And I live in a council house, so no I know that all council/HA tenants are not lazy Smile

OnEdge · 18/02/2011 21:14

Lego I disagree that we all contribute.

LegoStuckinmyhoover · 18/02/2011 21:17

how???????

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 18/02/2011 21:19

Ryoko... Perhaps, but then under your perfect lifestyle, people would come and take your home and land and anything else because it's fair and there are no laws anymore, nobody to stop them, etc.

I expect there are places like that in the world but the UK is not one of them. It used to be however, a really great country, full of pride and people who really celebrated living here in society.

Society only survives with law; law of some sort - some system to govern the way we live - and it only works if everybody abides by it.

People used to have their own personal standards of decent behaviour but the more the government has tried to do to support society, the more some elements of it have just grasped and taken everything they're entitled to - and everything they're not entitled to as well.

... and the people that 'hate these types of threads'... why do you hate them?

ShirleyKnot · 18/02/2011 21:19

"StarlightPrincess Fri 18-Feb-11 20:39:24
Yes OP it is benefit bashing ..the usual shite is being spouted

Please, explain to me how this is benefit bashing.

To me, it seems like a justified moan at a lazy family who's only ambition in life is to breed and multiply."

You do realise that you are talking about human beings don't you?

Your terminology is that of someone talking about a virus or insect.

I have never met a person whose only "ambition" in life is to "breed and multiply" You are putting actual people, with real lives into the context of mindless, rutting creatures. That's kind of a disgusting way to view people who are exactly the same as you, biologically. Maybe these people have little hope or expectation for themselves and deserve some empathy and support beyond a comparison to the simplest of life-forms?

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:20

... and the people that 'hate these types of threads'... why do you hate them?

Probably because it's all a bit too close to home...

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:20

I have never met a person whose only "ambition" in life is to "breed and multiply" You are putting actual people, with real lives into the context of mindless, rutting creatures. That's kind of a disgusting way to view people who are exactly the same as you, biologically. Maybe these people have little hope or expectation for themselves and deserve some empathy and support beyond a comparison to the simplest of life-forms?

Have you ever watched the Jeremy Kyle show?

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 21:21

'Probably because it's all a bit too close to home'

Thats why ,right there

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:23

And why should I give them empathy and support? It's not my job to support these people! I'm quite frankly sick of this softly, softly approach with certain types of people.

ShirleyKnot · 18/02/2011 21:24

oh

LMFAO (and I never use these acronyms) at LyinWitch.

The UK has always had the poor - but the times you are talking about are long gone since the decimation of our manufacturing industries.

How you people can continue to hark back to the past, a time when most had access to a job, be it factory work, mining, steelworks, docks (ALL GONE, or sold to the highest bidder who then fucked off abroad where the wages are cheaper); and compare it to today when the big businesses have taken over, and the financial sector have cornered the market (and then moved the jobs abroad where labour is cheaper) and STILL complain about the unworking poor is, frankly, HILARIOUS.

Get a clue, please.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:24

'Probably because it's all a bit too close to home'

Thats why ,right there

Quoting a post is not an answer.

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 21:25

'certain types of people' yes you see thats what they are people just like you ...

ShirleyKnot · 18/02/2011 21:26

x posted again.

Yes SP - I have watched the JK show, to my eternal shame. I liked it when he got an envelope lobbed at his head. What is your point?

Are the people on the JK show insects or virus' who should be stamped out?

CrispyCakeHead · 18/02/2011 21:26

what next? enforced abortions forwomeon on benefits living in LA housing.

this thread is making me feel slightly sick tbh.

no one has a right to comment on the lifestyle of others when only seen from a very narrow outsider's viewpoint.

you bunch of right wing sanctimonious gits.

and no, I do not live in LA housing, I do not have more children than I can afford, and I am not claiming benefits although I do, however, have one more child than I had planned, and have in the past lived on benefits as a single parent in LA housing.

So fucking shoot me.

tossers.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:28

Yeah, they may be people, so what?! I'll save my compassion for those who genuinely deserve it. Do you really think I'm going to shed a tear at the "plight" of those like the OP described?

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:28

I agree with Starlight (this is becoming a bad habit!)

Why are there so many "benefit apologists" on MN?

I thought the benefit reformation I saw yesterday was the best news ever after 12 years of a Labour govt. Good on Cams.

NoSuchThingAsSociety · 18/02/2011 21:28

Anyone who is a net recipient of benefits has nothing of value to add to this thread.

I know that should go without saying but, if any of you are taking more than you contribute, you should know that that alone makes your views irrelevant.

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:29

What's LA housing?

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:29

Ha, right wing? Don't make me laugh.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:30

*agree with Starlight (this is becoming a bad habit!)

Why are there so many "benefit apologists" on MN?

I thought the benefit reformation I saw yesterday was the best news ever after 12 years of a Labour govt. Good on Cams.*

Thank you!

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