To think in the real world it's become openly acceptable to vilify and abuse benefit claimants?

[Pantone363]

Years ago people might of gossiped about people on benefits, or moaned to their partners etc. but there wasn't this acceptable open hostility towards them.

In the space of a week I've heard people openly call them "breeders" (ie single mothers), it seems ok to expect any benefit claimant to explain themselves to anyone who feels they are funding their lifestyle (taxpayers).

It really seems the tide is turning towards an open contempt for anyone claiming benefits whilst not working.

I can't think of any other group of people it's ok to shame and gossip about in public!

So AIBU?

We live next door to a lovely family who rent the house off the previous owners.

The family on the other side of them have taken a dislike to them (not sure why)

The lovely next door neighbours were subjected to abuse over the fence the other night which included being called 'Renters'

what the fuck????

I don't think it's that different to years ago really

It's just that people have social media/internet forums to spout it from now.

Well, as someone who has only just managed to get a job and get off benefits ( :o :o :o ) I can honestly tell you that not many of us (that I knew) were genuinely wanting a job and some families openly admit to having more kids for money...

Plus there is a genuine widespread and open 'entitled' attitude like the world owes you a certain lifestyle whilst doing nothing...

I can honestly say that I was in the vast minority for wanting a job and working towards it (studying).

Whilst I sympathise with people like myself who got stereotyped I could see the point of those judging. I hear MANY people defending people on benefits but tbh they are defending a minority...

Yes there will be certain areas where the recession affected many and the majority had no choice but to be on benefits and did want a job. In the whole of Britain though I would say they were still a minority.

Yup.

Benefit bashing is the new thing.

Now that racism and homophobia will (quite rightly) get you locked up the angry people need to moan about something otherwise they'll explode.

as i understand it many years ago people on benefits were viewed extremely negatively...its only in more recent years that i became acceptable. I think thats because a lot of people know of claimants who could really work but just don't want to....i have a lot of relatives in south wales and its very much a lifestyle choice there.

"Breeders" is a term from pornography.

"Scroungers" have been criticised on and off for years. But the pornification of the mainstream is pretty new and deeply unpleasant.

I was thinking this the other day.

When I grew up there was no tax credits just out of work or disabled/carer benefits, widows etc.
nobody vilified anybody not even second generation of households unemployed.
If anything they were pitied and helped because society was pleased it wasn't them on welfare benefits. People were charitable to those with less disposable income than them, now they/we are hated.
I also ask when did society become so nasty.
Then I thought perhaps it is all down to greed, one upmanship and modern technology.
The arguments and nastiness towards people on benefit is usually directed at the amount of money/ lifestyle perceived to be too good for the likes of benefit claimants. The media and gov spin are responsible for fuelling it imo.

YANBU it's actively encouraged by the press and Government.

My experience is the opposite of suckat the majority of people I know who are on benefits don't want to be. Obviously I do know some irresponsible people but even in my shitty town they are in the minority.

"Breeders" is a term from pornography

Really? I've never seen or heard of it linked to any porn whatsoever?

However, Matthew Wright uses the term a lot to describe parents.

Matthew Wright's a cunt though.

Calling someone a 'breeder' is rude.

grumpy perhaps you are in an area that I described above? Or you attract a certain type of person? Interesting that we have such different experiences... My area isn't a bad area... in fact it's lovely.

OH I know! It could be my age group? I am early 20s. Who knows.

It's not so much that they want to be on benefits but they just don't want to work. So they carry on, not working for it, not trying, and actively avoiding.

morethan - i think its more to do with the fact that if someone is working really hard, they don't mind paying tax so someone who genuinely wants to work or is disabled can survive, but they object to keeping someone who just refuses to work.

Access to credit has a lot to do with it.
If you work full time and can't quite afford the perceived luxuries , such as new model TV, consoles, tablets etc - latest 'phones or heaven forbid, a holiday - But a family nearby who have never worked can - that's going to rankle.
Today's welfare state and access to credit enables many to be comfortable without working, and that in itself is the problem.

It's always been this way, it's just that suddenly it's a big deal for some reason.

I often think that things move like a pendulum. In my grandparents' era it was tough to be out of work and shameful to be poor then for many years society became more tolerant and sympathetic towards claimants but it is now swinging back as times are economically harder.

Unfortunately society cannot afford to pay benefits to just everybody but it is hard to separate out those who need help from those who just can't be arsed.

Obviously I do know some irresponsible people

Why is it irresponsible not to work?

I don't woh and am responsible for my dc and the running of our home. I have many responsibilities, which don't include woh.

This assumption that you are lazy or irresponsible for not working is disgusting. Why should a person work rather than care for their children if they so choose.

Indeed it's very rude MrsRajesh, I've just never seen it linked to porn.

My area is pretty grotty tbh, has been since the mines shut so since before you were born sucksat. I am a lot older than you and of the 3 people I know who don't want to work are early 20s. Still not sure though I know plenty of young people who are desperate to work including children of people I went to school with.

Yabu I think people have always felt like this but turned a blind eye as to how it was being funded.

I think the vilification of those in receipt of benefits takes the emphasis away from the rich tax avoiders, both individuals and companies.

morethan - because many people feel that children are the parents responsibility. Many people struggle to cover the cost of bringing up their own children and object to paying tax to cover the cost of someone else's as well.

dreamingofsun

I know what you are saying but I don't understand why.
I worked before dc and I can't ever remember being angry that somebody not working would have more than me. I know tax credits didn't exist then but cb did. There were families with lots of cb and dole with nicer wardrobes and "stuff" than I had. I can honestly say it never crossed my mind to think negatively towards them and neither did the rest of society.

That's because some are utter pisstakers, as suckatrelationships has also observed. Why do we have to pussyfoot around them!

I'm not talking about stay at home parents or caters. To my that is a job. By irreponsible people I mean people with no caring responsibilities deciding not to bother with work and just live on benefits. I also said that in my experience those just being irresponsible were in the minority.

But now people know the money has run out and they're being squeezed they're understandably less tolerant.