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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

BENEFIT STREET

138 replies

TeamSouthfields · 06/01/2014 22:13

Just wow!

I agree with the government, if people are able to work and are not even.trying then they should have there benefits stopped.

But there were families on.there not being able to.afford to feed there kids makes me so sad........

but, the parents have a can in there hand and a fag in there mouth, aibu to think you would give up everything to make sure your children are well feed and warm?Shock

OP posts:
Bodypopper · 07/01/2014 00:26

It's a drama documentary like gypsy wedding.

Do all Eastend Londoners live their lives as portrayed in Eastenders? Of course not. It's edited drama to annoy, shock and amuse.

Think it's also to do with the impending benefit cuts too.

SoonToBeSix · 07/01/2014 00:31

It upset met that the couple who had their benefits sanctions only had CB to look after their family on. Can that really be right?

MurderOfGoths · 07/01/2014 00:38

"It upset met that the couple who had their benefits sanctions only had CB to look after their family on. Can that really be right?"

Morally - no.

Factually - yes.

And if you all the DWP wtf you are meant to do about food in that situation they will probably say something like, "not our problem"

:(

tallwivglasses · 07/01/2014 00:45

I like the way Owen Jones put it:

Where's the TV show about low-paid workers struggling on in-work benefits or unemployed people desperate for work?

Where's the TV show about low paying bosses and private landlords scrounging off the welfare state with low pay and rent subsidies?

Where's the TV show about rich tax dodgers who are hiding £25 billion from the public purse while millions struggle?

Where's the TV show about £16bn of benefits unclaimed by working and unemployed people, compared to £1.2bn benefit fraud?

Most social security goes to pensioners who pay in all their life. Most working-age benefits go to working people. 6.5m people are chasing full-time work

Make everyone think unemployed people are scroungers, and let the bankers and tax-dodgers get away with it. Clever, really

As for well-off TV producers trying to further their career by turning the poor against the poor: You. Are. The. Pits. #benefitsstreet

5HundredUsernamesLater · 07/01/2014 00:49

Wether it was edited or not I hate the way people on benefits are all tarred with the same brush. Being on benefits doesn't make you a thieving alcoholic anymore than being a millionaire makes you honest. There is good and bad in every walk of life.

Darkesteyes · 07/01/2014 00:50

Yes i saw Owens fab tweets Didnt watch this though I refuse to.

Does anyone know what happened to the Goerge Osborne thread Did it get pulled? I cant find it.

MurderOfGoths · 07/01/2014 00:51

It was deleted for breaking Talk guidelines

Darkesteyes · 07/01/2014 00:52

The whole thread? Blimey Ok Thanks goth.

HettiePetal · 07/01/2014 00:53

Selling the "single portions" of essentials is a stroke of genius, I reckon.

I remember when I was a single parent/student, I frequently had times when I needed to get dinner plus washing powder &/or loo roll with £1.50 in my purse. Would have been dead handy to be able to buy half a cup full of washing powder for two washes.

Of course, it's not a cost effective way of shopping - but it doesn't have to be in order to be useful.

Good for him.

MurderOfGoths · 07/01/2014 00:53

Think MNHQ decided it was to much hassle, plus it was goady as all hell

Darkesteyes · 07/01/2014 00:55

Im guessing it must have got a lot worse after i went offline at 6.15pm.

puddingsforsandy · 07/01/2014 01:12

Someone who I considered clued up was spouting shot about benefit claimants on FB after watching this programme. She somehow forgot to include herself since she's out of work. Or hang on...she doesn't smoke or drink so that's alright then!

puddingsforsandy · 07/01/2014 01:13

Shit not shot!

puddingsforsandy · 07/01/2014 01:16

I really hate all this benefit bashing business. I may work full time but having empathy is important. If benefits were so great, how come those of us who work haven't taken up the offer? It's easier to kick down those we deem weaker and that makes me feel sick

puddingsforsandy · 07/01/2014 01:17

Shit not shot!

puddingsforsandy · 07/01/2014 01:18

Shit not shot!

Darkesteyes · 07/01/2014 01:20

Campaigners are calling for an end to this propaganda programme after threats towards the participants appeared on twitter.

pumpkinsweetie · 07/01/2014 01:37

Quite upset that again people on benefits have all been bashed as bar 2 they only included the worse examples.

The 50p man was trying to change his life around, nice to see they highlighted something positive!
And although i cannot agree with mama white's theories & beliefs on stealing, she seemed to be a great help & matriach to her neighbours.

RedHelenB · 07/01/2014 07:21

You know when everyone says "I would be better off on benefits" _ is that really how they would like to live their lives? Only watched a snippet but it didn't look like the life of reilly to me!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/01/2014 07:25

Yes..I would love to be on drugs and shoplifting sanitary towels.

People really think this is an informed choice being made?

Jinsei · 07/01/2014 07:40

I didn't watch this. Sounds like a party political broadcast for the Tory party. The timing couldn't have suited them better. Hmm

Misspixietrix · 07/01/2014 07:51

exexpat could you post that link again please? It didn't work for me. I'm so glad I've stopped watching propaganda claptrap like this. When Channel 4 starts showing documentarys of hard working people on a low wage then I'll be interested. The whole scroungers/benefit dolers programmes have been done to death already.

aciddrops · 07/01/2014 07:55

2 things. 1) no-one has suggested that all benefit recipients live like this.
2) the programme did not portray benefits as providing a good level of income, quite the opposite in fact.

People do live like this - this is why we have full prisons.

SomethingOnce · 07/01/2014 08:33

What a load of old shit, OP.

This Huffington Post piece, Who Are the People on Benefits? should provide some much needed balance.

Custardo · 07/01/2014 08:42

from Owen Jones' Facebook page
Where's the TV show about low-paid workers struggling on in-work benefits or unemployed people desperate for work?

Where's the TV show about low paying bosses and private landlords scrounging off the welfare state with low pay and rent subsidies?

Where's the TV show about rich tax dodgers who are hiding £25 billion from the public purse while millions struggle?

Where's the TV show about £16bn of benefits unclaimed by working and unemployed people, compared to £1.2bn benefit fraud?

Most social security goes to pensioners who pay in all their life. Most working-age benefits go to working people. 6.5m people are chasing full-time work

Make everyone think unemployed people are scroungers, and let the bankers and tax-dodgers get away with it. Clever, really

As for well-off TV producers trying to further their career by turning the poor against the poor: You. Are. The. Pits

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