To think the cost of living crisis isn't really a "crisis" for most people?

[buzzheath]

Not meant to be inflammatory at all. I'm well aware of the hardships that some people and families will face. But for the majority of people in the UK, will it really be a "crisis"? Isn't around half of the population middle class?

@Completelyovernonsense Please find me a concrete example of when I "looked down my nose at people". And ummmm....ableism? Because "insanity"? I do apologise.

Your hypocrisy is beyond belief - you respond with outrage at my post querying how much of the population will suffer severe financial hardship, accuse me of all sorts... and then say you'll be okay with me suffering 😂

Well, first you said you thought there might be some expert sociologists and economists on here, then you said the sample size was too small to be useful and now you literally don't know why you posted. It hardly matters that I've added nothing to the discussion if even the person who started it doesn't know what they wanted from it.

Personally, based on your posts and how they have developed (for want of a better word) over the course of the thread... I think you have been supremely uninformed on this issue and you think that because we're not seeing mass starvation and sudden homelessness, in the height of summer - and, of course, because you and your social circle are so far all stable - that it isn't a real thing and it isn't going to change. And you therefore like the idea of painting yourself as the calm, reasoned one amidst all the hysterical headless chickens.

I didn't start this thread thinking that at all, but it's most certainly how it looks to me now. Based on your responses to people explaining to you what a crisis is and how it unfolds.

@ReneBumsWombats What even. Seriously, you need to get a grip. I think many, many people will suffer severe financial hardship from the cost of living. I also think many won't. You can pick at straws and engage in all the pedantry you like, but I highly doubt you'd find anything significant in ANY of my posts that says anything other than that.

Chill out!

@ReneBumsWombats You're accusing me of not thinking it's a "real thing" just because (according to you!) my social circle is all stable? I mean, really? Most people can compute that just because they're not personally witnessing something, doesn't mean that thing doesn't exist. Nobody I personally knew died or became seriously unwell from covid; but I am still very much aware of its consequences and the devastation it has inflicted and will likely continue to inflict upon many.

Quite clearly despite having an opinion you do not know the answer.
Ill-informed ranting.

In the city where I work, 62% of children live in a household with an absolute or relatively low income and that number is growing. I think the increase in energy prices is going to be the thing which has the greatest impact on those families not only in terms of expenditure but also in quality of life -
cold and damp homes, cold showers/baths, clothes not being washed as often etc. We haven’t seen the worst of those increases yet, and I think it’s going to be pretty painful when we do. Even for those of us on a comfortable income, the effects of extreme poverty in terms of increases in crime and drug related activity will have an impact.

I think a lot of people can ride the storm BUT people will cut back on luxuries to compensate for the utility prices etc going up.
that means that they won’t get their nails done, or hair cut so often, they will have one less coffee out a week, less takeaways/restaurant visits, cut down on the amount of clothes they buy, put of upgrading the car/tv etc, decide not to move and take on a bigger mortgage, and so on and so on.
this then means that thoses industries will take a massive hit meaning redundancies putting even more people below the poverty line.
the less people that can afford professional services such as lawyers and banking and financial advisors means thoses industries will be hit in the long term.

so we might all personally be ok for a bit but eventually if things keep spiralling and prices keep rising we will all be affected in ways we don’t even realise yet.

@Completelyovernonsense Again, please find me an example of a judgmental comment I've made. I'm genuinely concerned for people - I just don't think the majority of the population will suffer extreme hardship (of course, I may be wrong about that, and I won't even be particularly surprised). Also, I do have friends who are struggling a little (hence the "according to you") due to costs rising. I have lent money to a few of them this past month.

You sound very angry, and very stressed. I hope you are doing okay and are able to access all the support you need. If you are in fact okay, and just angry, it might be a good idea to channel your energy and passion into something like volunteering or charity work and look to help others. I've volunteered with Crisis over the years, as well as a telephone helpful, and the CAB in my early 20s - all very rewarding.

If I were here to indulge my pedantic side, I'd tell you that the phrase is "grasping at straws" and doesn't make any sense in this context. The only person making a desperate attempt to succeed at something here is you. I'd also note that anyone who writes frantic, angry double posts attacking another person isn't in any position to decide who needs to "chill out" or "get a grip".

I've read your posts and most of the thread and I stand by everything I've said. It's tone deaf at best and wilfully ignorant at worst, and even you don't seem to understand what the point of it was. If you wanted to know if people are worried about how it's all going to unfold, you have your answer (and you've made your feelings known about it with the silly "ZOMG" mockery that was not in good taste at all). Is it going to be a crisis? Well, as before: what level of poverty is acceptable to you?

@ReneBumsWombats Here we go again with the accusations of value judgement. Poverty certainly isn't something to aspire towards or be content with. Poverty and inequality is something we sadly live with, and is heightened in times of difficulty, with the poorest and most vulnerable feeling the impacts the most. Of course it's not "acceptable" to me. You seem to think you know me very well based on my posts - I'm really not sure why. I spend a few hours a week volunteering for a poverty charity, and besides a short period in my late 20s where work was very busy, have always done so (though with different charities). You're accusing me of "wilful" ignorance for suggesting that most people in the UK (most being the majority) won't suffer severe financial hardship.

Can I ask - why do you think my saying that detracts from the seriousness of the situation? Do you think my making a claim like that makes it less likely for those suffering to access the recognition, help and support they need? If that's your concern, I understand where you're coming from and I admire your empathy. But I might suggest you try to look at it from my perspective. I have been concerned that "over-egging" the impact the crisis will have on the majority of the population will actually prevent those who are suffering a great deal from getting the right support. Or do you genuinely believe everyone will suffer equally, and any discussion to the contrary is a crime?

@ReneBumsWombats If I were to indulge MY pedantic, professionally offended at everything side, I would tell you that English isn't my first language, and so occasionally being a little off the mark with idioms and expressions can happen. Am I going to now accuse you of racism, as you've accused me of God knows how many things?

@Completelyovernonsense I understand your anger. There's a lot of inequality and injustice. It's a little pointless directing at me though. I don't want anything that you don't.

Also, you genuinely (besides your posts, that is) sound lovely and giving. Please keeping doing all you do for others.

Are you here to rant at everyone who isn't impressed by your attitude or are you here to educate yourself with answers to your question?

@Completelyovernonsense There, you said it - "this crisis is unlikely to affect me". There are others like you as well, surely? That is what my post was about. That there are many, many people whom the crisis will not affect as much. I'm not sure why you think that means that I don't care about the people that it will affect?

@ReneBumsWombats I'm not really sure what you mean by educate myself. I still don't think the crisis will cause severe financial hardship or poverty for many, many people.

@Completelyovernonsense You are strange. That's like saying "how can anyone who works for a disability charity say that most people aren't disabled". 🙄

They're unconnected. You literally said in a previous message that you're unlikely to be personally affected by the crisis! Do you think you're an exception?

@Completelyovernonsense Do you think all your friends, family, and everyone in your social circle besides yourself is going to descend into severe financial hardship? Seriously? Can you not fathom for a second that there are many, many other people like yourself, who care deeply about others, but won't be personally financially impacted by the crisis?

@Completelyovernonsense Lol, it's a bit simplistic to say "5% of people won't be affected by the crisis and everyone else will".