Tired of the performative beggars and alcoholics this time of year

[Onand]

Is anyone else sick and tired of the huge number of ‘homeless’ beggars, alcoholics and addicts that descended on the streets since the Christmas rush started this year?

Manchester is rife with them- this year there is a particularly ropey bunch of alcoholics/ addicts that are obnoxiously ‘sleeping’ or sitting with their bags pointing directly out into the street instead of being against a wall, they’re building ‘dens’ in shop doorways which stink of human faeces and piss, dealers go from spot to spot, dogs forced to sit in uncomfortable situations (often not even their dog as the same one gets passed from beggar to beggar).

It’s a self perpetuating problem because soup kitchens serving buffets set up and cater meals for them whilst they’re generally being a nuisance and making the streets look an absolute shitty mess. Why are they tolerated? People need to stop giving them money as it just encourages them to keep doing it when there are services in place to help them.

Bah humbug I know, but It’s beyond grim.

Perhaps we should figure out why some people aren't willing to help themselves? Why their self-worth is non-existent? How does one get to that point? I have a few ideas. I'd like to hear yours?

To be fair, your and other’s posts have been deleted for numerous personal attacks which are unnecessary and against talk guidelines. You may have some valid points but the level of aggression and offensive language you’re using is undermining them.

@Plastictrees I completely agree. It's very dark and I'm amazed the thread wasn't stopped. OP needs to look at themselves and their own life in therapy to explore why they see the world through such a lens.

@YaWeeFurryBastard they weren't aggressive at all. OP's comments are inflammatory and outrageous and have baited a passionate response. But aggressive, no.

Absolute rubbish. All my posts bar one are still on the thread, which eloquently describe why the ignorance and hatefulness on this thread is concerning. But no, just focus on tone policing how generous of you.

This entire thread is offensive, you must be wilfully blind.

What? Everyone already knows the answer to your patronising post- makes no difference once somebody is at the stage of deep alcoholism, hard drug addiction, rough sleeping and is refusing to access services. Help is needed way before they get to that stage.

Most of the beggars we used to get in the town centre were almost certainly Eastern Europeans, run by gangmasters - they all held identical placards - but have mostly vanished since COVID, since far fewer people carry cash any more.
We do have a few who may be genuine, but I’m afraid I stopped giving cash years ago, after a ‘regular’ I often gave to, was revealed as a fraud - he had a flat (owned, not rented) and had a very healthy stash in the bank.

Nowadays I just give to Crisis, the Sally Army, and St Mungo’s (they let them bring their dogs). 🐶

Maybe the homeless could be whipped from parish to parish? I am sure you would enjoy that.

Asking for this thread to be taken down is ridiculous. I think some people here sit around waiting to be offended by the slightest thing. Real life isn’t this warm and fluffy thing where we all reside in our echo chambers, and these forums should reflect that.

Patronising? How so?

I ask again - if there is so much help and support available in the early stages, how and why do all these "no-hopers" get to that point? Why is it an unreasonable question? If everyone knows the answer, spell it out for me.

@westisbest1982 real life to some of these people is hard, cold, merciless and right wing. It's vomit inducing.

Help is needed way before they get to that stage

Well, isn't that exactly the point @MistressoftheDarkSide was making? The point you so rudely dismissed.

'If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population'.....
Who needs dickens when we have the annual scrooge thread on mumsnet

If objecting to vulnerable people (and yes I include the people being "bussed in") being dismissed, othered and spoken about as if they are lesser beings means I am in an echo chamber, then I am glad to be in it. Rather that echo chamber than the one@Onand occupies.

I completely agree. This thread is like the Daily Fail on steroids.

It is tricky situation.
In every sector of life you find scammers.

My BF at school got knocked up at 14 so she could get a free hpuse and support and went on to have 3 more children by 3 different men to get a bigger place. It worked for her. She was not genuinely in need and plotted this life for herself.

There is a couple in London (many is stories I hear like this) who pretended to be in a DV situation so they could get a concuil property using the children for extra convincing. After getting said council property they were living there together.

I know Taxi drivers who mess with their books to pay minimum tax when they take home £5k soemtimes on one day such as Xmas or New years. Earning more then £30k more like 70-80k snd get away with it for decade(s). Some many scammers.

Kide who go to uni and get massive burserys that are not means tested but come from wealthy families.

The list goes on and on and on.

Oh, here come the benefit bashers to make the festive spirit of this thread complete.

My BF at school got knocked up at 14 so she could get a free hpuse and support and went on to have 3 more children by 3 different men to get a bigger place. It worked for her. She was not genuinely in need and plotted this life for herself

In the words of Catherine Tate's nan, what a load of old shit.

@MixedCouple2 such low brow views it's untrue. The ignorance is off the scale.

In life people have opinions you might not like. Unless MN allows discussion and allows posters with unpopular opinions to be challenged then it will be a very boring place. If you don't like OPs opinion, tell her so and why- you might change her mind or make her think a bit.

If MN removed posts just because the poster holds an opinion that many disagree with, MN would not be a good discussion forum. The OP is as entitled to her opinions as any of you are and she has expressed them without being abusive so there should be no reason to remove the thread.

No it's not. There's a housing crisis now which a lot of people have wised up to....but yes, especially decades ago, getting pregnant was a sure fire way to get your own place and lots of girls did it. Your attempt to be right on doesn't make it untrue.

decades ago, getting pregnant was a sure fire way to get your own place and lots of girls did it

That was the favoured Tory/Daily Mail narrative in the 70s and 80s, when single mothers were demonised. Now that narrative has moved on to demonising immigrants, and how they get all the council houses.

Do you really believe a child of 14 would plan her future that way? A future of struggling by on benefits with four children to raise?

Eta: "right on"? 🤣Haven't heard that one for a long time.

I know women who did this for heavens sake. And yes in your middle class bubble, having multiple kids whilst claiming benefits may seem like a shit life, for many they see it as totally normal.

The OP does not engage with any posts that challenge their world view. Just keeps emerging now and then to spout more ignorant venom. It is hateful towards vulnerable people and the rhetoric is dangerous - they are inciting hate.

I have a few ideas. I'd like to hear yours?
@MixedCouple2
You really expect others to respond well to this tone?

I am from a working class background, though admittedly ended up in a middle class profession. I also now claim benefits. What a conundrum for you.