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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be so sick of anyone who earns a 'decent' wage being demonised by those who don't?

290 replies

sickofthis · 02/12/2008 20:57

OK, I am very probably REALLY going to regret this, but it is getting to me, the number of threads at the moment that seem to think if anyone earns a decent wage (over £50K) they are somehow responsible for the downfall of the economy and are greedy etc.,

It's cobblers.

The truth of the matter is the housing market has grown too far too fast and too many people have borrowed beyond their means on the back of thier houses (which now aren't worth what they thought they were)

Yes, some banks took too many risks and are paying the price but this does not mean ALL bankers are greedy, horrid people. Just like all property developers (who, by the way, have made lots of money from the property boom) aren't either.

But, some people took far too many personal risks to buy material stuff they didn't need. That makes them JUST as culpable.

The housing market needs to cool off. When ordinary good people can't buy a reasonable house, there is something wrong with the pricing strategy and, one way or another, it's going to be corrected.

OP posts:

Mamazontopofsanta · 02/12/2008 21:00

i don't think people demonise those who earn good wages.

i think that people on MN feel it is a bit off to come and post about how your struggling if you have an income of £200K

chequersandroastedchestnuts · 02/12/2008 21:00

I do think that people get a bashing on here for admitting that they are struggling even on a good income.

I think sometimes though, mentioning the actual salary figure does 'set the hair running though' and look a bit like boasting (even though to many, including me, it's not necessarily would I would consider a figure that's overly boastful).

StealthPolarBear · 02/12/2008 21:02

Don't know about all the intellignet sounding stuff you've written but yes there's a general attitude of unless you're completely on the breadline then you have no right to have a little winge on MN.
It's not just money though, although it does seem to be a bad one. Seems like if you're unlucky someone will come along on almost any thread and say "Well if this is all you've got to complain about then count yoursef lucky and get a life!"

Actually what am I saying? If this is all you've got to complain about then count yoursef lucky and get a life!

amerryscot · 02/12/2008 21:02

There is nothing wrong with earning as much as you can. I think there is a certain duty to do so, within reason.

TheCrackFox · 02/12/2008 21:04

FFS has this not been done to death? I am past caring who earns what. Well done if you earn a good wage. Bad luck if you don't.

Can we all just shut up about it?

chequersandroastedchestnuts · 02/12/2008 21:04

(I was talking about the 50k/65k figures not being overly boastful btw, not 200k!!)

Ronaldinhio · 02/12/2008 21:04

yabu

this is balls, everyone is in a bitchy self righteous state at the moment but the truth is that everyone is feeling the pinch and none of this is helpful.

This will just start another rant

DoubleBluff · 02/12/2008 21:04

people get jealous though.
I have a reasonable job, drive a nice car, nothing flash, i never really talk abou what i do or what i have as i know that i am better off than some.
But have had some snipey comments. It annoys me so much. No one hasever given me anything and i work hard for what i have got as does DH.

DoubleBluff · 02/12/2008 21:04

StealthPolarBear · 02/12/2008 21:05

But why, TheCrackFox? This is a forum to start threads about stuff you want to share/get advice on/get off your chest? Or does that not extend to some people's money worries?

nickytwotimes · 02/12/2008 21:06

I was brought up to believe it was bad manners to talk about money.

TheCrackFox · 02/12/2008 21:06

It has been done to death. £100k, £65K who cares. We are all grown up. Learn to budget and shut up.

LittleJingleBellas · 02/12/2008 21:08

Oh fark off

Am I sick of the poor being demonised? Am I sick of lone parents being demonised? Am I sick of random mothers in post offices being demonised?

Yes but I can't be arsed to start a thread about it.

Am going to hide this thread, will....not.... be.... sucked ..... in....

wasabipeanut · 02/12/2008 21:08

After getting flamed a few months ago for 'fessing up to saving child benefit I tend to steer clear of these threads.

Original poster

sickofthis · 02/12/2008 21:09

But, even, Mamaz, if someone does earn £200K, their costs have gone up proportionally, and now they are faced with an extra 5% tax to pay for others who don't work so hard.

surely it's plausible that, even if you do earn £200K you are struggling more this year than last?

And if not, why is not the same true for anyone on benefits?

Why is it so difficult to explain that, if you DO happen to earn £200k (or similar, that's just an example) you are expected to dress and act accordingly so your expenses are naturally higher.

Bear with me: You turn up at your bank... How do you expect to see the manager? In a hoodie? Saying: 'Att, att, att, att... Nuh Wha I mean???? ack ack ack?' Again, it's just an example, but we expect different things from people and it's unfair to expect people who earn that sort of money to have the same expenses as some one who works in Tescos (yet another example)

OP posts:

spicemonster · 02/12/2008 21:13

But why does anyone have to post about what they earn? I don't understand how, if you're earning 200k, you're so dense that you don't understand it's likely to get people's backs up if you start a thread whingeing about how it doesn't go as far as it used to.

You don't have to be a genius to work out that if the average income is around 24k, most posters on here must earn around that - law of averages surely.

And I don't think anyone blames everyone who earns over 50k for the demise of capitalism as we know it. I've certainly not read anything similar. It's a bit paraniod of you to take it so personally.

Mamazontopofsanta · 02/12/2008 21:15

But, even, Mamaz, if someone does earn £200K, their costs have gone up proportionally, and now they are faced with an extra 5% tax to pay for others who don't work so hard.

so a nurse who earns about £25k if she's lucky doesn't work as hard as some It exec on £200k?

but im really not arguing the toss. i couldnt' care less how much anyone earns. if your struglling you look at what you can cut back on. its the same for everyone, whatever their budget.

cory · 02/12/2008 21:17

I am prepared to do a deal on this one. I won't demonise if you won't suggest that people who earn higher wages are necessarily working harder/doing more important jobs/contributing more to society.

Oh, and if you are prepared to recognise that highly paid jobs are dependent on the existence of a larger number of lowly paid jobs.

Do we have a deal?

cory · 02/12/2008 21:18

I don't actually feel annoyed or agressive when I see well-dressed well-heeled people in RL. The only time I do feel a momentary twinge is when they come onto Mumsnet and suggest that everybody could have a highly paid job if only they were as hard-working and provident as the poster. This betrays a lack of understanding of the national economy that never fails to raise my eyebrow.

chequersandroastedchestnuts · 02/12/2008 21:18

What's wrong with saving child benefit?

tiredsville · 02/12/2008 21:19

Wasabipeanut, were you flamed for saving child benefit?

amerryscot · 02/12/2008 21:19

What should high earners have done - turned down promotions, and say 'no thanks, I'd rather have benefits'? Where's the morality in that?

wittyusername · 02/12/2008 21:22

From what I've read, I think it's the assumption that some make that the less well paid don't work as hard as the professionals who are earning £50k+ that gets people's backs up, rather than just the amount of money someone earns.

wittyusername · 02/12/2008 21:23

x-post with cory

cory · 02/12/2008 21:23

Nobody is saying that high earners shouldn't earn. But they don't have to start threads on MN suggesting that they are the only people who work hard. That's all. We're not asking for a lot really.

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