MNHQ .. Can we talk about disability bashing?

[Brownsugarshortbread]

Over the years i have posted on and enjoyed MN.
Sadly there seems to be a growing culture of it being okay to have a go at disabilities, those who claim DLA and those who's children have 'invisable' disabilities such as ADHD and ADD.
The terms 'freak' and 'scrounger' have been batted around and comments from some posters IMO certainly boarder on harrassment and discrimination.

When certain posts or posters have been reported, some have been removed, yet a lot haven't.

And while I agree with free speech, these types of comment or reaction to these comments, are not an education for those bigoted posters. Nor do those whose lives are touched by disability wish to be used to educate those posters.

Disability Harassment

is unwanted behaviour based on disability,
impairment or additional need. Such behaviour may include comments that are patronising or objectionable to the recipient or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for people with disabilities. Disability harassment includes inappropriate reference to disability, unwelcome discussion of the impact of disability, refusal to work with and exclusion of people with disabilities from social events or meetings.

but what's the point if people aren't called upon to explain these sorts of statements though, imo? just zap, and it's gone.
i'm not being a well-meaning liberal (i rather resent that, actually, as it's clearly an insult designed to silence anyone who disagrees, justa), but if someone says something that might be true, might be untrue, might be someone being a cunt, might not, it's not the way on here to delete until they have had a chance to explain themselves. all i am asking is, was that chance not taken by the poster?
there are so many posters on here that i think skirt around the trollish so much that it's practically their posting style. but loads of people really like them (idiots, obv, in my view) and who say things that seem patently untrue to me, but it's up to me whether i approach them about it or not.

okay, but i am not a well-meaning liberal. i have no issue with lines in sand. i just think that MN is being pushed into having lines where i wouldn't put them. it seems to me that it was a pretty nonsensical statement in the first place, and most people would have read it as such.

but then i am not sure i would automatically get rid of 'bankers contribute more than black people' for much the same reason. it's such a ridiculous non-point that i would be inclined to let something like that stand and let the poster be seen for the fool that they are.

yes, i do see that too, justa.

so what do you think is going on here, then? is MN being targeted by wankers at the moment or do you think that by virtue of its size there are just more wankers present?

It's funny because I am more used to hearing nowadays that bankers are the root of the near-complete collapse of the global economy. I'd take my autistic son's contribution any day over that!

Though actually of course both that statement and the other are completely facile and the product of ignorant, unquestioning minds.

Its probably both aitch: the benefit-claimers-as-scroungers meme is being pushed so heavily by govt that it is naturally reflected in a talk site.

I'm not a 'well-meaning liberal' either, and I certainly don't make a fetish of free speech. I think the legal restrictions in place are absolutely necessary, and that they should be topped up with a large amount of personal decency and consideration.

But I took the deleted comment to be motivated by something to do with disability benefits (which made it all the more stupid, since very large numbers of disabled people aren't on benefits in any case), and I do think that the meme of banker-contribution versus the contributions of people on benefits is a standard part of political conversation (that Cameron et al are deliberately encouraging).

Just watching the news. Increase in hate crime against disabled people being linked to the amount of 'disabled as scroungers' type stories being leaked to the media.

Disabled people are now public property because apparently they are all on benefits fraudulently.

Fuckers.

Mind has also reported an increase in suicidal thoughts among mentally ill people, directly related to the incapacity benefit hearings that they have been summoned to.

Yes, and I know a few acrers personally saying they will think about suicide before long; and one who says she will take her adult dd and herself for a long drive if she gets ill.

I know that women is getting help now but it was the fear of what would happen to her dd in a world that seems to hate anyone less fortunate.

Is all crap. The kids who call ds retard at school- the mum says it is OK to call ds3 it, not as if he will understand. DH is on school run this week in case I lose it with her (shouting, I don;t do violence!).

its all fucked up.

Great post justabout

peachy that is awful, don't know if it helps but at some time karma will hit.
ds was bullied at secondary, the horrid XXXXX took delight in ripping the piss out of dd, knowing ds would be upset, back then ds was not like he is now.
fast forward to college, XXXXX is taling to ds's primary school best friend,
who ds hadn't seen for years, so ds tells him what xxxxx had said XXXX Got decked!!
violence isn't the answer but stories like that make me smile.

seriously though it is terrible that vulnerable people can see no way out. even worse to see money can be found all of sudden to pay for stuff over seas like vaccinating children abroad(worthy and right to do) so they do have money, they just don't want to use it to help vulnerable people

I might be alone in this, but I have asked mn hq if they can lift the cap on this thread, I doubt very much if this the bashing will stop as there is so mut bile in the press and media. and as I said to mn hq it keeps the moaning in one place:o

And awful just how comprehensively the govt has got away with manufacturing a narritive that says the cost of benefits/services is the reason for financial crisis and cuts, rather than the bloody bankers being to blame. Labour's worst post-election fault has been the failure to undermine that narrative. And it leaves carers and claimants feeling suicidal.

I know, but they seem to like the w bankers but not like disabled peopl

It's the people like us thing: same thing responsible for most wars etc ever.

Tribalism.

Unevolved minds.

And yy to cap lify, good idea shoesy