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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Disability hate on MN

530 replies

IClaudine · 02/05/2024 13:31

Hi MNHQ

Since Sunak’s announcement on disability benefits, there has been a big increase on MN in hostility towards people who receive then.

The abuse, hate and outright lies (my neighbour’s son’s cousin’s wife climbs Mount Everest but gets PIP etc) being spewed on MN towards disabled people, a group with protected characteristics, has been dreadful and very distressing for disabled people and their loved ones to read,

Please can you do something?

Here is a small selection of the threads where the disability benefit bashers have paid a visit and had a field day. There may be more, but I can’t face searching for them!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5064828-to-be-terrified-about-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share  

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5065470-people-who-work-have-anxiety-too?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5066670-aibu-to-hope-that-able-bodied-people-will-support-disabled-people-against-the-tory-attack-on-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5064856-pip-vouchers-to-replace-money?reply=134966246&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5066331-do-you-feel-bad-for-receiving-a-high-amount-of-uc?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
RainbowZebraWarrior · 02/05/2024 15:30

IClaudine · 02/05/2024 15:25

RainbowZebraWarrior I try to ignore them, but I can't help myself. The injustice of what people say and the lies. I am not disabled, but I am carer for my disabled DH. What I have read on MN this week has upset me so much.

That's exactly it. It's the injustice.

I read them because I want to know what I'm up against.

I'm disabled, but it's my disabled daughter that's in my mind when I see this stuff. If some adults on here have such attitudes, then it's going to filter down to their kids.

At least if my daughter ends up against abelism at school, I'd like to think the school would do something about it.

Terrribletwos · 02/05/2024 15:32

IClaudine · 02/05/2024 13:31

Hi MNHQ

Since Sunak’s announcement on disability benefits, there has been a big increase on MN in hostility towards people who receive then.

The abuse, hate and outright lies (my neighbour’s son’s cousin’s wife climbs Mount Everest but gets PIP etc) being spewed on MN towards disabled people, a group with protected characteristics, has been dreadful and very distressing for disabled people and their loved ones to read,

Please can you do something?

Here is a small selection of the threads where the disability benefit bashers have paid a visit and had a field day. There may be more, but I can’t face searching for them!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5064828-to-be-terrified-about-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share  

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5065470-people-who-work-have-anxiety-too?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5066670-aibu-to-hope-that-able-bodied-people-will-support-disabled-people-against-the-tory-attack-on-pip?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5064856-pip-vouchers-to-replace-money?reply=134966246&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5066331-do-you-feel-bad-for-receiving-a-high-amount-of-uc?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I am really interested but not in a bad way, but how does your son climb mount everest,?

Original poster
IClaudine · 02/05/2024 15:33

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 02/05/2024 15:26

Otherwise, no one with no dog in the fight knows what you’re talking about and I assume you want this issue to reach a wider audience.

This is not about gaining a wider audience right now.

I posted this in site stuff to alert MNHQ. Even so, as you can see, plenty of posters know what I am talking about.

OP posts:
Original poster
IClaudine · 02/05/2024 15:34

Terrribletwos · 02/05/2024 15:32

I am really interested but not in a bad way, but how does your son climb mount everest,?

Show quote history

I suggest you read my post again, as you have totally misread it.

OP posts:
Terrribletwos · 02/05/2024 15:35

Ok, sorry. How have I misread it?

Original poster
IClaudine · 02/05/2024 15:37

Terrribletwos · 02/05/2024 15:35

Ok, sorry. How have I misread it?

I didn't say my son climbs Mount Everest. I don't have a son.

OP posts:
ginasevern · 02/05/2024 15:37

Terrribletwos · 02/05/2024 15:35

Ok, sorry. How have I misread it?

Maybe you'd be better off with pictures?

Newtonianmechanics · 02/05/2024 15:38

Just seems a lot of mumsnet have had privileged lives.
No wonder it gets a bad name which is sad as there is a lot of nice people on here.

I wish the taxing of rich companies got as much leverage.

alloalloallo · 02/05/2024 15:38

I totally agree.

Its always seemed like dis/ablism is perfectly fine on MN, but it does seem to be getting worse lately.

It’s upsetting

During the Covid lockdowns ableism was appalling - I remember getting told off by MNHQ for reporting an ableist comment, while the comment was left to stand.

Rainyspringflowers · 02/05/2024 15:40

reported an individual post and was told to challenge them myself. Apparently it didnt break talk guidlines. This was someone who was calling respite care 'babysitting so you can go and drink wine'

Thats disgusting.

Penguinsa · 02/05/2024 15:49

Yes these posts are very disturbing and I wonder if there's an political campaign behind it.

There were also some lovely threads about those of us with cancer saying it was our own fault allowed to stand as free speech. Reported multiple times and numerous posters with cancer went on and said was causing them distress and a lot of them didn't care and carried on and MN just said hide it.

Same thing going on with autism and anyone vulnerable though the thread with the person claiming lots on benefits isn't helping. A lot of us get next to nothing and took 6 months to get that. One MN poster said their child is terrified by the reports and has asked for sleeping pills.

Penguinsa · 02/05/2024 15:55

Someone said the best policy is to not engage as engagement creates revenue for MN and encourages it. Though I hate ignoring ignorant incorrect comments. But actually that did work on the cancer one.

Piggywaspushed · 02/05/2024 15:59

Ireported that thread and was told to report individual posts. I reported an individual post and was told to challenge them myself. Apparently it didnt break talk guidlines.

Yup, I have had this too re race and other examples of blatant hate speech.

Apparently, It's my job to debate this. I'm not Martin Luther King.

Piggywaspushed · 02/05/2024 15:59

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 02/05/2024 15:25

It would be helpful to the discussion if you quoted the disability hate comments to which you are referring.

Why?

CallMeBettyBoop · 02/05/2024 16:00

Totally agree, OP.

Talkamongstyourselves · 02/05/2024 16:07

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 02/05/2024 15:25

It would be helpful to the discussion if you quoted the disability hate comments to which you are referring.

Go to page 2 on any one of those threads by the time you get to page 4 you'll have seen plenty.

FlippyFloppyShoe · 02/05/2024 16:07

The threads I have seen are in aibu and there have been a few this week, but that is the same of anything in the news. I can see that people get cheesed off with the same kind of posts, but I can see people from both 'sides' being unreasonable.
There has been some decent information hidden in the threads for those that don't have information on the benefits system and perhaps an answer maybe as with what they do on the feminism board is for the very frustrated people to create a 'realities of claiming what's it all about' thread that they can then link to, with no personal stories, but with how the process of eg pip works/common misconceptions along with statistics so people can see more facts rather than opinions and constantly linking to the post when these threads arise?

Blackcats7 · 02/05/2024 16:07

Are any of mumsnet hq disabled? It sometimes seems that people don’t have the imagination to understand how these comments feel if they have not personally experienced it. All the “disability awareness training” counts for bugger all in my experience. Have recently had to raise a complaint with an insurance company because of exactly this. Huge national company but zero managers/ staff responsible for supporting disabled customers. I was told “all staff have disability training” which doubtless means they have sat through a mornings presentation, probably not even by a disabled person, whilst thinking about what they will be having for lunch.

LameyJoliver · 02/05/2024 16:09

In my job I see people daily who are having to manage the benefits minefield. I have just come back from seeing someone who is genuinely suicidal as she, despite having serious disabilities which have impacted her life for years, is being forced to go through yet another humiliating and distressing 'assessment'. This is a highly intelligent, articulate woman who is simply at the end.

I know that this is going to be my work for weeks now. Its horrific, and real and as for the vile cunts on those threads - I really hope they lose everything one day and understand it

Piggywaspushed · 02/05/2024 16:12

Blackcats7 · 02/05/2024 16:07

Are any of mumsnet hq disabled? It sometimes seems that people don’t have the imagination to understand how these comments feel if they have not personally experienced it. All the “disability awareness training” counts for bugger all in my experience. Have recently had to raise a complaint with an insurance company because of exactly this. Huge national company but zero managers/ staff responsible for supporting disabled customers. I was told “all staff have disability training” which doubtless means they have sat through a mornings presentation, probably not even by a disabled person, whilst thinking about what they will be having for lunch.

Possibly wrong and don't want to cause offence but I very much doubt many of the mods come from any underrepresented, targeted group.

Original poster
IClaudine · 02/05/2024 16:13

Penguinsa · 02/05/2024 15:49

Yes these posts are very disturbing and I wonder if there's an political campaign behind it.

There were also some lovely threads about those of us with cancer saying it was our own fault allowed to stand as free speech. Reported multiple times and numerous posters with cancer went on and said was causing them distress and a lot of them didn't care and carried on and MN just said hide it.

Same thing going on with autism and anyone vulnerable though the thread with the person claiming lots on benefits isn't helping. A lot of us get next to nothing and took 6 months to get that. One MN poster said their child is terrified by the reports and has asked for sleeping pills.

I am so sorry people said that sort of thing to you. It is just unforgiveable.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 02/05/2024 16:13

FlippyFloppyShoe · 02/05/2024 16:07

The threads I have seen are in aibu and there have been a few this week, but that is the same of anything in the news. I can see that people get cheesed off with the same kind of posts, but I can see people from both 'sides' being unreasonable.
There has been some decent information hidden in the threads for those that don't have information on the benefits system and perhaps an answer maybe as with what they do on the feminism board is for the very frustrated people to create a 'realities of claiming what's it all about' thread that they can then link to, with no personal stories, but with how the process of eg pip works/common misconceptions along with statistics so people can see more facts rather than opinions and constantly linking to the post when these threads arise?

Are you suggesting both 'sides' make good points? Because that isn't how prejudice and discrimination work...

therejustbarely · 02/05/2024 16:20

I was on the UC thread that just filled up today and I found it very disturbing. The utter contempt displayed for a family with disabled children was unreal.

I always think to myself it could be me in that position, it could be any of us. Thank god we have a safety net. And then I get on with my day.

graceinspace999 · 02/05/2024 16:20

Yes I have noticed some quite nasty comments and attitudes towards people with disabilities.

I really hope MN look into this and if anyone is calling derogatory comments aimed at those with a disability - free speech, then disability training is necessary.

EveSix · 02/05/2024 16:20

As a parent of a child with SEN who is likely to always require support into adulthood, I find this terrifying. I'm on the verge of needing to walk away from a hard-earned professional career in order to care for my child, which will necessitate accessing benefits to compensate for loss of earnings. I love my work and will really struggle with losing my work identity if it comes to it. To face suspicion and blame on top of this, as well as a change of lifestyle, feels so sad.