Can we have a dedicated benefits bashing forum?

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It would clearly be very well used. There are now multiple threads every day on this theme.

Put them all in one place so these 'lovely' compassionate posters can all froth together.

The rest of us can then hide it and pretend the world isn't full of horrible people.

Thank you

good idea

People are entitled to have issues with the benefits system and discuss their opinions, just as they can with any other political subject.

While they are at it have another 1 specifically for the sahm / housewife hate on here so the same insults and assumptions can be spat out in 1 place .

My favourite was the charmer who didn’t want their tax given to people with children, as child benefit. Clearly looking for a reaction, posting on a forum mainly used by parents…

I don't believe I'm arguing that they can't am I?

Please stop trying to shut down discussion. You have the option not to join in or to defend your own position. That is what you should be doing, not insist that others hide their opinions away from you because you don't like it.

'@pudthespanner · Today 08:11

People are entitled to have issues with the benefits system and discuss their opinions, just as they can with any other political subject.'

The problems is that these threads are no longer about debate.

It is just people making claims about the disabled, the sick and the unemployed without backing them with evidence/stats.

Ableism is not acceptable. Just like racism, sexism and ageism...

How is asking that people have their very own forum 'shutting down discussion'? It's the opposite isn't it?

And yes this is part of the problem. People who start those threads don't want discussion, they just want to make ridiculous claims about people they apparently know who are on thousands of pounds worth of benefits a month and going on cruises, spending it all at the pub blah blah blah
Give them their own forum so they can talk about their little fairy tales together

Fairy tales is correct, these posters who think they are SO right in what they say/know, especially the ones who assume only unemployed no gooders live in social housing ; which is free!!!
The minute you earn more than 50p you should private rent or have a deposit to buy!

Let's have all the moaners about threads together in one place.

Seems strange people are intent on targeting the poor and vulnerable, but don't mind their tax being spent on worse things. Like gold plated pensions, 2nd homes for MPs and subsidised food/drink in parliament?!

Please! Let them wind each other up with their “facts”.

@Togglebullets

I don't believe I'm arguing that they can't am I?

You can't siphon off every single topic you don't want to hear about and hide it away in a dark little corner.

People have genuine issues with the benefits system as it is and can discuss it as they please.

If you want to remain in an echo chamber and never hear differing opinions, don't engage in those threads. There will always be idiots chiming in about any topic, you cant control that.

Great idea! Yes please MN.

I agree. Seems that topics that invite debate and discussion are of distaste to many if the view held is at odds to their own. Shame really. People who have concerns about the benefits system, aren’t the enemy of people who claim benefits. The benefits system has always been contentious, and I hope it continues to be debated on this site.

Dark little corner, hey. Why would this specific subject be a dark little corner I wonder?

This.

In that case let's have a MIL bashing board too 🙄

People come on here to moan about all sorts.

@Togglebullets

Dark little corner, hey. Why would this specific subject be a dark little corner I wonder?

You can play silly buggers all you like, but your wee jokes don't hold up in place of genuine arguments. If you see a discussion on the benefits system just steer clear- you obviously have your mind made up that it's perfect and don't want to hear anyone's opinions on that.

Robust adults don't need topics of conversation hidden from them to be able to function. They can choose whether or not they read or engage.

I don't think benefits discussion should be placed in a separate forum. It's better for a wider range of women to see it so anyone who wants to can share their view. This issue affects so many people that it ought to be in the more widely read forums, vs a special board that would be less frequented and likely develop a mini "board subculture" of its own.

Speaking as a claimant.

Honestly I think a lot of career mum's feel subconsciously guilty and take it out on other mum's. The fact Sahms with husbands who pay for everything get the same amount of vitriol is proof it's not just about "my taxes being wasted"

I say all this as a working mum btw

I claim top up UC so not against claimants. In many ways the welfare bill and Social care bill is unaffordable. Councils are strapped for cash and it’ll only get worse as bills go up and infrastructure fails.

In an ideal world everyone should be fully supported to reach their full potential regardless of cost. Sadly we don’t live in an ideal world. So you need to reduce either the numbers claiming or the standard of care/ level of support available.

Obviously not up to date on other countries welfare systems. Are there any comparable systems where people spend this much? There are some teenagers who need 3-1 supervision as violent and are costing in excess of half a million pounds a year each. Residential schools costing hundreds of thousands pounds per pupil per year. Care homes costing a thousand a week. Social care placements costing 2k a week. Obviously extreme examples but still mind boggling sums of money. Perhaps the reality is we need to lower our expectations of what the government can do? If we can’t pay for a gold standard of care, then maybe there should be good enough care?

There are certainly money savings to be made. I think an example is where family is willing to provide care but can not afford to live on UC / carers allowance. It makes more sense for them to be properly supported financially maybe a salary type thing with training and respite at a cost of say £50k per year. You could save thousands.

Budgets are made out of carefully guarded pots of cash do there’s a real lack of joined up thinking in a this would be the most cost effective solution overall so how do we make that happen.

How would having a dedicated board for a topic be 'trying to shut down discussion' of it? It'd be exactly the opposite, but with the added bonus that those of us who are sick of the ill/informed vitriol from certain posters could choose to no longer see it.

OP. Because loosely speaking, thats where you want the topic to be. A ‘dark corner’ merely being a phrase for a more secluded and less frequented place. This would mean you are not confronted with the reality that people feel strongly about the issue. It doesn’t suit your desired narrative to engage in debate about it, rather imply that those who have concerns about benefits (and also those who are vehemently anti benefits), should discuss it away from other people who aren’t.