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

This head in the sand stuff is a very poor show. I don't like what's happening in Ukraine but I still want to know about it. In fact it't terrifying. And if the benefits Bill is bankrupting the country this problem needs to be addressed.

Totally agree, @MyUmberSeal - this is why even some claimants like me, who can recognise the system is in trouble and people are legitimately unhappy, feel discussion needs to be open and not siloed. I think it's really troubling that people want to close it all off in a separate board. I personally think we need to know how people feel!

This head in the sand stuff is a very poor show. I don't like what's happening in Ukraine but I still want to know about it. In fact it't terrifying. And if the benefits Bill is bankrupting the country this problem needs to be addressed.

Try posting a gender critical thread outside FWR and see how much you are "entitled" to give your opinions and how fast your thread will get sent to the FWR "naughty corner".

I'm all for the coralling of disability bashers and benefits bashers into their own cesspool.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate GC thread do appear in AIBU and aren't always moved.

How is it benefit bashing when claimants and other disabled people are themselves participating and sharing concerns with the system?

Can we have a separate board for people who think the system is perfect, and declares anyone who doesn’t agree a horrible benefit basher?

@selffellatingouroborosofhate

You think that's some kind of clever gotcha?
I don't agree with what they did to the FWR board either.

We don't need a separate cesspool. You're right here creating your own with your vile attitude.

This. Their lack of nuance is imbecilic. I'm glad posters who claim benefits are on this thread speaking up for the need for open discussion.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate you’re talking drivel, and what’s more I think you probably know it. Labelling anyone who wants to discuss the benefits system as a ‘disability/benefit basher’ has actually given me a good laugh 😂.

You’re not getting a separate benefits forum before we get one for the Mounjaro discount codes. That’s a far more annoying trend! 😆

The title of the thread is hilarious. Would this new board be called "Benefit Bashers"?

😂

I could say exactly the same people having their heads in the sand about men in women's prisons, the employment tribunals concerning men in women's workplace changing rooms, NHS Annexe B, etc. Yet Mumsnet HQ will banish those threads to FWR in a heartbeat.

MNHQ have decided that corralling contentious topics is OK. That means that benefits can be considered for corralling.

The pensions bill is the biggest chunk of the benefits bill by a long shot. If the benefits bill is truly bankrupting people, then cutting pensions is the obvious way to make a saving.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/articles/howisthewelfarebudgetspent/2016-03-16

I let it wash over me now. I have my PIP paid into a separate account for my holiday fund.

Nice try but you’d have try harder then that to antagonise. Fair play to you if you do that 💅 🙃

Obviously you know that a board dedicated to bashing anyone would be against the ethos of this site.

People are allowed to have their opinions. Whether they are right or wrong, we have free speech and thought. For now at least.

There are serious problems with the benefit system - this is undeniable. Many posters often say there is no benefit fraud and it's not a problem. Last year, a gang was convicted of a £54,000,000 benefits scam. £54 MILLION! How anyone can possibly say that there are no problems with the benefits system after that is beyond me. And if that gang is doing it to the tune of £54 million, you can bet your ass that there are plenty of other gangs doing the same.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate

You think Mumsnet is wrong to do that yet you're on OP's side to hide topics about the benefits system on a separate board?

Do you think I don't see the threads and see how people talk about people playing the system? All the "my mate's cousin gets thousands a month in UC" nonsense, which isn't actually possible if you read the benefits regulations? All the people who claim to know someone who commits PIP fraud when it's actually vanishingly rare?

C'mon, you're being disingenuous here.

Image source: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2023-to-2024-estimates/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-ending-fye-2024

I'm highlighting a double standard and arguing that if FWR can be corralled, so can anything else.

That would be great.

It would certainly make it easier for the people behind this attack on the poor, the vulnerable and the disabled ahead of what is apparently going to be a hellish spring budget that will leave the poorest in society completely fucked.

But, I mean, it's complete coincidence that all this rage bait is ramping up right now. Total tinfoil hat time to put the two together.

Yup. Nothing to do with a transparent attempt to get the general public to focus on a small segment and blame them for the fact the country is financially fucked instead of looking at those who have forever exploited loopholes, given bullshit contracts to their mates, creamed off the top, bled the place dry and continue to do so.

Nah. Let's go after bad back bertie and his weekly round of golf. Cos that's what they're all really like and it's all their fault.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate

Seriously weird take. I'd rather argue that neither should be. How odd that this logic has aligned you with the OP.

It'd be 'head in the sand' if people were shying away from constructive debate or refusing to question the system in any way, but these threads aren't producing a lot of that. It's mostly drivel of questionable veracity about how the single mum down the road (funny how these posters always have a 'friend' or know someone 'down the road' who has 5 kids with 5 different dads, is rolling in PIP and UC, spends the day in front of Loose Women and has her nails done 4 times a day and there's not a thing wrong with her. These posters don't want debate, they just want their prejudices validated and for Mumsnet to join them in baying about what an outrage it is.

For others not to want to waste time on these prejudiced, often fictional rants isn't 'head in the sand stuff'.

What's the point lol because it would only attract people that want to have a go at those bashing benefits anyway so it would just be like it is now wouldn't it?

The forum management have decided that corralling topics is OK. I'm assuming that that decision isn't up for challenge. Given that decision, I'll advocate that people claiming disability benefits shouldn't have to see their right to claim, be assessed, appeal, and recieve money be attacked. If people can hide the board housing the threads about the Sandie Peggie case, they should be able to hide a board housing the Daily Mail headlines posted about "scroungers" too.

@imtheholidayarmadillo Actually there is a lot of debate and many POVs are represented.

This gang was detected and convicted. Looks like the auditing and investigation system works just fine.