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skint channel 4

68 replies

thekidsrule · 13/05/2013 21:05

anybody else watching

OP posts:
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eminemmerdale · 21/05/2013 08:54

I did also go a bit judgey when the girl said 'that's what the job centre's for' about the food she had just collected.

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PostBellumBugsy · 21/05/2013 10:17

I'm glad this show is on. Yes, the smug 21 year old with her 5 children and relatively comfortable set up grated, but the chaos of 16 year old Jemelia's life made me so angry that we allow kids like her to go so unsupported. She was like a toddler let loose on her own. I found it really hard to watch.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 11:14

It was very hard to watch. With programmes like this, I'm just thinking, "what should we do?" and I don't know what the answer is.

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BigBlockSingsong · 21/05/2013 12:05

Never saw the first episode, the 16 year was heartbreaking, I would like to see everything get sorted , but I'm also doubtful, her 'bf' was a waste of space who showed no interest in his daughter.

The 7 Kid family, like the dad, mother as common shit for some reason really didn't like her, but were trying to instill something better in their daughter so can't be all bad.
The 21 with 5 kids did shock me but, did seem like nice people, the dad seemed like a nice man, I think there's a class thing here too, I wonder how many women would get lambasted for marrying 3 men and having 5 kids between them, the result is still the same, parping 5 kids out at speed, in fleeting,unstable relationships.

However I like that they pointed out how corrupt the job centre's can be, I've been at the recieving end of 'we didn't put your details into the system,we overpaid you however you're liable so you have to pay us back' card a few times, and you're left destitute until they decide to pay you.

I think it shows a more complex side than the stereotypes.

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eminemmerdale · 21/05/2013 12:38

What is getting me a bit is why it's called 'Skint'. There is reference to their financial problems but it comes across more as a programme about everything related to poverty and low aspirations not just money.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 12:49

I was just thinking the same thing Eminemmerdale. It's not about getting by on little money, it's about poverty - poverty of mind, poverty of health, poverty of education and poverty of hope.

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Astley · 21/05/2013 12:52

The 21 year old Mother of 5 was enough to send me into a spiral of misery...seriously, her rent is paid and she gets £1600 a month. Why do the rest of us bother?

Where are the other Dad's? Why do they not seem to pay maintenance? When she went on about how she 'deserved' to have all thee children with absent Fathers and just live off the state I had to leave the room.

The 16 year old who had her baby taken actually made me cry. She needed a decent parent, to teach her how to parent. I sobbed when she went off to court as I knew she wouldn't get her child back, but she clearly thought if she made some effort with her appearance, they might.

She clearly loved her child and with the right help I do think she could parent, but she won't get the chance.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 13:01

I suppose her baby was taken away to try to break the cycle. I don't think she could have parented her daughter. It's so heartbreakingly difficult a situation.

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Astley · 21/05/2013 13:03

She should be in a Mother and baby unit. She could get the help she needs. 'Breaking the cycle' should never mean forced adoption IMO.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 13:08

It doesn't seem realistic that the resources could be there for the young women in her situation.

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propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 21/05/2013 13:45

The 21 yr old with 5 kids was mindblowing. She honestly believed that she was as entitled to have children as those in employment are (and openly admitted that). I could not believe how she blamed the job centre and tax credits for the fact that her children had no food. There was no personal responsibility shown by her or the dp for their predicament. Shameless is the only word that comes close.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 14:07

It struck me as though nobody had discussed such ideas with her. It's the kind of thing discussed at secondary school endlessly.

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propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 21/05/2013 14:15

I am pretty liberal but I was shocked at how she truly thought the world owed her and whatever size family she chose to have a living. Had she not stopped to question what would happen if we all adopted her attitude? There would be no tax credits or dole for anyone if we all stayed at home having child after child.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 14:16

I'm afraid the young father in the novelty onesies, playing on his video game, was almost the last straw for me.

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propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 21/05/2013 14:22

The thing is there is no easy answer. The problems are horribly complex and nearly all those shown had lived hard lives. The 36 year old Sarah I felt horribly sorry for. She looked like the living dead. Though ironically she was existing not 'living', iykwim. Yet she mentioned that her children had been taken away, so more poor young people suffering trauma and so the cycle continues. I have NO idea what the cure for the problem is.

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jojane · 21/05/2013 14:28

Vivacia - my DH sits in a spiderman onsie playing on the Xbox!! But he is a 32 year old who works all week and the onsie was a joke present from his mum as he used to wear spiderman pjs everywhere as a little boy.

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PostBellumBugsy · 21/05/2013 14:44

Funnily enough, even though I wanted to give her smug shoulders a shake and kick her apathetic boyfriend up the bum, I'd still rather her kids grew up with state support rather than like Jemelia.

One thing that I thought as well, was that there was no incentive to earn in the household. Making a bit of an assumption, I don't suppose either of them would get high paid jobs, at least to start with & even a low income would mean the loss of benefits, so why would they bother?

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OhLori · 21/05/2013 14:56

I watched it for 5 minutes but found it too desperate and depressing. I didn't think any of them were entitled to anything tbh.

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nickschick · 21/05/2013 14:57

I live in an poor area, I really do....but the poor people I know have their child walking around in shoes too small cos they dont get their giro til tuesday,that literally fight for reduced food in tesco,that owe the provi man most of their giro each week,that queue at asda for £2 of electric.

I see, everyday, teens kicked out of their homes cos the tax credits have stopped,students staying off college and school to save bus fare I know of people selling pictures of various parts of their body online to eke out their jsa.

Because my sons at uni reading law I hear all the tales from people who come to ask him for free advice and guidance on things like shoplifting/criminal injuries after violent assaults/wife/husband beating/teen pregnancy when the dad of the baby is denied access and probably one of the saddest how to get financial aid cos you cant afford to bury your relative whose died ;(.

This is real poverty when your giro doesnt feed your kids let alone give you spare bus fare to job hunt ....when you have to borrow clothes off someone cos youve nothing decent yourself......thats poverty not this skint programme.

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 15:00

Have I misunderstood? Your son hasn't graduated, but he's giving advice across a whole range of criminal and civil law?

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nickschick · 21/05/2013 15:02

No he tells them where to look for advice ...they come here first cos they know him ....thank god hes not training to be a doctor.

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PostBellumBugsy · 21/05/2013 15:03

Good for him nickschick. Does he know what area of law he wants to specialise in?

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Vivacia · 21/05/2013 15:03

Ah, right. Also, I realised after I'd hit "post" that I'd picked up on just one part of your message when you'd made so many important points.

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nickschick · 21/05/2013 15:07

He likes intellectual property but its a 'niche' area to get into im told.

it is just sad though because I see so many teens with so much potential but with no encouragement.

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bowlingforsoup · 21/05/2013 15:21

I found this show awful.

I felt so sorry for Jemelia she had no support at all and she was just a child. I can't understand how parents can kick their children out on the streets no matter how bad it gets. I knew she had no chance of getting her daughter back and it was so upsetting to watch her get all dressed up for court to make a good impression. That shows how immature and child like she is.

On the other hand, the 21 year old with 5 kids to 3 different men is a joke. It's not even funny either because she has no intentions of ever working and will just lie on her back for a living for the rest of her life. The boyfriend hasn't got a clue and has no motivation to work either. £1600 a month to live off is a lot of money even with 5 kids to 'support'

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