Dole threads, yea or nay?

badtoro

Seeing as grammar Nazi's, blast yore ma with p1ss have been knocked on the head in AH, should we send our dole thread benefactors to Coventry also? (Brexit aside).

These threads seem to crop up like an outbreak of herpes with a regularity that Zovirax would struggle to treat. It warms the cockles of my heart to see the most vulnerable in our society laid into with all manner of accusations. I believe there was a campaign on social welfare fraud no so long ago, that ended up costing more in marketing than savings? I also believe I heard some high up beetler in that Dept say these anecdotal dole scrounger stories didn't add up given the info the Dept knew.

Maybe a mod could add a poll, as I don't see an option on phone. Something simple like Would you be in favour of banning dole threads in AH, yes or no.

The powers that be may feel free to ignore the result, I'm interested in what it might be.

Mint Sauce

Jesus H Christ. Not another fcuking dole thread.....






























Does that answer the question?

Kivaro

So you want us to ignore the likes of Margaret Cash and Erica Fleming. Maybe pretend that they don't exist.
You do understand that working people also use After Hours, right?

badtoro

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Jesus H Christ. Not another fcuking dole thread.....






























Does that answer the question?

Sure does, do you have a good lawyer for that there blasphemy lol

The_Brood

"the most vulnerable in our society"

And those of us (many with half decent degrees) who have been working since they were of legal age but can still barely scrape by, can barely afford a shoe box to rent in the city, let alone afford a permanent residence, while the government pretends there are no problems with the quality or standard of living, and treats us like minor criminals with the taxes? Can't even get health insurance; transportation getting worse instead of improving...and the government acting like we are the "haves" that need to take care of everyone else.

Tell me again who is, and who is not "vulnerable."

Signore Fancy Pants

No to censorship

badtoro

Kivaro wrote: »

So you want us to ignore the likes of Margaret Cash and Erica Fleming. Maybe pretend that they don't exist.
You do understand that working people also use After Hours, right?

I want to see what the great unwashed of AH think.

You do understand that I work, as does my partner, and we actually both pay tax for the pleasure too.

puppieperson1

im on garden leave from work till i start my new job first break in 12 years and you know what its bloody nice not working I now understand the guys on the dole my expenses are practically nil and my free time is just great ...... they know something we stupid worker bees dont .... how to relax !!!!

Ah heeyorr, leave it ouh.

Yer Da sells Avon

If dole threads were banned, the worst people on here would have to find someone else less fortunate than themselves to get angry about.

Creative83

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

If dole threads were banned, the worst people on here would have to find someone else less fortunate than themselves to get angry about.

They are more fortunate then a lot of workers with the benefits they get... pull the other one

Kivaro

badtoro wrote: »

I want to see what the great unwashed of AH think.

You do understand that I work, as does my partner, and we actually both pay tax for the pleasure too.

Will you go away you chancer.

badtoro wrote: »

I believe there was a campaign on social welfare fraud no so long ago, that ended up costing more in marketing than savings? I also believe I heard some high up beetler in that Dept say these anecdotal dole scrounger stories didn't add up given the info the Dept knew.

Sounds like you have a partial view already.
Now if you phrased the question without the bias, then that would have been a different discussion altogether.

From my experience in life, the more taxes that the government bleed from you directly correlates to a skeptical view of those able-bodied people who can work but choose not to due to a overly generous welfare program.

Just posting to say thumbs up on the thread title

Yer Da sells Avon

Creative83 wrote: »

They are more fortunate then a lot of workers with the benefits they get... pull the other one

€198 a week is not fortunate. It's a miserable existence. Anyone who feels the need to punch downwards at people who exist (because it's no life) on the dole is an arsehole.

JohnnyFlash

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

If dole threads were banned, the worst people on here would have to find someone else less fortunate than themselves to get angry about.

More nonsense from you. People start and contribute to social welfare threads because normal and rational people are tired of people taking advantage of a creaking social welfare system. People commute for hours, and pay huge childcare, while a small cohort of human leeches get free houses, benefits and bonuses for their greed and laziness. There’s a small pot to go around and they recognise the deep and fundamental unfairness in the system these days. Who is lesss fortunate, a couple in their 30’a who may never be able to afford a house in Dublin, or a Margaret Cash sort?

Yer Da sells Avon

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

More nonsense from you. People start and contribute to social welfare threads because normal and rational people are tired of people taking advantage of a creaking social welfare system. People commute for hours, and pay huge childcare, while a small cohort of human leeches get free houses, benefits and bonuses for their greed and laziness. There’s a small pot to go around and they recognise the deep and fundamental unfairness in the system these days. Who is lesss fortunate, a couple in their 30’a who may never be able to afford a house in Dublin, or a Margaret Cash sort?

Like I said, punching downwards. Maybe focus on your own life and don't be getting yourself all worked up about other people's. It'd make you a happier (and maybe even nicer) person.

I'm a person in my 30s and I'll probably never be able to afford a house in Dublin, and I'm currently paying more for rent than a lot of people do for a mortgage. I still consider myself way more fortunate than Margaret Cash.

end of the road

yes . people want to discuss it and say the same things over and over again, so they should be able to do so. such threads have been a feature of ah since i joined the site along with immigration threads etc.

Spanish Eyes

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

€198 a week is not fortunate. It's a miserable existence. Anyone who feels the need to punch downwards at people who exist (because it's no life) on the dole is an arsehole.

Well it's not bad if you don't have the following -

Mortgage
Travel costs
Childcare costs
Medical expenses
Prescription costs
Property tax
PAYE
PRSI
USC
And some stuff I am sure I have forgotten.

It is (apart from a small contribution to HAP) a disposable income that many a worker would be thrilled with.

Creative83

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

More nonsense from you. People start and contribute to social welfare threads because normal and rational people are tired of people taking advantage of a creaking social welfare system. People commute for hours, and pay huge childcare, while a small cohort of human leeches get free houses, benefits and bonuses for their greed and laziness. There’s a small pot to go around and they recognise the deep and fundamental unfairness in the system these days. Who is lesss fortunate, a couple in their 30’a who may never be able to afford a house in Dublin, or a Margaret Cash sort?

Ms Cash gets over €50,000 in cash (never mind the benefits!) a year courtesy of the tax payer. You would have to be earning north of €100,000 a year to come out with that! So I agree, people are rightly pissed at this farce

JohnnyFlash

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Like I said, punching downwards. Maybe focus on your own life and don't be getting yourself all worked up about other people's. It'd make you a happier (and maybe even nicer) person.

I'm a person in my 30s and I'll probably never be able to afford a house in Dublin, and I'm currently paying more for rent than a lot of people do for a mortgage. I still consider myself way more fortunate than Margaret Cash.

Nah, that isn’t how it works. Most people are social democrats, and believe in social welfare. That’s a social welfare system that is under real pressure though - people living longer are draining the pot. There’s a crisis coming - this is recognised by economists of all shapes and hues. So the people who do pay into this through taxation, have a very valid interest in ensuring that this money isn’t squandered. And a large amount of that is squandered by rewarding the extremely ill-advised lifestyle choices of a small percentage of society. It’s fundamentally unfair. Especially when those who pay in find themselves materially worse off than those who claim.

And you can jump up and down, and call people fascists, arseholes, right-wingers, blue shirts etc, but it doesn’t change the fact that an increasing amount of people are demanding fairness, transparency, and accountability. This is a good sign of a healthy and functioning democracy.

Yer Da sells Avon

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

And you can jump up and down, and call people fascists, arseholes, right-wingers, blue shirts etc, but it doesn’t change the fact that an increasing amount of people are demanding fairness, transparency, and accountability. This is a good sign of a healthy and functioning democracy.

I haven't called anyone on this (or, as far as I can recall, any other) thread a 'blue shirt'. They may be fascists, arseholes, right-wingers and members of the Fine Gael party, but they are not pornstars.

Kermit.de.frog

The number of threads and number of posts indicate that people have a serious issue in this country with the way the social welfare system is structured.

It is suppose to be a temporary safety net - not an acceptable lifestyle choice.

We are paying for it.

riffmongous

It's weird how theres been so much of them the last weeks, just give it a few weeks and the sour old shítes will be back to immigration or muslims though I suppose

Hitman3000

badtoro wrote:

Maybe a mod could add a poll, as I don't see an option on phone. Something simple like Would you be in favour of banning dole threads in AH, yes or no.

It's a no from me, the permanently outraged need an outlet.

Oranage2

Tbh I do like a good dole thread, seeing the type of people that live around who are on the dole, they are not bad people, but they just need a good kick up the ar*e. Ireland seems to be very forgiving to people that make bad choice after bad without them taking any responsibility for their actions.


And with a lot of topics not allowed on AH it's just full 'Whats your favorite washing powder? ', or 'Most tunish tune'

Pkiernan

No to banning.

We need threads where 1st year Liberal Arts students can validate their mistaken ideals by demanding more free money and services for Jobdodgers.

After all they know they'll be in the same handout queue when they graduate.

Allinall

Chewbacca wrote: »

No to censorship

Post reported .

This sort of rubbish shouldn’t be allowed on Boards.

McMurphy

puppieperson1 wrote: »

im on garden leave from work till i start my new job first break in 12 years and you know what its bloody nice not working I now understand the guys on the dole my expenses are practically nil and my free time is just great ...... they know something we stupid worker bees dont .... how to relax !!!!

How do you work that one out

When I'm at work, I'm gone from the house most days from between 7 /730 until 6pm or so.

Only expense I will have will be lunch, which in reality is covered by company CC anyway.

In contrast, when I'm off work, I'll be dragged to the zoo/taytopark/petfarm/(insert any other random entertainment sources for kids, or the likes of town or a shopping centre to carry bags of shopping for herself or myself (jocks, socks and new threads etc)

Alternatively, I'm sent off to spend a small fortune on home maintenance items such as sleepers for the garden, new hoses and new plants and flowers and shrubs.

Bloody costs me a fortune when I'm off work.

screamer

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Creative83 wrote: »

They are more fortunate then a lot of workers with the benefits they get... pull the other one

€198 a week is not fortunate. It's a miserable existence. Anyone who feels the need to punch downwards at people who exist (because it's no life) on the dole is an arsehole.

And anyone who thinks that those who have free everything ( the womb to tomb welfare brigade) courtesy of the social welfare, and thinks that 198 quid a week in top of all that is a miserable existence doesn't know what they are talking about .........

Kivaro

Sur, if we didn't have Dole threads, how would ye find out that Margaret Cash is now facing court for shoplifting ........... to add to her list of other past criminal activities.
Margaret has been depicted by Sinn Fein/AAA/PBP-types as a Joan of Arc figure fighting an uncaring government. I'm sure her defenders will say that the new shoplifting charges is just a misunderstanding, just like when she was caught with the Traveler gang terrorising home owners in Wexford.

The reality is that there is a substantial amount of welfare/forever home scammers out there just like Margaret, and they should not be rewarded with tax-payer funded homes and benefits.

Gimme A Pound

No worse than any other thread that causes heated discussion. People seem to keep thinking that anyone at all whatsoever in receipt of benefits is being targeted by the ire on those threads. They're not. It's only the freeloaders. I had to go on the dole for a short while when my employer needed to let people go and I needed an income until I found a new job. I don't feel targeted by those threads.

Now you'll get the odd idiot who has a problem with state benefits full stop, but the vast vast majority know that they're necessary for many people, which makes it all the more galling to see these self entitled piss-takers.

The media doesn't paint an accurate picture so it's a good thing that there is a moderated alternative.

Avatar MIA

If Margaret Cash had been born on the other side of the tracks she could have made a fortune as a PR executive.

Signore Fancy Pants

Niko Chubby Stapler wrote: »

It's only the freeloaders

I'd say the people giving out about dole threads are the freeloaders.

It's been repeatedly said by most people here, that the genuine social welfare recipients are not the problem. Nobody has issues with the sick, disabled, carers, injured and cant work, just lost their job or have been trying to get one for 2 years....or people who have massively contributed to the pot over many years of working.

Its the minority, the lazy, schemers, drawing multiple welfare payments, taking, taking, taking, never legally worked who have been coached by friends of family about what "yu ar intiled too luv"....these fcukers are why our taxes are so high.

We work to fund their chosen lifestyle. This messing has to stop.

It's the genuine social welfare recipients by default that end up getting lumped in with these fcuktards.

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Blast Margaret Cash with piss, the scrounging lowlife

vicwatson

I'd like this dole thing, how do I get it?

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Avatar MIA wrote: »

If Margaret Cash had been born on the other side of the tracks she could have made a fortune as a PR executive.

If only her parents had the foresight to move the caravan...

Kivaro

Kivaro wrote: »

So you want us to ignore the likes of Margaret Cash and Erica Fleming. Maybe pretend that they don't exist.
You do understand that working people also use After Hours, right?

They’re not on the dole. One is on back to education and the other lone parents allowances.

Signore Fancy Pants

Louise Sweet Stepmother wrote: »

Blast Margaret Cash with piss, the scrounging lowlife

D'ya know what...I used to agree with that argument.

It really is the system which is in place thats at fault. I'm no expert on the system and admit to knowing fup all about it.

However, a system which rewards people who contribute nothing and accumulates to over €40,000 - €50,000 of assistance payments a year has to be questioned.

Hector Bellend

Some people are lucky enough never to have had to use the dole before.

i hope their good luck continues forever.

For those of us who have had to cope with redundancy and unemployment it was a welcome stop gap on the path to recovery.

There will always be those who are unwilling to work or incapable of working. Cutting the dole off doesnt stop that problem.

Kivaro

Deleted User wrote: »

They’re not on the dole. One is on back to education and the other lone parents allowances.

Is there a magic tree for these payments or are the workers picking up the tab? And what about their housing payments? Tax payers are also paying for this. And the numerous other "entitlements" that they are receiving ............. tax payers again? Erica wants better windows in her forever home; who pays for that? Yep, the tax payer.

Kivaro

Kivaro wrote: »

Is there a magic tree for these payments or are the workers picking up the tab? And what about their housing payments? Tax payers are also paying for this. And the numerous other "entitlements" that they are receiving ............. tax payers again? Erica wants better windows in her forever home; who pays for that? Yep, the tax payer.

I was being pedantic and tongue in cheek!

In Erica’s case, there is a possibility that she will one day earn her own living. Possibly in politics.

Avatar MIA

Hector Bellend wrote: »

There will always be those who are unwilling to work or incapable of working. Cutting the dole off doesnt stop that problem.

Only that it would.

But the cure would be worse than the illness.

CruelCoin

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Well it's not bad if you don't have the following -

Mortgage
Travel costs
Childcare costs
Medical expenses
Prescription costs
Property tax
PAYE
PRSI
USC
And some stuff I am sure I have forgotten.

It is (apart from a small contribution to HAP) a disposable income that many a worker would be thrilled with.

Add to that that the €198 quoted is the base payment.
This doesn't include travel passes, medical cards, etc.

CruelCoin

CruelCoin wrote: »

Add to that that the €198 quoted is the base payment.
This doesn't include travel passes, medical cards, etc.

You don’t get a travel pass when on the dole. Medical cards are means tested but most welfare recipients should qualify.

retro:electro

Chewbacca wrote: »

It's been repeatedly said by most people here, that the genuine social welfare recipients are not the problem. Nobody has issues with the sick, disabled, carers, injured and cant work, just lost their job or have been trying to get one for 2 years....or people who have massively contributed to the pot over many years of working.

But the problem with dole threads on here is that there’s little room for nuance and every single dole recipient gets lumped into the one and it becomes a competition between posters on who can say the most outrageous and degrading thing about those on welfare.
People like Margaret Cash don’t help the situation. I’ve avoided all conversation about her so far, but people like her give off the impression that all on welfare are standing with the hand out asking for more. I know myself I was extremely thankful for all the state assistance I got when I needed it and I would be mortified to state publicly that I felt the government was robbing me. Her attitude does genuine cases a massive disservice.

Life on welfare is miserable. I was on it myself for a year in order to apply for BTEA to go back to college. I’ve never known my confidence to plummet as much as it did in that year. Not only was I stone broke, but I was actively avoiding people and conversations about work because I was so ashamed of my circumstances. Not everyone is living the high life. I wish people on here would speak more about their time on welfare and how shlte it was because all we tend to hear are the sensationalised stories that get everyone’s backs up. The threads on here are usually so extreme that I don’t blame most people for not even clicking into them.

How Soon Is Now

After Hours is so full of absolute **** at this stage its almost impossible to read the vast majority of the threads started in here.

The amount of self riotous pricks with there heads so far up there arses posting in here. They seem to think there above everyone else in society and that there opinions are the only ones that stand up and matter!

Having a job which causes you to be a miserable bastard crying about every bill and tax you have to pay doesn't make you better then anyone else...

Church on Tuesday

retro:electro wrote: »

But the problem with dole threads on here is that there’s little room for nuance and every single dole recipient gets lumped into the one and it becomes a competition between posters on who can say the most outrageous and degrading thing about those on welfare.
People like Margaret Cash don’t help the situation. I’ve avoided all conversation about her so far, but people like her give off the impression that all on welfare are standing with the hand out asking for more. I know myself I was extremely thankful for all the state assistance I got when I needed it and I would be mortified to state publicly that I felt the government was robbing me.

Life on welfare is miserable. I was on it myself for a year in order to apply for BTEA to go back to college. I’ve never known my confidence to plummet as much as it did in that year. Not only was I stone broke, but I was actively avoiding people and conversations about work because I was so ashamed of my circumstances. Not everyone is living the high life. I wish people on here would speak more about their time on welfare and how shlte it was because all we tend to hear are the sensationalised stories that get everyone’s backs up. The threads on here are usually so extreme that I don’t blame most people for not even clicking into them.

Well said, you're dead right there.

I've been on Boards about a year now and I must have seen at least twenty dole threads, it's like a national obsession, a bit like the weather for some.

Do some people screw the system? absolutely, but they really tend to be in the minority. NOBODY is living the high life on the dole. You get enough to put some food in the cupboard, pay rent and that's about it. Personally I don't know anybody who was on the dole and thought "yeah that's the way to go forward in life", it's a safety mechanism for people to stay alive and get back on their feet.

Anytime I had to be on the dole, through no fault of my own, I never claimed extra expenses like rent allowance, fuel allowance etc. I know some have to, especially those genuine families that just have to claim in order to survive, but my take was that I get what I get to get by, I'm not going to grab everything in sight because I thought that immoral.

I reckon a lot of the people that start dole threads have never actually been on it, so haven't a clue what it's really like for most.

Yer Da sells Avon

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

I've been on Boards about a year now and I must have seen at least twenty dole threads, it's like a national obsession, a bit like the weather for some.

I've been on Boards for over a decade and 'dole threads' (i.e. threads where people complain about social welfare recipients) only really became a regular thing on here during the recession. Which implies that there was/is a cohort of people on this site who were lucky enough (or 'brilliant' enough, if that's what they want to tell themselves) to have jobs during the recession, and rather than being grateful, decided to lash out at the large (and very visible - I still remember the queues going out the door of SW offices and down the streets) number of people less fortunate brilliant than themselves.

end of the road

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

The number of threads and number of posts indicate that people have a serious issue in this country with the way the social welfare system is structured.

it's mainly all coming from a few posters though.

Chewbacca wrote: »

Its the minority, the lazy, schemers, drawing multiple welfare payments, taking, taking, taking, never legally worked who have been coached by friends of family about what "yu ar intiled too luv"....these fcukers are why our taxes are so high.

are they why our taxes are so high? can this be verified, or is it just another belief? would we get a tax reduction if these people either didn't exist or weren't claiming wellfare? i'd be shocked if we would. would taxes still go up on the other hand? most likely.

Chewbacca wrote: »

I'd say the people giving out about dole threads are the freeloaders.

It's been repeatedly said by most people here, that the genuine social welfare recipients are not the problem. Nobody has issues with the sick, disabled, carers, injured and cant work, just lost their job or have been trying to get one for 2 years....or people who have massively contributed to the pot over many years of working.

Its the minority, the lazy, schemers, drawing multiple welfare payments, taking, taking, taking, never legally worked who have been coached by friends of family about what "yu ar intiled too luv"....these fcukers are why our taxes are so high.

We work to fund their chosen lifestyle. This messing has to stop.

It's the genuine social welfare recipients by default that end up getting lumped in with these fcuktards.

and who lumps the genuine in with the "fcuktards" . i don't, many others don't. from what i can see it's mostly a sector of the people who spend their lives ranting about wellfare who are doing it.

Graces7

Kivaro wrote: »

So you want us to ignore the likes of Margaret Cash and Erica Fleming. Maybe pretend that they don't exist.
You do understand that working people also use After Hours, right?

Well yes, as it is none of your/our business. None of these threads achieve anything. The system allows this; of course individuals are going to try to abuse it.

We know what is going on but rattling on as is done here damages you not them.

Maybe focus on reporting welfare abuse?

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

I've been on Boards for over a decade.

Join Date: Feb 2018