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[MSE Lawrence]

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Not everyone is in the mire' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

[silvercar]

I agree. Though the fact that a lot of people are struggling a lot, makes those that aren't struggling cautious in their expenditure.

[smu95rp]

"Throughout my career I’ve fought the fact that whenever any TV programme wants to cover “debt” they always go for a severe case. Actually that’s both not representative of most people with debts, and more importantly requires a completely different approach to deal with ... thus as a case study it doesn’t give most viewers decent take home information."

Absolutely and it's great to hear you say it too. Media reports tend to focus on such extreme cases that it is impossible to glean any useful advice from them.

Keep up the good work, Martin.

[WelshGandalf]

Well said Martin! It does irk me somewhat, that the examples the media pull out are always extreme examples, used to put forward the belief of that particular media outlet. Once I was interviewed about student loans, and said "well, it's not so bad, it's enough to live on if you budget properly" - my interview did not get published but those of my 3 fellow students who had a dig at student loans all did get published!

You can add to your list "prospective first time buyers who resisted the urge to jump in when the bubble was increasing and saved up for a deposit instead in the belief that prices would have to come down in the future"

Again the media only looks at those first time buyers bemoaning the "state of the mortgage market" and not the many of us who are happy to continue to wait as when we do get a house it'll be cheaper. When they stop falling in price, getting a mortgage will be easier and we'll have big deposits! It's a win-win situation but the media doesn't portray it like that!

/end rant

[okay79]

Thanks Martin, I think it's brilliant that you're taking that approach. Polarising tends to close down critical thinking and stifle understanding, whereas looking at the whole picture with all of shades of grey does much more to make the conversation about debt inclusive, thoughtful and useful to all.

[MSE Martin]

Just to say the feedback on this blog has inspired me to do a 'good news' column in the News of the world a week sunday