Reminder to Benefits board regulars

Former_MSE_Andrea

Evening everyone

Can I please kindly remind you that this board's about support not judgement. Whether you feel a post is genuine or not, if you can't reply nicely on it then please just don't read it.

It's much better to stay quiet than to risk putting new site users off posting.

Thanks for listening

Andrea

seven-day-weekend

Thanks Andrea for this reminder and I do not believe it is up to us to judge whether a poster is genuine or not.

I think if we are going to reply we should do so to the best of our ability and if we have nothing to say other than accusations, then don't reply at all.

Thanks again.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Thanks Andrea for this reminder and I do not believe it is up to us to judge whether a poster is genuine or not.

I think if we are going to reply we should do so to the best of our ability and if we have nothing to say other than accusations, then don't reply at all.

Thanks again.

Very well put :T:T:T

Katykat

Thanks Andrea. As a recipient of abuse after posting a query I can vouch that it is very upsetting. I did get some answers, but there does seem to be a few people who's only purpose is to abuse vulnerable people

SomeBozo

Hi Andrea

Thanks for the calrification.

Whats the mechanism where people are trying to commit fraud?

What about posters that themselves enter into a discussion (with comments like "I have paid tax and NI for years and all I get is this?)

Is it wrong to suggest to posters on here that getting a job is a option when they need more cash?

When people come on for a moan about the lack of benefits they receive is that suiatble board material?

Bozo

seven-day-weekend

I'm sure it is perfectly OK to tell people that what they are asking will amount to fraud and that trying to get a job can be a viable option.

However, it is the tone with which it is done which is important. You can say these things pleasantly and politely without being nasty, sarcastic or otherwise unpleasant.

I'm sure that's what Andrea means, if not I'm sure she will correct me.

SomeBozo

is the tone

But this is the written meduim hence there is no tone.

Lets take this thread :

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1417739

Is my first reply out of bounds for the board? The Op throughout the thread uses comments like :

I didnt ask your OPINION i asked for advice or similar situations.

Not that i need to explain my entire life but lots of people are too judgemental and opinionated.

As with the benefits board, if you state advice that they did not want, its not liked.

Bozo

seven-day-weekend

No, I personally think your reply is fine.

It can't be helped if posters take offence to what we say, providing we have said it pleasantly and politely, and of course, it is accurate.

I'm sure Andrea is not holding us responsible for people getting offended by what they don't want to hear - just that some people lately (however, not regulars I would say) have been unpleasant and sarcastic and/or accusing posters of being trolls because they have asked an unusual or apparently self-evident question. I think it's this that we have to be careful with and not assume people are trolls just because they are asking such questions. If we don't want to answer them we don't have to.

bestpud

I agree, but boy is it difficult at times!!

The issue I have, is people feel it is ok to come on here and rant about others who have never worked, or lone parents, or having paid taxes for 300 years and received nothing, dah de dah, but then feel they are being bullied if we give our opinion on their situation! Their opinion is fine, even if it offends, but the opposite is not, no matter how politely it is put...

And with posts arguing certain benefits are too little, for example, it seems ok for a poster to rant about it not being enough, but not ok (in their eyes), for people to argue it is, and provide proof of that fact.

But, yes, point taken.

seven-day-weekend

Well yes, I agree, but if people are ranting about the amount of benefits and/or benefit-bashing, I often refer them to the BG's original request for such subjects to be taken to Discussion Time, where they can discuss Benefits Policy and slag off Benefits Claimants to their heart's content. It's only here on the Benefits Board where we should keep strictly to the rules Andrea has mentioned above.

As for someone saying their money is not enough , as I mentioned above, I'm sure it's OK to point out that in our opinion it is, as long as we do it in the right manner and explain why we think this.

bestpud

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Well yes, I agree, but if people are ranting about the amount of benefits and/or benefit-bashing, I often refer them to the BG's original request for such subjects to be taken to Discussion Time, where they can discuss Benefits Policy and slag off Benefits Claimants to their heart's content. It's only here on the Benefits Board where we should keep strictly to the rules Andrea has mentioned above.

As for someone saying their money is not enough , as I mentioned above, I'm sure it's OK to point this out as long as we do it in the right manner and explain why we think this.

Yeah, I know.
I'm a reformed character. :A