Is it my imagination, or have MSE users changed?

sulkisu

I was a lurker on this site for some years, before plucking up the courage to post for the first time. I used to read the forum threads regularly, and was impressed by the sense of personal responsibility and ownership of the posters. But in the past year or so, it feels like MSE users (or at least the attitude of many MSE users) has changed.
More posters seem to take the view that the evil banks are responsible for all of their problems, forcing them to take on more and more debts, preventing them from saving, encouraging them to go overdrawn so that they could impose unfair charges.
Posters are actively encouraged to avoid their debts. There is actual an 'unenforceability thread', which has this sole purpose - reneging on credit card debts!!
More and more posters are here asking for advice on how to manipulate the benefit system, or complaining because they are not receiving as much in benefits as they think they should. And anyone who dares to challenge these posts or these ideas, are usually shot down in flames. Any suggestion that MSE should focus on advising users how to budget, save and take responsibility for charges that they incur for going overdrawn - instead of this ridiculous reclaiming bank charges saga, usually results in that post or thread being removed (this one will probably disappear soon).

Surely the best way of promoting money saving, is to start with asking/expecting people to take responsibility for their lives and their finances?

the_ash_and_the_oak

Its not just the evil bankers. My problems have also been caused by evil public sector workers tube drivers foreigners and the unemployed tbf

ThrowingStonesAtYou

sulkisu wrote: »

I was a lurker on this site for some years, before plucking up the courage to post for the first time. I used to read the forum threads regularly, and was impressed by the sense of personal responsibility and ownership of the posters. But in the past year or so, it feels like MSE users (or at least the attitude of many MSE users) has changed.
More posters seem to take the view that the evil banks are responsible for all of their problems, forcing them to take on more and more debts, preventing them from saving, encouraging them to go overdrawn so that they could impose unfair charges.
Posters are actively encouraged to avoid their debts. There is actual an 'unenforceability thread', which has this sole purpose - reneging on credit card debts!!
More and more posters are here asking for advice on how to manipulate the benefit system, or complaining because they are not receiving as much in benefits as they think they should. And anyone who dares to challenge these posts or these ideas, are usually shot down in flames. Any suggestion that MSE should focus on advising users how to budget, save and take responsibility for charges that they incur for going overdrawn - instead of this ridiculous reclaiming bank charges saga, usually results in that post or thread being removed (this one will probably disappear soon).

Surely the best way of promoting money saving, is to start with asking/expecting people to take responsibility for their lives and their finances?

Agreed. The same people who are looking to renege on their debts are usually always the ones scamming benefits/mouthing off about bankers/abusings MPs for the expense claims.

lostinrates

sulkisu wrote: »

I was a lurker on this site for some years, before plucking up the courage to post for the first time. ?

Welcome out of lurkdom.

sulkisu

the_ash_and_the_oak wrote: »

Its not just the evil bankers. My problems have also been caused by evil public sector workers tube drivers foreigners and the unemployed tbf

But that's my point. We always seem to be looking for someone else to blame. I didn't post the question to point the finger at 'the usual suspects'. I raised it because as a nation and as a generation, we find it easier to hold others responsible for our problems (whatever they are) instead of looking closer to home for the reasons behind our respective messes. My neighbour complains that she can't find a job because 'all the foreigners are taking them' (her words not mine). She conveniently forgets that she hardly ever went to school - too busy bunking off with her friends, left at 14 pregnant and with no qualifications and can only work part-time now because of the 5 kids by 4 fathers, that keep her chained to the house. Cousin who blames the local authority because he is overcrowded and his kids have no room to play. Of course having 7 children, no job (hasn't worked for 15 years due to being alcohol dependent- neither has his partner) has absolutely nothing to do with his predicament!

the_ash_and_the_oak

I don't even want to think about the evil mirror in the bathroom

ThrowingStonesAtYou

the_ash_and_the_oak wrote: »

I don't even want to think about the evil mirror in the bathroom

You should start with the man in the mirror. You should ask him to change his ways.

longtimelurker_2

I see the OP's point.

I'd also add that I'm beginning to notice more people of my age group, and finding their insights very interesting. Grads who have a chunk of their wages taken by student loan, a bigger chunk taken by landlords and are wondering when we'll achieve what we're striving for. (No I'm not talking about graduates who expect everything to fall into their lap by virtue of an ill-considered degree).

lemonjelly

The thread title should be amended to show that society, not just mse has changed.

People bang on nowadays about their rights, what they are entitled to etc etc. Forgetting that with rights comes responsibility. Unfortunatly, that last bit is forgotten. No-one appears willing to take responsibility, for anything.

In a way, maggies dream - there is no such thing as society - appears to be coming true. We're no longer a community, but a collection of individuals.

It is worrying, and much of it is also morally bankrupt.

Too much passing of the buck & blaming others.

In reality, getting off your 4rse & doing something about would resolve why you don't have a job/numerous debts etc etc.

Question is, how do you change a society's mindset?

kabayiri

If we are looking for guidance on this blame culture thing, let's start at the top.

I've lost count of the number of times Gordon Brown telling us that the recession/banking crisis is a global problem; or that the U.S subprime problem triggered it all off.

Move down a notch. MPs' expenses. They laid the blame at a poorly constructed regulatory framework. If their claim for a new gold plated urinal was accepted by the Fees Office, then how could that be wrong?

What about X-Factor? How many times have we seen a contestant blame Simon Cowl for ruining their dream; their only potential opportunity to create a decent life.

Then there's no-win, no-fee dominating daytime tv. That's more blame avoidance then.

Are you really surprised at the current climate out there?

The_White_Horse

sulkisu wrote: »

I was a lurker on this site for some years, before plucking up the courage to post for the first time. I used to read the forum threads regularly, and was impressed by the sense of personal responsibility and ownership of the posters. But in the past year or so, it feels like MSE users (or at least the attitude of many MSE users) has changed.
More posters seem to take the view that the evil banks are responsible for all of their problems, forcing them to take on more and more debts, preventing them from saving, encouraging them to go overdrawn so that they could impose unfair charges.
Posters are actively encouraged to avoid their debts. There is actual an 'unenforceability thread', which has this sole purpose - reneging on credit card debts!!
More and more posters are here asking for advice on how to manipulate the benefit system, or complaining because they are not receiving as much in benefits as they think they should. And anyone who dares to challenge these posts or these ideas, are usually shot down in flames. Any suggestion that MSE should focus on advising users how to budget, save and take responsibility for charges that they incur for going overdrawn - instead of this ridiculous reclaiming bank charges saga, usually results in that post or thread being removed (this one will probably disappear soon).

Surely the best way of promoting money saving, is to start with asking/expecting people to take responsibility for their lives and their finances?

Are you some kind of fool?? Don't you understand that NO ONE has ever gotten into debt by overspending and livinmg beyond their means? It is always because someone is ill, died or lost their job!!

And don't even mention the possibility of someone taking responsibility and obtaining insurance for these situations. That is a no no.

What you have to do is say ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) and support them.

It goes like this:

OP
Hi, I am new here. I earn 15k a year and have a mortgage of 200k and a range rover on numeorous credit cards and secured loans. I earn about 1000k per month yet I spend around 3000k every month on trash and debt repayments. I am concerned that I won't be able to repay my holiday to the costa del moron now that my credit is drying up. I don't know how this happens. The 3000k a month is all on necessary items like playstations, ipods and the like. I mean, stuff you really need. Anyway, due to my overspending, I have been hit with bank charges, and they get worse every month because i don't pay off everything. At this rate I won't be able to keep up with Wayne or Colleen for much longer.

MSE

awwwwwwww (((((((((Hugs))))))))))) poor you. Filthy banks. Its their fault you live like wayne and coleen. claim it all back and take no responsibility!!!!!!!!!!!


OP
Thanks guys, thanks for the support.

MSE
((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))) you're welcome

A.N Other Poster

Actually, why don't you cut back your spending, take responsibility and pay it all off. Afterall, it is your fault for overspending for years!!

MSE

Troll, don't feed the troll etc etc etc etc etc etc