Food banks - what is the real story

[petemurphy]

bexVN said:

Bristol local tv did this. Seeing a guy open his fridge in his tiny flat to reveal nothing in it was quite sad. He had had a drugs background but was now clear, had alienated family and was struggling to find his way in the real world, he was a decent guy. As a result of help from the foodbank (which he had a several mile walk to get to as no money for a bus) he was able to concentrate on finding a job rather than how to eat.

why couldnt he get benefits? i'm sure there are some real stories like this but bet there are 10 people who shouldnt need a food bank for every genuine person.

did he get a job then?

[Pothole]

petemurphy said:

bexVN said:

Bristol local tv did this. Seeing a guy open his fridge in his tiny flat to reveal nothing in it was quite sad. He had had a drugs background but was now clear, had alienated family and was struggling to find his way in the real world, he was a decent guy. As a result of help from the foodbank (which he had a several mile walk to get to as no money for a bus) he was able to concentrate on finding a job rather than how to eat.

why couldnt he get benefits? i'm sure there are some real stories like this but bet there are 10 people who shouldnt need a food bank for every genuine person.

did he get a job then?

What are you basing this view on?

[petemurphy]

Pothole said:

hat are you basing this view on?

daily mail..

that and seeing lots of job advertised everywhere, free food in the country, and everyone having possessions they dont need. There should always be a safety net but only as last resort for the unfortunate few. u offer free food who wouldnt want some?

[Pothole]

petemurphy said:

Pothole said:

hat are you basing this view on?

daily mail..

that and seeing lots of job advertised everywhere, free food in the country, and everyone having possessions they dont need. There should always be a safety net but only as last resort for the unfortunate few. u offer free food who wouldnt want some?

There are lots of jobs advertised eveywhere. I have had two periods of unemployment of 6 & 7 months respectively in the last 4 years, despite applying for at least 3 times as many jobs as I was required to by the DWP and taking the first one I was offered both times. Stop viewing everything so simplistically, for goodness' sake. Fortunately, I had family members to fall back on both times and was lucky with some other things which meant I never had to investigate food banks, but I can't help thinking 'there but for the grace of God...'

[KFC]

Pothole said:

petemurphy said:

bexVN said:

Bristol local tv did this. Seeing a guy open his fridge in his tiny flat to reveal nothing in it was quite sad. He had had a drugs background but was now clear, had alienated family and was struggling to find his way in the real world, he was a decent guy. As a result of help from the foodbank (which he had a several mile walk to get to as no money for a bus) he was able to concentrate on finding a job rather than how to eat.

why couldnt he get benefits? i'm sure there are some real stories like this but bet there are 10 people who shouldnt need a food bank for every genuine person.

did he get a job then?

What are you basing this view on?

I didn't see the program but I'd bet there is more to the story. How can he possibly have no food and no money for a bus ticket etc? Either severe stupidity or mismanagement of what he was given would be my bet...

[hairyben]

smegmore said:

Let's hope that none of yooz upper class fkers choke on your asparagus tips whilst you're pontificating about the individuals in this fair land who have nothing to eat (and they do exist) but are too proud to ask for state help.

You are all only 2 weeks away from anarchy (your Range Rovers and Audis will be worth fk all) should the balloon go up, don't forget that. the ones who had nothing to start with are the most likely to survive...

How precisely are those used to handouts more likely to survive than those used to providing for themselves?

[Pothole]

KFC said:

Pothole said:

petemurphy said:

bexVN said:

Bristol local tv did this. Seeing a guy open his fridge in his tiny flat to reveal nothing in it was quite sad. He had had a drugs background but was now clear, had alienated family and was struggling to find his way in the real world, he was a decent guy. As a result of help from the foodbank (which he had a several mile walk to get to as no money for a bus) he was able to concentrate on finding a job rather than how to eat.

why couldnt he get benefits? i'm sure there are some real stories like this but bet there are 10 people who shouldnt need a food bank for every genuine person.

did he get a job then?

What are you basing this view on?

I didn't see the program but I'd bet there is more to the story. How can he possibly have no food and no money for a bus ticket etc? Either severe stupidity or mismanagement of what he was given would be my bet...

Or a history of drug abuse and being ill-equipped to fend for himself. Not everyone has the same life as you, the same choices as you, the same skills as you. Unless you've been in their shoes you are just blowing smoke when you spout the usual 'if I was in their position I'd do X,Y or Z.' If you can't see that you're as stupid as you're calling that bloke.

[bexVN]

I think (and it's a while since I watched it) he was on minimal benefits and had rent bills and money he was paying back on loans, this left him struggling to make the rest of his money cover food. I can't remember his job luck, I know he took on voluntary work though and they 'paid' in meals.

[petemurphy]

Pothole said:

here are lots of jobs advertised eveywhere. I have had two periods of unemployment of 6 & 7 months respectively in the last 4 years, despite applying for at least 3 times as many jobs as I was required to by the DWP and taking the first one I was offered both times. Stop viewing everything so simplistically, for goodness' sake. Fortunately, I had family members to fall back on both times and was lucky with some other things which meant I never had to investigate food banks, but I can't help thinking 'there but for the grace of God...'

this is kindof the point in that if things got really really bad most people have family or friends who would stop them starving to death. am sure theres some who dont in which case yes there needs to be a safety net but i still dont think most who go to food banks are in that position. maybe im wrong.

[Pothole]

petemurphy said:

Pothole said:

here are lots of jobs advertised eveywhere. I have had two periods of unemployment of 6 & 7 months respectively in the last 4 years, despite applying for at least 3 times as many jobs as I was required to by the DWP and taking the first one I was offered both times. Stop viewing everything so simplistically, for goodness' sake. Fortunately, I had family members to fall back on both times and was lucky with some other things which meant I never had to investigate food banks, but I can't help thinking 'there but for the grace of God...'

this is kindof the point in that if things got really really bad most people have family or friends who would stop them starving to death. am sure theres some who dont in which case yes there needs to be a safety net but i still dont think most who go to food banks are in that position. maybe im wrong.

Finally you admit it. you've formed an opinion based on fk all. Prejudice in other words. Very silly.

[Countdown]

petemurphy said:

i still dont think most who go to food banks are in that position. maybe im wrong.

Would you ever go to a foodbank if you had other options?

[KFC]

Pothole said:

r a history of drug abuse and being ill-equipped to fend for himself. Not everyone has the same life as you, the same choices as you, the same skills as you. Unless you've been in their shoes you are just blowing smoke when you spout the usual 'if I was in their position I'd do X,Y or Z.' If you can't see that you're as stupid as you're calling that bloke.

We had the exact same choices - he chose to be a drug addict, I chose not to.

But aside from that, being a drug addict in the past shouldn't have any real bearing on his ability to feed himself today. He's getting benefits... where exactly is all my free money he's receiving being pissed away then if he can't eat?

[Jasandjules]

KFC said:

He's getting benefits... where exactly is all my free money he's receiving being pissed away then if he can't eat?

How much exactly does he get then?

I think some people see the ladies with 15 kids on 50k a year and think everyone has this kind of money coming in.

[bexVN]

Let's put it this way, I am easily annoyed by anyone I vaguely feel is a piss taker of the benefits system, especially on the one time I could have done with a bit of help on the council tax I was refused (hubby and I redundant at same time)

I did not feel this guy fitted that, he was genuinely trying to sort himself out. I tried to find the episode but no joy from the write up of the episodes, anyway it was an example. The woman using it I had less sympathy for.

[petemurphy]

Countdown said:

Would you ever go to a foodbank if you had other options?

Free food? Sure that or go visit the haribos Krishnas

[petemurphy]

Pothole said:

inally you admit it. you've formed an opinion based on fk all. Prejudice in other words. Very silly.

Wow wish I was all knowing like u must be great.

[Pothole]

petemurphy said:

Pothole said:

inally you admit it. you've formed an opinion based on fk all. Prejudice in other words. Very silly.

Wow wish I was all knowing like u must be great.

It's a big responsibility but it has its upsides.

[dudleybloke]

i got a leg of lamb from one today........ but i do have a joint account.

[Countdown]

petemurphy said:

Countdown said:

Would you ever go to a foodbank if you had other options?

Free food? Sure that or go visit the haribos Krishnas

You mean you have so little self-respect that you'd go to a food bank even of you didn't have to?

My apologies - I hadn't realised what sort of person you were.

[petemurphy]

Pothole said:

t's a big responsibility but it has its upsides.