It's the weekend.. Let's have a rant about stupidity!

megron · January 2015

Ok you win. You're right, I think that anyone who gets food assistance should wear rags, shave their hair to sell it and look horrible.

I totally just wasn't talking about one specific person who was using WIC and had an iPhone 6 three days after the release.

I'm a shitty horrible person.

bossybluejay · January 2015

megron said:

Ok you win. You're right, I think that anyone who gets food assistance should wear rags, shave their hair to sell it and look horrible. I totally just wasn't talking about one specific person who was using WIC and had an iPhone 6 three days after the release. I'm a shitty horrible person.

neongreen · January 2015

bossybluejay said:

shahoi said:

@MamaBish‌ - I sincerely wonder how the people who work at the social security office and do the interviews feel when people who have $45 nails, cigarettes and iPhone 6s come in and say "I need food assistance to feed my kids." I would not be able to handle that with tact. Nope.
Not trying to defend people who do take advantage of the system, but you don't know the back story to these people. Just because you're on food stamps, it doesn't mean you automatically have to forego nail polish, dress in rags, and get a flip phone. You have no idea what the situation is that led them to getting food stamps in the first place- maybe they fell on hard times, lost a job, the family breadwinner lost their job, etc. There are a lot of different scenarios that end up with a person on food stamps but I think we have this preconceived notion of what they should look like, when that's not always the case. I do agree with you about the cigarettes though. That pisses me off- they should be illegal if you're on food stamps. And yes, people do take advantage of the system and unfortunately this screws it up for people who genuinely need a temporary solution while they get their feet back on the ground.
I get that, but if I can't afford to buy food for my family, then I certainly wouldn't be getting my hair done, out buying expensive clothes, and spending money on the newest cell phone that just came out. It's called managing your money. Cutting out the things that aren't important so you can afford the things that are important. My husband and I do without certain things that we may "want" so we can pay for everything we need and set a little back each month. That means I don't get my nails done. My tax money shouldn't have to pay for some other family's food, just so they can spend their money on manicures and look better than I can.

I think you entirely missed the point of what I said. My entire point was that we don't know their situation so they could easily be painting their own nails, getting their hair done for free by a friend, finding clothes that "look nice" at Goodwill. Pretty sure being poor doesn't require you to look like shit and never get your hair cut. If you can do it for free or a low cost, then what exactly is the problem here? They don't fit into your mold of a what a poor person should look like?

Yep, the myth of the "welfare queen" lives on, thanks to a couple highly-publicized cases and friend-of-a-friend stories.

Also, it's easy to think that "poor people" shouldn't have the luxury of a smartphone, but let's think this over. If the end result is that we WANT them to get jobs and get off of public assistance...well, think about the last few jobs you applied for. These days, so many jobs require online forms and applications, and depending on your area, sometimes it's not easy to find libraries and such that offer free use of their computers (whereas plenty of places offer free wi-fi). And I'd venture to say that EVERY sort of job requires their applicants and employees to be able to be reached by phone, and not everyone has a landline these days. (And if they do, that's one way to cut back on expenses.)

Are there some people milking the system? Oh, absolutely. But on the flip side, there are an awful lot of assumptions being made as well.

megron · January 2015

At no point did I say people on assistance should not have smart phones. I think if they can swing paying for one they are a great resource for finding jobs especially if their financial situation does not allow for them to have Internet at home or their own computer.. I wasn't talking about a friend of a friend nor did I say all people, or even the majority of people are abusing the system..

I literally saw someone with an iPhone 6 three days after it was released. I assumed it was hers. I assumed that she paid for her very long fake nails that cost upwards of $40 in my area, and I saw her using government food assistance. It did make me raise my eyebrows.

I also said that I personally know people who do abuse the system, because I do.. And it does piss me off

Let me make something clear: I don't think there aren't plenty of responsible people using the system I support and will continue to support quite responsibly. I would rather pay for 100 people to abuse the system than have one person in need go without.

Did I confront the girl in the store about having an iPhone 6? No, because I was eyebrow raising based on a series of assumptions.

Do I even report the people I know factually are abusing the system? No, because they're shitty people who would probably continue to spend money on themselves and their habits and would probably let their kids without if their assistance is taken away.

Does it piss me off that those people exist? Yes.

If those things make me a horrible person, ok.. But let's not turn this into something it isn't. At no point did I say a person with food assistance should not have a smart phone, please don't put words in my mouth.

betsyplunkett12 · January 2015

Someone reminded me that I should be taking my vitamins because if I wasn't my baby could have Down syndrome ... Pretty sure that it's genetic..But I could be wrong...

Emilywooddesign · January 2015

betsyplunkett12 said:
Someone reminded me that I should be taking my vitamins because if I wasn't my baby could have Down syndrome ... Pretty sure that it's genetic..But I could be wrong...

Down's syndrome is basically just a chromosome mistake, it has NOTHING to do with genetics.

Emilywooddesign · January 2015

But you're right, not taking your vitamins isn't going to cause it or prevent it.

akmhbm924 · January 2015

My MIL is insistent that I not wear a seat belt while pregnant...she says that if I get in a wreck, or even hit the brakes too hard that it'll decapitate the baby, or cut it in half lol.

devyns2nd · January 2015

My sister is super granola. I love her and I appreciate her advice on things like homemade baby food and breast feeding. I don't appreciate her advice on raising my four year old. She's a great mom but only has a two year old. If I hear one more time that my child shouldn't watch tv or listen to Katy Perry I might hurt her. It's one thing to get annoyed at pregnancy advice you don't want but advice on parenting (from someone with less experience) kills me. Oh and I'm also damaging her organs by letting her eat sugar cereals and fast food occasionally. She doesn't approve of me letting DD making up her own prayer at night either. Ugh I could choke her sometimes.

anz113 · January 2015

Emilywooddesign said:

betsyplunkett12 said:
Someone reminded me that I should be taking my vitamins because if I wasn't my baby could have Down syndrome ... Pretty sure that it's genetic..But I could be wrong...
Down's syndrome is basically just a chromosome mistake, it has NOTHING to do with genetics.

Just my two cents, from the perspective of a biology teacher; Down's syndrome is infact a genetic disorder. It may not have a pattern of genetic inheritance but it has everything to do with genetics.

ciennah99 · January 2015

My boss is giving me a hard time about time off for appointments. She says "I have 15 other people trying to do the same thing." I reminded her I have a chronic illness with a different doctor for practically every body part. She responds "we all have something chronic" & "you've never had this many appointments before." For one, I've never been pregnant before, it's high risk & I still have to manage my other appointments like I always have. Oh the part about everyone having something chronic is a bunch of bs! Plus not everyone has something systemic & is a high risk pregnancy at the same time. And my boss is a nurse!! That's my stupid rant! Infuriating!

bossybluejay · January 2015

MW02120714 said:

Emilywooddesign said:

@megron I would never talk about my trust fund and I will never talk about my Children's trust funds either, let alone flaunt it on the Internet, it's not something everyone has and it's bad taste to talk about it. Sounds like she needs to learn some social graces. Im actually horrified that she would buy you a onesie like that!

Yet here you are, and @megron too, talking about it AND flaunting it on the interwebz. lolz

MW02120714 but i love you

Unknown · January 2015

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alcrimmins · January 2015

I'm just really annoyed with everyone being bitchy and complaining because we are team green. It makes me want to pull my hair out! I don't care if it was amazing to find out at 20 weeks. In sure it was fun to find out. I'm not against it. However, my DH and I feel that there are few good surprises left in life and this is one of them. This is our choice and we want to wait. My friends/family have not stopped to think how amazing it will be for DH to get the first glimpse of the LO and be able to tell me if it's a boy or girl. AARRGGHHH! Get over it!

Ok, rant is done

effthisnoise · January 2015

I think a big damn deal is being made out of this iPhone 6 being an example of misplaced financial priorities. I got it the week it came out, too; I was up for the "new every two years" discount and then got a $200 credit for turning in my iPhone 4s. My cost for the phone (not including taxes and new accessories) was $100. Not exactly breaking the bank.

I read an article once and the author described driving in her Mercedes SUV to pick up food stamps. They had been well-off and then things fell apart. I tend to assume that if the state thinks a person qualifies for assistance, then they qualify despite what they may look like.

Unknown · January 2015

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thelittlestbee · January 2015

MW02120714 said:

effthisnoise said:

I think a big damn deal is being made out of this iPhone 6 being an example of misplaced financial priorities. I got it the week it came out, too; I was up for the "new every two years" discount and then got a $200 credit for turning in my iPhone 4s. My cost for the phone (not including taxes and new accessories) was $100. Not exactly breaking the bank.
I read an article once and the author described driving in her Mercedes SUV to pick up food stamps. They had been well-off and then things fell apart. I tend to assume that if the state thinks a person qualifies for assistance, then they qualify despite what they may look like.

YES! That was such a good article. I had wanted to post the link on this thread and then totally forgot about it until you said something about it.

I'll just drop this here for @megron and all the other judgey peeps on this thread.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/08/this-is-what-happened-when-i-drove-my-mercedes-to-pick-up-food-stamps/

If I were ever to fall on hard times, there's no way in hell I would sell my BMW and I will happily drive it to go pick up my food stamps. Sorrynotsorry.

megron · January 2015

thelittlestbee said:

MW02120714 said:

effthisnoise said:

I think a big damn deal is being made out of this iPhone 6 being an example of misplaced financial priorities. I got it the week it came out, too; I was up for the "new every two years" discount and then got a $200 credit for turning in my iPhone 4s. My cost for the phone (not including taxes and new accessories) was $100. Not exactly breaking the bank.
I read an article once and the author described driving in her Mercedes SUV to pick up food stamps. They had been well-off and then things fell apart. I tend to assume that if the state thinks a person qualifies for assistance, then they qualify despite what they may look like.

YES! That was such a good article. I had wanted to post the link on this thread and then totally forgot about it until you said something about it.

I'll just drop this here for @megron and all the other judgey peeps on this thread.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/08/this-is-what-happened-when-i-drove-my-mercedes-to-pick-up-food-stamps/

If I were ever to fall on hard times, there's no way in hell I would sell my BMW and I will happily drive it to go pick up my food stamps. Sorrynotsorry.

And I think that is entirely different than say, picking up your food stamps in a bmw you bought brand new when it came out two days prior.. While you were on food stamps.

Unknown · January 2015

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neongreen · January 2015

megron said:

MW02120714 said:

effthisnoise said:

I think a big damn deal is being made out of this iPhone 6 being an example of misplaced financial priorities. I got it the week it came out, too; I was up for the "new every two years" discount and then got a $200 credit for turning in my iPhone 4s. My cost for the phone (not including taxes and new accessories) was $100. Not exactly breaking the bank.
I read an article once and the author described driving in her Mercedes SUV to pick up food stamps. They had been well-off and then things fell apart. I tend to assume that if the state thinks a person qualifies for assistance, then they qualify despite what they may look like.

YES! That was such a good article. I had wanted to post the link on this thread and then totally forgot about it until you said something about it.

I'll just drop this here for @megron and all the other judgey peeps on this thread.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/08/this-is-what-happened-when-i-drove-my-mercedes-to-pick-up-food-stamps/

If I were ever to fall on hard times, there's no way in hell I would sell my BMW and I will happily drive it to go pick up my food stamps. Sorrynotsorry.
And I think that is entirely different than say, picking up your food stamps in a bmw you bought brand new when it came out two days prior.. While you were on food stamps.

Hey, can I borrow that crystal ball you're using to assume things about people? Or let's play a game! Tell me what month and year I bought my car and how much I spent on groceries the following week!

Oh, that's right, you know people. Because if your cousin's boyfriend's older sister's neighbor did that, it's clearly indicative of a widespread problem.

megron · January 2015

And in a PPP I said perhaps I shouldn't think that way, but I did.

It's something that I might need to look within myself and consider, since I truthfully would rather pay for 1000 people to be on welfare disingenuously than see one person who needs it suffer without. That being said maybe I need to alter my world view and apply that to judging people who have new shiny things on welfare. Perhaps I should consider that it's better not to assume bad things about anyone than be wrong in my assumptions and think that about one person who is actually in bad circumstances and had received a brand new iPhone on insurance or something.

megron · January 2015

periwinkledaydreams said:
Loving the shit outta all the posts by @MW02120714‌ and @effthisnoise‌.. I was looking for that Mercedes article when I first read this thread. I know that every time I walk into the WIC office and every time I use my Medicaid insurance card, there are going to be people side eyeing me with judgmental thoughts about my boots or my phone or possibly even my decision to have a child. My boot are gorgeous and leather and "expensive" and I got them at Goodwill for 8 bucks. My phone is pretty and smart and new and it was FREE with my contract. I have a full time job and a college degree and yet I still am, technically and by legal definition, below the poverty level. yada yada yada. All these qualifiers I tell myself every single time. But then I tell myself "fuck people" because my life is my life. I know myself and I'm proud of myself and I find no guilt or shame in the fact that my job doesn't pay me a living wage. Anger perhaps, yea. But I am legally poor regardless of the fact that I've worked my ass off every day since I was 16 years old. So I'll take my food stamps and my free healthcare and I'll take them with pride.

@megron‌ you say in your last post that you might need to consider altering your worldview. I highly suggest that you do.

I absolutely think you're right. If it's wrong not to help people who need it it is wrong to make assumptions about people misusing it!

thelittlestbee · January 2015

I feel like this in important anecdote so after this I'm going to stop talking about my favorite subject a.k.a MYSELF....

My grandma (may she rest in peace) lived off her social security check and food stamps. She would always ask me go to to the store and do her food shopping for her. She would get PISSED if I tried to buy it with my own money. She said that's what the food stamps were for. Sometimes she would tell me to get a little something extra for myself. She was the sweetest, best grandma in the world.

So there I was, in my nice clothes, fresh manicure, and designer handbag, paying for food with an EBT card. Maybe I got weird stares, maybe I didn't. I never really noticed. I'm not even sure what the point of my story is. I just really like talking about myself and I wanted to share that story. Squee!

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