Benefits Street

I never watch so-called 'reality' programmes, for all the reasons mentioned above. The scenes are contrived and edited to show what the producers set out to depict.

Made in Chelsea is described in the TV listings as 'scripted-reality' - if it's scripted how can it be reality?

Even serious documentaries and wildlife programmes are not to be trusted to be free from trickery.

Years ago, a TV programme was made with an interviewer talking about education to senior pupils of different types of school - a good LA secondary in a fairly run-down council estate and ones from a fee-paying school.

They set up to shoot the secondary pupils outside the school with a wall as backdrop - then decided it was too clean so they sprayed it with graffiti. Preconceptions made reality!

pity the television companies dont do a series of programs showing pensioners struggling to keep warm and put food in their stomachs!

When television programme are made they shoot three or four more times film than the programme requires and then edit it down and they edit to slant the programme to the story to the one they want to tell.

A lot of people do want their 15 minutes of fame and act up for it, but producers will also encourage and lead people to say things that exaggerate and misrepresent their behaviour or views.

DD and I were on an innocuous television programme about 20 years ago and it was quite a revelation. We were put in a nice hotel and had a 'minder' but on set we were treated like bits of furniture. Dumped in corners and ignored until we were needed then dumped on set to do our bit and then back into our box. The final edit of the program, while neither doing us harm nor having a particular agenda was edited for effect and to make a good programme rather than to represent a fair summary of what we had said, but it was what we expected so we were not bothered. But it would make me very wary of taking part in any programme that represented a life style or opinion on an issue.

Heck re the above...intelligent and relatively, that's shocking spelling, just shows you should check before posting message.LOL

There seems to be an awful lots of TV programmes on which show people at their worst. I think if you put some people in front of a camera they will act up for it. I'm sure these programmes are cheap TV, I read that some of the residents were given cigarettes and alcohol to encourage them to participate as they couldn't be paid because it would affect their benefits. Thank goodness there are a few programmes left which are entertaining and reletively intellegent.

My ex couldn't work due to having a bad back, still went sea fishing, clay pigeon shooting and everything else

Not sure if ATOS will apply to him?

petra, if or when he has to go on to PIP, he may not get away with it so easily - as Galen says, ATOS....!

BP alert Galen!!!
That's a very rude word around here!

Petra ATOS

I know someone like that, petra Being too stressed to work doesn't stop him playing golf, driving his kids about, gardening, supporting the local football team and spending a fair few hours in the pub. Alright for some!

I have a 'friend' who has been on DLA for 13 years now. He claims he is depressed. Every time he is called in to be assessed he doesn't shave for a week, doesn't wash and the best part is: he has NEVER been to a Doctor. He tells them that he 'self medicates' and they believe it!!
I know it's wrong, but who is to blame.

Thanks Iam send vibes, chant, waltz the cat around the kitchen, whatever!

I must say that all the advisers (you usually see a different one each time, but it is an open plan arrangement so they all tend to give me a wave!) in my local JC are lovely and very supportive, although they are unable to give benefits advice.

I agree with FlicketyB and POGS. I think most of us are suffering from compassion-fatigue when it comes to the type of families portrayed in the programme.

In reply to those who say the government should be targeting the bankers and companies who don't pay enough tax - yes they should be.

But in the case of the small proportion of benefit claimants who are unwilling to work it's not just a question of the amount of money we're paying to keep them in idleness, it's the way that sort of 'lifestyle choice' is shaping this country and the expectations of the younger generation which worries me most.

Phoenix, sending every good wish (and positive vibes if you want them) for the interviews. Your job centre person sounds like a proper human being, that's a relief isn't it.

Well, I went to sign on again at the Jolly Jobcentre (my lovely neighbour took us as we knew there was not enough fuel in the car to get there and back again) and was talking to one of the advisers about the T.V programme.

She said that she had had a couple of people signing this week who were practically incandescent with rage after seeing it! She also said that she really couldn't understand why Mr P and I were getting so little. I told her than when my fortnights JSA of £143 goes in next Wednesday, almost £45 of it is already spoken for as I had to get a few bits on the "slate" at the village shop

She was pleased for me when I told her that I had 2 interviews booked for Tuesday next week (hooray!) but didn't have an answer when I told her that I had no idea how I was going to get to them.

But I will get there, somehow and if I'm offered either of them I will accept, even though they are not very well paid. Let's face it, anything has got to be better than £71.70 a week! Then of course there is the small problem of actually getting to work in an un-taxed car with no money for petrol................................. but you have to keep ing!

For goodness sake, these people are alive and kicking and stop putting your head in the sand.

There are always two sides to a scale. Those who are feckless and lazy and those who are genuinely trying to obtain work to provide for their family but need a leg up.

It is a fact there are those who consider 'It is their right for the tax payer to subsidise there entire life style'. I don't understand why the comment is made that there is 'not many' doing it. What' so you think that makes it OK then. No it does not.

It is not just channel 4 that can be accused of making such progs. The saintly BBC showed a prog. on Wednesday at 9.30p.m called The Hidden World of Britain's Immigrants. If you didn't watch it, give it a go. You can dispute their report too no doubt.

I think we are too willing to make excuses for people who choose not to make an effort to sort their lives out and get a job. It is too easy to blame it on lack of opportunity, poor education, parenting etc. My family on both sides were Irish immigrants and catholics, uneducated farm labourers who came to this country to escape the famine or as enlisted soldiers. There was no welfare state, and they experienced the kind of racial and religious discrimination that we have not seen in this country since the 1970s.

They put their minds to it and pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps. My parents grew up in households that were middle class. My family experience is not uncommon. I am sure many gransnetters can tell similar tales. The welfare state is there for those who need help not for those who cannot be bothered to help themselves and find it easier to blame their idleness on their social circumstances.

Having had to spend the last 4 years applying for various benefits as our circumstances changed and having wrestled with the multitudinous forms involved I am at a loss to know how some of these people who seem to have minimal education manage to make claims at all. I presume there must be people who spend most of their time filling in the forms for them. I found some of them pretty much incomprehensible and I was several times given the wrong forms by the Job Centre anyway.

I avoided the programme. I didn't think it would be good for my blood pressure.
I hope things do get better for you and soon phoenix.

There are two sides to this programme

Yes it is shocking--why have no ambition?--why do they do nothing all day?

But what I also saw was a lady that cared about her community and the people in it, she tried to monitor and take care of peoples money so that they would not spend it on drink and the rest

What an amazing person to care that much.

How difficult would it be to make something of yourself if you are born to parents that chronically live on the dole.

Just saying it is not our place to judge really

Phoenix have you been to your local CAB? Perhaps they could help you access benefits that would help you through this difficult time. They are good at identifying potential sources of financial help.

I know it doesn't help but (((hugs))) anyway.

The car is sorted, still waiting for the final £50, and a bit miffed about the radio, but there.

Phoenix did you have any luck with your car saga? I've been waiting eagerly to hear it's been resolved. Good luck with your next interview.

SAVINGS? Don't think so!

Thank you for all the good wishes, they do help. Hopefully the situation will change soon, I have an interview next Tuesday (awful pay, but better than JSA ) and there is a chap trying to contact me to arrange another interview, but I'm having a bit of a problem with orange at the moment! But that's another thread!

(The man emailed me to say he had left a message on my mobile, unfortunately I can't access it, but I will speak to him tomorrow, hopefully)