A Girl Called Jack... time for action?

[weepiper]

she was on the poverty line for a few months then got a book deal, that is not the experience of the average person living in poverty

She had a good job but got pregnant and found she couldn't keep the good job as a single mum with a baby and had to fall back on benefits, then couldn't get even a shitty job because of childcare impossibility. That sounds pretty normal and recognisable to me. What happened next doesn't detract from her experience.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I think what she did was made a whole lot easier because of her background

You can't even state what her background was. You've refused to do so numerous times.

 

[bamalama]

really? Careful now, or we'll have to call a mod.

You have been spoiling for a fight with Bama all evening. Is this beef old?

Poor lad's tryin to get a rise...awww

 

[weepiper]

I think what she did was made a whole lot easier because of her background,which is the whole point,she had the mindset to put in the groundwork,to use opportunities given to her by her background.Perception is often subjective,ours is different on this one...

What background?

 

[bamalama]

You can't even state what her background was. You've refused to do so numerous times.

It's been pointed out to ye a few times now your just not willing to acknowledge it...for some strange reason

 

[smokedout]

I don't get that at all tbh. You're claiming she was "quite prominent in local politics and featured in the local press" - like what? Won community awards, like what and in what way that other people don't do? She was skint and wrote about it.

she was blogging about attending council meetings before she was blogging about poverty, she talks about how she is good friends with several local councillors, she had an audience with ed milliband - before she was blogging about poverty, she was happy to be represented in the food challenge as a labour blogger before she blogged about poverty

 

[FridgeMagnet]

she was blogging about attending council meetings before she was blogging about poverty, she talks about how she is good friends with several local councillors, she had an audience with ed milliband - before she was blogging about poverty, she was happy to be represented in the food challenge as a labour blogger before she blogged about poverty

Okay so please indicate links for all of that.

 

[bamalama]

What background?

It's all over the thread

 

[weepiper]

It's all over the thread

Oh fuck off, you're just boring me now.

 

[LiamO]

I think what she did was made a whole lot easier because of her background,which is the whole point,she had the mindset to put in the groundwork,to use opportunities given to her by her background.

YOU come from an area full of working class political activists. I'd bet a week's wages you know SF councillors and MLA's personally. (I know I do. And a few SDLP ones. And I'm a fuckin blow-in). You (as in you, Bama,personally) have to be socially and politically 'connected' to figures of influence in your community, no? Would that invalidate anything you do in the future?

Perception is often subjective,ours is different on this one...

Yes. See OP

 

[smokedout]

I wasn't actually replying to you at all, but how does that change her experience of living in poverty? That when she wasn't she got a book deal?

Tell me what was different. Was it that she went to a grammar school? That she... uh I can't think of anything else?

what is different is that a few months on the breadline after a relatively privileged life, with an active social network and seemingly ample social capital, is very fucking different to staring a lifetime of shit in the face

 

[bamalama]

Oh fuck off, you're just boring me now.

Ditto

 

[FridgeMagnet]

what is different is that a few months on the breadline after a relatively privileged life, with an active social network and seemingly ample social capital, is very fucking different to staring a lifetime of shit in the face

Seriously, what the fuck do you have to do to comment on anything these days? "Going to school" and "having a job" makes you too privileged to talk about anything? Fuck off.

 

[LiamO]

she was blogging about attending council meetings before she was blogging about poverty, she talks about how she is good friends with several local councillors, she had an audience with ed milliband - before she was blogging about poverty, she was happy to be represented in the food challenge as a labour blogger before she blogged about poverty

and fuckin what?

As I'm after saying. I'm not member of a political party but I am on first name terms with mebbe 10 present and former Sinn Féin Councillors, several ex-Mayors, two MLAs (one a Minister ffs), two SDLP councillors and one sdlp MLA. I've also met Gerry Adams a couple of times.This is because of community arts stuff and advocacy work I have been involved in. I would imagine that most people round where I live know several of their councillors personally. It's not unusual and it does not 'taint' anything I do in the future.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

what is different is that a few months on the breadline after a relatively privileged life, with an active social network and seemingly ample social capital, is very fucking different to staring a lifetime of shit in the face

As long as she's never claimed otherwise, what's the problem?

Can you point to a specific piece of hypocrisy from her?

 

[LiamO]

As long as she's never claimed otherwise, what's the problem?

Can you point to a specific piece of hypocrisy from her?

2 good questions. Don't hold your breath.

 

[smokedout]

Seriously, what the fuck do you have to do to comment on anything these days? "Going to school" and "having a job" makes you too privileged to talk about anything? Fuck off.

I'm not questioning her right to comment, although personally I dont think we need another Owen, or Owen in fact

I am questioning the tenner a week thing though, because I cant understand where that actually happened from what she says about her life

 

[smokedout]

Can you point to a specific piece of hypocrisy from her?

she's an active member of a party that supports fucking up the lives of people like she was

 

[littlebabyjesus]

she's an active member of a party that supports fucking up the lives of people like she was

That's not hypocrisy, though, if she genuinely believes that the Labour Party is the best agent for change.

We might think that she is wrong in that belief, but that doesn't make it hypocritical.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

how is she an active member?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I suspect that she wouldn't agree with the statement that the Labour Party actively supports fucking up the lives of people like she was anyway. If she did agree with that, then clearly she would be a hypocrite.

 

[smokedout]

how is she an active member?

stop being lazy, why not just read her blog before deciding what she is and then defending it

 

[FridgeMagnet]

stop being lazy, why not just read her blog before deciding what she is and then defending it

You've got a fucking cheek calling me lazy. You've posted vague shite about her having gone to public school (untrue apparently) and been in the pockets of Labour party folk (no basis). Nothing whatsoever to back it up and we've had two wankers banging on about it.

You want that to stand here? Do some fucking work.

 

[bamalama]

You've got a fucking cheek calling me lazy. You've posted vague shite about her having gone to public school (untrue apparently) and been in the pockets of Labour party folk (no basis). Nothing whatsoever to back it up and we've had two wankers banging on about it.

You want that to stand here? Do some fucking work.

Are ye drunk?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Are ye drunk?

You are really going to regret this tomorrow. Until then, shut up eh? Nobody needs your mithering bollocks.

 

[bamalama]

You are really going to regret this tomorrow. Until then, shut up eh?

No and...no

 

[LiamO]

No and...no

bold boy

 

[littlebabyjesus]

What would be the attitude of someone who was potentially staring a lifetime in that position towards her, I wonder?

Would she be resentful that Jack's not suffered as much or as long as her? Or that Jack's found a way to improve her position? Or would she read it and be pleased that something that relates to her experiences is finally being heard more widely? Would she feel a little less invisible, perhaps? A little less patronised?

 

[LiamO]

Has FM really just banned Bama? For disagreeing with him?

 

[smokedout]

"Found this on somebodys path as I went to deliver a Labour leaflet… Really, littering is one of the issues that Southend residents complain about, without the Tories adding to it by strewing their rubbish around the streets."

"I wish I had time to care enough about Anne Chalk’s meant-to-be-damning opinion of the Labour Party as ‘only working in the 4-5 weeks in the run up to the election’ to correct her, but I’m far too busy in the office working (given that we’re in that 4-5 week period now, and obviously we’ve blown the dust off the office and chased the mice out, who’ve had the run of the place for the past 47 weeks…)"

"highlight that my situation is by far not a unique one, and if it’s happening to me, then it’s happening to countless men and women all over the United Kingdom that fall underneath this ConDem Government. Men and women who perhaps don’t get an audience with Ed Miliband, his right hand mans business card as a point of contact, a blog with several thousand hits and friends who are local Councillors. If it’s happening to me, then it’s happening to men and women who have the myth that work pays stuffed down their throats by the current Government."