Do You Care What Happens To The Online Forum?
Comments
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I care very much about this community. I particularly enjoy the Games Den. I also value the political areas but wish people would stay on topic so that there weren't so many threads and existing threads would not be ruined. Coffee Lounge is great and I'll try to contribute more.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Thank you @Zipz I agree with everything you have said. Take care.
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I care very much about this forum, & agree with much that has been said here. We've endured political comment since before the last General Election, & I didn't enjoy being on the forum because of it.
I think this poll is all about political content, & the other bits added were trying not to show any bias. As mentioned, until recently I would have agreed that there's been too much discussion about politics, & I didn't like then, or now, anyone being derogatory about any politician. However, I do think there's been a place to have discussions about the Govt's Green Paper & the UC & PIP Bill, & I've been pulled in in feeling how important it is to contact our MPs & get disabled people's voices heard, etc. It matters now, but please not all the time!
I've got a big thing about misinformation about any topic, & I do think members have to remain aware about this.
I do sometimes think that Scope tries to be all things to every member, which I'm very unsure about. I think all the political content probably gave them a collective headache. Their efforts have been admiral in tidying up threads, removing offensive comments, &, thank you Rosie, for having a thread just for updates on the Green Paper reforms. Unfortuately posts have been closed as they've tried to keep on top of things, & much has been (almost) doomed to failure despite their best attempts.
What has been heartening tho is to see everyone pulling together in trying to help; countless emails to MPs, &, for my part learning from other members. It's been a great team effort, tho I do think we all need some breaks in between finding out more as the reforms go forward!
I do think that a lot of political content could put people off from joining the forum, so think we've got to find the right balance in other discussions taking place too.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
And the same questions come from the same people!
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I find if you have a different opinion, you are put down. Especially political, They think they are right and everyone else is wrong. I'm giving it one last go, otherwise I'm leaving. Not being spoken too as if I'm stupid
We have our own opinion and should be respected, not judged. That's what forums should be.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
This is why political views should always stay off the internet, no matter what you'll always find someone who has a different opinion and it starts arguements. Most forums on the internet don't allow political talk on them. I'm still a believer that this forum shouldn't have political views on it. it just causes too many problems and starts debates.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Hi @Andi66 I am sorry you feel this way. I think everyone should be allowed their opinion whether you agree with them or not. You should report any other member that speaks to you in a derogatory manner.
Please do not leave.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Nothing wrong with debate is there? Debate is good surely, as long as it remains respectful, and not just spewing out pages and pages of unfounded garbage.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Nothing wrong with debate it is a good thing. Sometimes it can feel a bit personal and no one should feel pressured by another member, or talked down to.
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I agree Bluebell, it's not just politics, current affairs like environment etc We should be allowed to have a say, Free speech is still here at the moment. And Ranald what is unfounded waffle.People can have a opinion. Its when the person can put someone down because there opinion differs to theirs
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Fair enough, @Andi66, but i don't mean a difference of opinion, I mean wild conspiracies and guff from GB News, the Daily Mail etc.
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If anyone remembers Fawlty Towers, this thread is starting to feel a bit like Basil’s restaurant: “Open to the public—no riff-raff.”
Translation for how I am reading these posts. You’re welcome to join Scope, as long as your post is immaculately written, politically neutral, and doesn’t mention benefits. Bonus points if it’s vague, cheerful, and unlikely to start a real conversation. Just don’t ask for help. Or clarification. Or try to understand how anything works. That would be terribly inconvenient for those who’d rather avoid politics and benefits altogether.
And that is where it all starts to unravel. The benefits system is a masterpiece of confusion. It is complicated, exhausting, and constantly changing. People ask the same questions not because they are lazy, but because the answers shift weekly, their circumstances change daily, and the rules are anything but straightforward. Not everyone has the same level of understanding, and honestly, I can’t see the problem with someone just trying to feel heard, understood, and a little less alone.
And let’s not pretend politics is optional here. Government decisions shape every part of this. They determine who qualifies for support, who faces reassessment, who can afford to heat their home, and who goes without. PIP, Universal Credit, and the latest so-called “reforms” are not background noise. They are the core of the struggle.
Even Scope, usually as neutral as Switzerland, is now urging members to contact their MPs, warning that thousands could lose support.
So if we remove the very topics some members here are struggling with benefits, politics, and the systems affecting disabled members daily lives, what exactly is meant to take their place?
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
Cute kittens and knitting patterns, lol.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
I understand where your coming from but when the thread gets hijacked for idle chit chat it starts to get a bit monotonous for most keep it to the topic in hand and it would be fine
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GB news should be taken off the air, that so called American comedian who stated that disabled people should be starved and shot is disgusting and should be a hate crime. Presenter Patrick Christy saw no harm in the comment. That deplorable so called comedian also had it on social media. What is concerning that you could get someone who reads it and takes it literally. Who knows nowadays.
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
What does this comment have to do the thread?
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Do you think the forum has too much political/benefit discussions?
The problem is this site has become less about disabilities and more like a benefit advice platform. I get that being disabled means you are more likely to apply for benefits and have problems with the benefit system however when every single post is more or less about either benefits or politics it gets to a point where there is no real incentive to join in discussions or reply to them. especially if the same questions get asked on a daily basis. This site is just turning into another benefit advice platform, like turn 2 us or CAB at this point. I've even stopped donating to scope for this very reason, as it no longer serves a purpose or is about disabilities in general. At the rate its going it'll get to point where nothing but benefit advice is offered on this site.
It also causes so much upset on the forum, whereby someone hears something they don't want or not the advice they were expecting and take it out on the person offering advice and eventually forcing them to quit and not come on here anymore. I've seen lots of members dissapear over the years becuase of this. I mainly use this forum to discuss disabilities in general and ignore all the waffle on benefits or the constant scaremongering on politics especially when facts haven't been checked before posting.
I'm not fully against talking about benefits, but at the moment there is like 50 posts about benefits to every 1 normal post discussing disabilities. Most of benefit discussions these days are also ignored and not replied to, as they are either asking the same questions or people are sick of replying to them.
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I appreciate what you are both saying, but the fact that there are more posts about benefits and politics shows what many members are truly concerned about. They’re not just looking for advice; they are looking for reassurance and understanding in a system that often feels overwhelming and out of control. Emotion does make members go off-topic at times.
If the focus on these issues feels out of balance, I think it’s important to recognise why they are dominating the conversation. So, rather than just pointing out the problem, I would love to hear your ideas on what you recommend to stop both new and old members from doing this. What solutions can you offer to create space for a wider range of discussions while still addressing the concerns of members who are struggling with benefits and welfare reform, and also offering the human side of those experiences?
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Ranald mentioned GBnews, I was just saying how bad they are
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