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Not Apathetic

Tell the world why you're not voting - don't let your silence go unheard

They're not voting because...

I am an very poor ex-student, with ...

I am an very poor ex-student, with thousands of pounds of unpayable debt. I want to vote, but if I register I fear that the bailiffs will come round and repossess my personal computer and anything else of value I own, and I'm too poor to replace those things.

written 24th Apr 2005

Responses

Gavin replies: How come you're so poor? Do you have any useful qualifications?

written 24th Apr 2005

FuFu replies: Or even any useless ones?

written 24th Apr 2005

tiger43 replies: You have a pc and your`e poor. Don`t make me laugh, my sides my split

written 24th Apr 2005

Loony Liberal replies: My heart bleeds for you. Yet again the government has refused to give students the beer money they so badly need, forcing them to drink themselves into debt. If the Lib Dems come to power, we guarantee £5000 a year beer money and a Pot Noodle for every student in Britain. We will also hug you.

written 24th Apr 2005

Jon replies: Of course it is possible to be a student, to be hard working, to buy books for reference, and to be rewarded with debt. Perhaps it is true that students do drink themselves stupid, but we are also the ones who are supposed to study full time to try and sort out the mess we inherit. Some do, some don't; I wouldn't mind the money given to me to buy books and access to academic journals instead of having to live the life of the working man, what's the problem with 'money' anyway, when did money become the deciding feature in a society. I suppose the alternative is to treat universities as a filter to get slightly more adept office fodder to keep the businesses profitable. Ole! To the end of the world!

written 25th Apr 2005

Sarah replies: My loan didn't even cover my accomodation costs, never mind tuition fees, books, food etc. This idea that all student debt comes from drinking every last penny away is ridiculous, and, from what I've seen, mainly held by the over 30s and those who've never been to university. I'm 20, don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs and shop secondhand and last summer I was still lucky enough to receive final demands for repayment of my £1800 overdraft (which went on rent) to be paid off in 14 days. Instead of claiming all student money goes on beer, take the time to compare the average loan with the average cost of rent, tuition fees, books and other such essentials - it doesn't add up quite the way you seem to assume it does.

written 25th Apr 2005

Well-off Graduate replies: I'd like to defend our student for hanging onto his PC when destitute in all other ways. An old PC is worth next-to-nothing, but its a huge enabling device. Without the Internet, the time and money required to try and find a job, or just day-to-day information or a job multiply hugely. And if it weren't for his PC, we wouldn't have even heard his opinion.
When I'm living in a cardboard box, it'll be one near an unsecured wi-fi point, and they'll prise my 3-year old laptop from my dead fingers.

written 25th Apr 2005

Gavin replies: I had plenty of money at uni (well, enough at least). I got the maximum loan and didn't need any money from my parents. I did work through the summer holidays to help cover costs. To be fair, my course did not require many books (Computer Science). The area was also reasonably cheap rent-wise (I was paying around £60/month).

There are certainly students who have a lot of expenses, unusually high rent costs or wealthy but tight parents who can get into trouble. But from my experience, the "poor" students were poor because they blew their money on over-expensive food, drink and toys. There were exceptions, you cannot tar everyone with the same brush, but for me £3,500 was plenty of money to live on for 8-9 months. I also don't mind paying the loan bak, either - the qualifications are worth it.

If you drop out I suppose you're in trouble, too - I wonder if our original poster did that, as he doesn't describe himself as a "graduate". Again, there are cases of bad luck or whatever, but in most cases a course change is an option.

written 25th Apr 2005

The Doctor replies: Hahahaha, you fools. He was being ironic. Can't you see that?

Hang on, you WERE being ironic weren't you Mr Student?

written 25th Apr 2005

Tiger43 replies: To Well-Off Graduate.....Thats just the way it should be. You should have to struggle through life, how else are you going to learn that life is tough and sometimes kicks you when your`e down. I say learn these facts while your`e still young, so your are more prepared for it when your`e older. I should know, I read it on the back of a matchbox!

written 25th Apr 2005

About Not Apathetic

NotApathetic was built so that people who are planning not to vote in the UK General Election on May 5th can tell the world why. We won't try to persuade you that voting is a good or a bad idea - we're just here to record and share your explanations. Whether ideological, practical or other, any reason will do.

A lot of users would like us to mention that if you spoil your ballot paper, it will be counted. So if you want to record a vote for "none of the above", you can.

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