why am i supposed to sympathise with people who get into debt?

Question

a man, who sounded well educated, in an interveiw on the telly was £57000 in debt. he had a big dog and drove to the benefit office in an estate car. And he wanted our sympathy!!

Answer 1

tell !! me about it......i don't have much. but what i have is my own and i don't owe any body anything. why do people borrow £1000.00 knowing they have to pay £2000.00 back? its never made sense to me. if i want some thing i save for it. do extra work and sell other stuff i don't need. debt is stupid it just sits on your shoulder like a little demon.

Answer 2

Many people are profligate and deserve no sympathy. Ditto for the dishonest who use easy credit for a license to steal. They make goods and services more expensive for the rest of us.

Others are financially naive, and are seduced by easy credit. As you may have read, in the USA many persons bought more expensive houses than they could ordinarily afford because short term interest rates were low. As the low rates expired, they could not afford the higher interest payments and were forced into bankruptcy. I have a modicum of sympathy, no more, for these gullible people.

I do feel sorry for those whose jobs have been lost through downsizing and globalization and are therefore unable to pay their debts.

Answer 3

I suspect most people who get into large, uncontrolled debt become caught in a vicious circle which eventually envelopes them. Lending institutions are happy to lend when things are good but take the financial umbrella from the debtor when matters turn bad. It is those people who wish to " keep up with the Jones" who fare worst. It always amazes me how people become bankrupt, then resurrect and then dive into severe debt once again. I believe getting into debt can be habit forming.

Answer 4

No . You are not being asked to sympathise with people who get into debt but to understand how and why the person fell into debt .

Answer 5

Because sometimes it is unavoidable and happens to the most desperate people in a society.

Your example is pretty disgusting, but for every man like that guy there are others who are in debt and still have nothing.
Not everyone gets into debt for material gain.

I'll give you an example, like when a marriage breaks up and one parent is left the sole financial provider for the children. Sometimes there is no option but to put things on credit cards and take out loans.

No-one is asking you to feel sorry for people in debt, but don't tar everyone with the same brush.

Answer 6

The same reason you should sympathize with the poor.

People who make poor choices or choose to not to save should be given money that the government takes from the achievers.

Life is a choice and if we reward poor choices we will get more people who make poor choices. This man needs to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Answer 7

People who live beyond their means deserves no sympathy. I cold do the same thing but I like being debt free or at least close to it.

Answer 8

Because nothing is anbodys fault anymore. I spend to much money on things i don't need on credit. Its the credit companies fault. I drink like a crazy person its the beer companies fault. My kids are in trouble with the law and its the teachers fault.

People not all and especially not the fine people on here but generally people are scum .

Education is no indicator of intelligence i guess with this guy and the credit

Answer 9

Yeah but it must have been a sweet motor for £57000?

Answer 10

I can empathise with people in debt and there are so many that are. I sympathise with them when it is not their fault. There are though, a proportion of people who just can't help themselves. My sister is in massive debt and they still go on numerous holidays a year and spend as if they are rich.

Personally, I panic if I go £10 into my overdraft.