JavaScript is required to use Bungie.net

OffTopic

Surf a Flood of random discussion.
5/1/2014 6:46:43 AM
15

I recently got into a debate with one of the students in my college.

Today, I was discussing the way America is headed and how the federal minimum wage wasn't enough to make a complete living. I work minimum wage, and even though I don't pay as high of a rent as someone living on their own, I spend at least $150 a month on just rent alone. I work part time now at $8.00, but originally started at $7.25. I get about 20 hours of work a week, while I spend the rest of the time studying for classes. I get paid every two weeks. If we do some calculations, and calculated for an entire month, I would be making $640 a month. Minus $150 from that, I have $490. I refill my gas every 3 to 4 weeks, and to fill up my entire tank, it costs roughly $35-40. I will be giving the benefit of the doubt and go with the lowest number, at $455 left after just gas and rent. I also pay for my own food, and help out my parents whenever I can. Just for myself alone, I pay about $30 for two weeks, and that's on an [i]unhealthy[/i] diet. I have been planning on going healthy, but that would double, if not triple, my food cost. Let's just use double my wage for food, since I have been buying a lot of stuff organic or from local farmers. So, minus $60, and I have $395. Let's not forget school supplies. Now, that colleges are pretty much transitioning from paper to electronic, I have to pay for my own ink, and that's another $160, since I don't live at the college. $235. For paper? Let's just go with the brandless 50 pack, so about $10. $225 left for me to spend on myself. You can see where this is going when it comes to me paying for school tuition and for actual supplies at the beginning of the semester. I can handle the middle parts of the semester, but I end up in the red more often than not in the beginning of the semester, and at the end of the semester, when I have to pay my dues. Why does this happen? Because I'm working a little bit above minimum wage, and I am semi-independent and I'm also a college student. To bring it back to the main topic at hand, I got into a debate with one of the students in the college, who claims to be a staunch conservative. We got into a debate about whether or not the minimum wage increasing to $10 by 2016 was a good idea. He told me no, because people who are working minimum wage will take advantage of the system. I replied back, stating that I was a minimum wage worker, and that the standard of living is much different from let's say 2000. I would agree with him if this was 2000 and the minimum wage was $10/hour. However, at $7.25/hour, along with food prices rising, gas prices rising, rent rising, and the overall standard of living rising, while the minimum wage has remained stagnant for 7 years, people who are working at minimum wage would not be able to afford even living in an apartment by themselves. I'm lucky enough for my parents to allow me to live with them while paying a modest amount of money for rent, but I feel for people who are living with others that they do not know, or living by themselves. I did that while I was in Hawaii, and came short of rent quite a few times. Overall, while we did have differing views about the minimum wage cap increasing, it did not escalate to shitflinging, namecalling, or basing someone's intelligence on their political party. This is how a debate [i]should[/i] be, not what some people in this Off-Topic claim a debate is. What I don't understand is why people use political parties as a form of insult. That isn't a strong insult, and in my opinion, it isn't even an insult. It's just a cop-out for someone if they can't figure out a counter opinion. (Basically, it's namecalling without any grounds to, it's immature) The reason why I don't "debate" with people on video game forums? Just look at other political threads in the Off-Topic and you'll see how quick it gets derailed, and sometimes the thread is derailed by the OP itself. Why do you think people resort to namecalling in online debates when people in real life can debate about a certain subject without resorting to petty insults? Is it that hard to talk about differing opinions online without slinging mud around?

Posting in language:

 

Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

  • This is a forum run by people who make video games. This isn't the place to have serious political/economic/social/whatever discussions. And people are anonymous here, anonymity gives you no repercussions with shit flinging.

    Posting in language:

     

    Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

  • Because they can isolate and devour people on the internet.

    Posting in language:

     

    Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

  • Considering most people work for 'small' businesses, if you think the ACA killed jobs by laying people off or converting staff to part-time (i was a victim) just wait for the federal minimum wage to go to $10 an hour. Unemployment will skyrocket because businesses will be laying people off left and right because they cant afford it. If individual counties want to hike up minimum wage that's fine because base wage should be comparable to local cost of living, but you cannot enact a high minimum wage in low cost areas (basically any county without large metro area) without huge negative economic impact. [spoiler]Economics class=good[/spoiler]

    Posting in language:

     

    Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

    2 Replies
    • lol 150 on rent.

      Posting in language:

       

      Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

    • Don't go to college if you can't afford it.

      Posting in language:

       

      Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

      4 Replies
      • 150 rent lol try 1200

        Posting in language:

         

        Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

        1 Reply
        • $150 on rent?!?!?1 -blam!- off! I live with 3 other people and I pay £325 ($550) for a shitholes And you can fill a tank of petrol for £24? jeeeeeeeesus

          Posting in language:

           

          Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

        • Edited by HurtfulTurkey: 5/1/2014 3:10:32 PM
          If we're talking anecdotes, I paid rent and bought food and gas on minimum wage. The guy you spoke with has a stupid reason for opposing an increase, though. Off topic, but I eat healthy and do it affordably, so if you want advice I'd be very willing to help.

          Posting in language:

           

          Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

        • Edited by MoReCoWbELLx2x1: 5/1/2014 3:09:01 PM
          [quote]Is it that hard to talk about differing opinions online without slinging mud around?[/quote] I was gonna leave this alone, until I saw that. It made me laugh. I'm assuming this is Kyuun with a name change. If so, it's hilarious that you say that, because your always the one that goes around screaming racism for no reason. [spoiler]Inb4OPmakesapostaboutmebeingmuted[/spoiler]

          Posting in language:

           

          Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

        • Not to single out specific arguments but: [quote]Let's not forget school supplies. Now, that colleges are pretty much transitioning from paper to electronic, I have to pay for my own ink, and that's another $160, since I don't live at the college. $235. For paper? Let's just go with the brandless 50 pack, so about $10. $225 left for me to spend on myself. You can see where this is going when it comes to me paying for school tuition and for actual supplies at the beginning of the semester. I can handle the middle parts of the semester, but I end up in the red more often than not in the beginning of the semester, and at the end of the semester, when I have to pay my dues. [/quote] FAFSA must hate you, they sell all that shit at college bookstores and as such can be paid with financial aid. So unless you were in a position where you were loaded, I can't see how you would have to pay for that yourself because FAFSA gives financial aid just for picking your nose and looking like you're not rich.

          Posting in language:

           

          Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

        • $150/month is dirt cheap

          Posting in language:

           

          Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

          3 Replies
          • -blam!- you, I agree!

            Posting in language:

             

            Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

          • So, is your topic about a debate of whether it's possible to earn minimum wage and still live independently, or about a broad commentary about the Flood/#Offtopic? If it's the latter, then the word "debate" doesn't really exist on the internet. Go on any youtube video, forum, comment site aimed at teenagers, and see for yourself. You're making it seem rather biased without considering this is a video game forum, where most of us here are at best 17-ish, with many much younger. Essentially this is a virtual schoolground, where useless stuff gets discussed and the occasional fight breaks out over nothing. If you really wanted to find a healthy debate or discussion, check a more...respectable site. As for your friendly debate about minimum wage, living independently is possible, but it's not going to be luxurious. Take out the car altogether from your wage and instead replace it with public transport (it's not always possible, granted) which is far cheaper in the long run. Also take out other luxuries, such as the internet (I assume you are using home wifi right now?), cable TV, that sorta thing, and you would be able to sustain yourself perfectly fine. The whole point of minimum wage is exactly that, minimum. Live on the necessities (sustenance, shelter, health), have little/no money for luxuries.

            Posting in language:

             

            Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

            2 Replies
            • Edited by Forever Berg: 5/1/2014 7:06:29 AM
              Take a simple economics course and you will see why the minimum wage is stupid. For one, the majority (99.2%) of people on the minimum wage are below the age of 24. The minimum wage is so low because income is determined by the education and skill of the workers along with the high demand of the jobs (which require little training). If you want more money, get a job that require more skill and experience. Working at Pizza Hut isn't a suitable way to sustain your life, it's a good way for teens to make some backup money to buy that car. And it's easier to debate in person because they have a face. Online you are anonymous and can say things without repercussion. It's not rocket science. I can call you a retarded misshapen butt cheek and it will cause no harm since we have no relationship or social credibility to damage

              Posting in language:

               

              Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

              10 Replies
              • [quote]Overall, while we did have differing views about the minimum wage cap increasing, it did not escalate to shitflinging, namecalling, or basing someone's intelligence on their political party.[/quote] B-But my internet anonymity allows me to act like a complete ass hat without repercussions. Good post.

                Posting in language:

                 

                Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

              You are not allowed to view this content.
              ;
              preload icon
              preload icon
              preload icon