It doesn't mention that those in the military don't pay for healthcare and receive housing (or a housing allowance).

The OP stated that the subject matter was "apples and oranges" and acknowledged there is a lot to debate where that is concerned. But I think her point in posting was to highlight how offensive the wording is regarding the portrayal of minimum wage workers.

In our area where manufacturing took hard hits in the past decades, I know people who had once held management positions in those industries who resorted to taking on one, sometimes two, minimum wage jobs to meet their financial obligations. This post disparages and stereotypes those like them willing to take whatever work is available to set an example for their children and avoid relying on entitlements.

There's a way to argue for better pay for people serving in the military and it shouldn't resort to demeaning racial characterizations.

Bingo, Amck2! The last paragraph was when my blood boiled over. Looking down our nose's to someone who has no choice but to work at fast food joints? As if everyone has the money for college or vo-tech, or they weren't raised to study and do homework. And I'm sure Baconator didn't choose to not have any skills either, it's the cards life dealt him.

With the election coming up, I see more and more meme's about how people need to work for their money and not get handouts. The percentage of someone getting welfare because they're lazy is very low.

I wanted to add, I think California is the only state that raised min. wage to $15/hour, but some people don't realize that the cost of living there is crazy compared to other states. The house I'm in now would cost about 5 times in CA. as it would here. I wouldn't be able to afford it. lol

Oak, other states and cities have voted to raise the minimum wage. In many cases employees won't receive the full $15.00/hr until 2020.

Of all the common names to choose, they pick LaTisha, a deliberate attempt to give this a racial tone. Why go there? Do they not know that blacks make up a large percentage of our military? What dummy wrote this?

Maddie, I didn't know that. I do give props employers of private companies giving their workers a lot more than the minimum wage for menial jobs.

Mayflowers, I noticed that too but I was afraid to mention it.

This really shouldn't be political, but heck, I'll go there. I was a Republican but I'm really in the middle. I have some Republican and some Democrat beliefs. Which I'm sure is what most people are. But when I started seeing meme's like the one above show up on FB, (many) all from my republican friends, I was so ashamed and embarrassed, I changed back to being a democrat. :)

I am appalled on a daily basis by the rudeness and sometimes just downright meaness of many facebook memes. A lot of people I guess hold their fellow humans in utter contempt. Over and over again I find myself vowing to watch my tongue and my Facebook page and try never to put that kind of negativity out into the world. There's a lot of negativity we can't do anything about, but the way we speak to and about others is not one of them. Seems like this is the tenor of our times and I'm not quite sure why. Extreme transience is a big part of it I think, the idea that you can burn bridges and won't pay a price or be really held accountable for your mean behavior. Some of the stuff my friends post is so mean I wonder if they really are that mean inside. But that post was just plain racist, which I guess is back in style. Like who exactly is "Latisha McBurgerflipper." I would never say something demeaning like that about any worker.

How about raising the pay of the military, too, so they don't have to qualify for SNAP (food stamps), free and reduced lunch, and WIC?

And some of them DO leave to go work for risky, private security firms and defense contractors because the money is there.

Pink, not wanting to get into it on FB is why I posted it here. lol.

Gscience, I agree 100%. The military needs a huge raise. I'm sure everyone agrees with that. It's what the rest of the meme said that is troubling to me.

Although I'm all for paying the military a fair wage, I would also note the base pay listed does not include medical, housing (or allowances), food (or allowances), child care, bonuses, COLA adjustments, and post-service benefits (education, retirement, etc). Not to mention, the average FF worker is working full time and the average military person is on-duty much more than that, making annual salary comparisons meaningless. Must we tear down one to make the case for the other?

It amazes me that people, with the ability to access studies, data and information on the Internet like none other in history, still cling to falsely presented ideas like this ignorant FB post.

Nini804, there's not a "valid economic point" within a mile of this meme.

Well said, Gooster.

Ugh. I decided to read FB while drinking coffee, and this meme showed up from yet another "real" friend. Unfortunately, this type of meme about welfare has become way too common on FB.

Tunnel vision. People seeing things in black and white. Demeaning yet again.

#2 is what I'm referring to.

I hate living in a small town with small minds.

Nicely put, Gooster.

Oakley, you need to turn off the Facebook! Frankly, I don't want to know that people I have known for years are dangerously stupid because then I would never speak to them again. People who post that sort of thing are like angry mules.....you can't do anything with them , best just to put them in a (metaphorical) pen and leave them alone.

Honestly, I doubt the people creating these memes know or think anything about anything. It is quite easy to dream up obnoxious smart aleck remarks. Any fourth grader can do it. Passing them on . . . I dunno. Is it now hip to allow your inner 4th grader to rule the roost?

I don't have anyone on my friend's list who posts things like that. A few years ago, I joined a FB page from my hometown in the Hudson Valley, got friended by people who I went to school with, and got some of those memes, mainly about Obama. I quickly unfriended them. I cannot abide racism.

There's a corner where there's a Puerto Rican church, commonly known as Taco Turn by that group, though it wasn't called that when I lived there until 1980. I questioned it and was told I was being politically correct. They think it's hilarious to call it Taco Turn. These are people in their 60s. It made me lose interest in my hometown and I left the group.

And this is just more of the ample evidence that convinced some of us that Facebook is a vapid timesucking waste. These are the types of things that make me pull back from a friendship. You're that ignorant/stupid/hate-filled? Maybe I really don't want to know you as well as I thought I did.

I am off FB indefinitely. It's too late, though. I know things about "friends" that I wish I didn't.

"You're that ignorant/stupid/hate-filled? Maybe I really don't want to know you as well as I thought I did."

TR I am saving that to use as a response to these kinds of posts on FB!!

I would love to quote TR also, but I'm in a small town and these meme's were shared by women my age who are coughpillarscough of the community. I gotta keep my trap shut. However, I did notice that neither meme got more than 1 "Like." I was happy to see that!

l pinkmountain

Honestly, I doubt the people creating these memes know or think anything about anything. It is quite easy to dream up obnoxious smart aleck remarks.

******

Agree. This tedious FB post is nothing more than a weak, fallacious argument with little to no merit. Why anyone would give it the time of day, even to the point of getting worked up and responding to it, is beyond me.

It's ignorant, bigoted and plumbs the depths of a shallow puddle.

There is a comedian we like who has a joke similar "it's about time someone took low-wage workers down a notch" in response to something like that.

Neither DH nor I are on FB.

I don't know that it is fair or accurate to blame fb.. blame the person who relates to the thought enough to share it. I am reluctantly thankful that FB gives me an opportunity to see what the people around me think. Yes, I might not want to know them that well.. but I'd rather know upfront what an acquaintance thinks, relates to and values before I invest more in knowing them.

Personally, I choose to ignore ignorant thinking rather than responding to it and ultimately spreading it.. even if to denounce it. The people who create these memes count on sharing to propagate it to larger numbers of people.

Well I must say that the offending FB meme wasn't a total waste because I learned a new expression today, "Plumbing the depths of a shallow puddle!" Love it!

I don't really mind differing opinions about things, conservative, liberal, etc. and I've had and observed some interesting discussions on FB. It's just the banality and rudeness and general "Jerry Springer" type of stuff that I would like to avoid. Previously, I have managed to avoid it by not watching much TV and thankfully you can switch the channel on that, and also using the "Hide" and "Block" functions to block the offending SOURCE of the meme, which is how you can lessen the number of BS you have to wade through. But it does crop up from time to time. From some of my dearest and nicest friends. Only a few, thankfully. And like Funky says, it does allow me a window into the "lesser angels" that are apparently lurking in a lot of souls. I kind of knew who I could trust and who I could not, but every once and a while I get a surprise. And then I wonder, is it just that they were having a bad day and this is a total anomaly, or . . . but again, better to know how they really are, than to find out they have been talking about YOU the same way, and behind your back.

Funky, I love FB also. I skip political posts but always read the memes because some of them are downright hilarious. But then I'll come across one like above and it stops me dead in my track because I wasn't expecting it. It's like I was at a party and suddenly got slapped. lol.

I think if I see one like those above, and boy I hope I don't, I'm going to quote Gscience. ;)

Reading here it is implied that the only offensive memes are posted by only one political stance. Surely you all receive these posts from all perspectives. I do. Most are slanted and sensational; a few do make you think.

I think that more annoying than receiving political blurbs from Facebook friends is receiving them from friends of friends.

Generally I find them annoying and close them. Most of the time I don't read them.

These type threads appear on GW frequently. Have to wonder what the point is.

Snookums, the point of this thread is finding out how some of my friends in real life shocked me by posting such snobbish material because I had no idea they really felt that way.

Other than that there is no ulterior motive, not even political. You're barking up the wrong tree here.

There are some questionable threads started by first-time posters which seem suspect (trolling), but his doesn't strike me as one of them.

When you pass on memes like this, you tacitly approve of the content, so it can be telling.

Snookums and I have both been on GW a long time now. Tacitly approving something means to imply. What I wrote for both memes is clearly the opposite.

Maybe posters do it elsewhere on GW because I haven't seen anyone post a meme like you're describing.

What's the point of ANY of these discussions on this side? To initiate conversation, of course. Someone has something they feel like talking about - either participate or don't. Certainly no one who involves themselves here carries the expectation that the threads others begin will always resonate with them.

Oakley

Snookums and I have both been on GW a long time now. Tacitly approving something means to imply. What I wrote for both memes is clearly the opposite.

*****

I don't know if you're responding to my post, but I didn't mean that you approve, but the person who sent it to you. Just didn't want you to think otherwise ;-)

"hese type threads appear on GW frequently. Have to wonder what the point is."

That's a strange statement. What is the point of any thread?

I agree that anyone can post just about anything they want. But there is so much out there that is provocative + offensive + incorrect that my only reaction these days is an eyeroll. I try not to take the bait.