Welcome to Shocker, Hero and Whinger of the Week.
Here’s how it works: Each week, we pick the biggest Shocker, Hero and Whinger from the last seven days. Shocker is whatever moment or person left our jaws on the floor. Hero is whoever won the week by being awesome. And whinger? Well, that’s pretty much just someone who has had a major sooky-la-la moment. Let’s do this.
Shocker of the week goes to…
The crazy amount of memes that have surfaced on the interwebs in the wake of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar loss. Here’s a selection of the best ones:
Hero of the week goes to…
Peter Nyong’o, the brother of Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o:
Peter was Lupita’s date throughout the entire awards season, and he officially wins best YOLO celeb selfie getter than anyone on the history of earth (even better than Rosie, who had a pretty solid crack at the title when she was in LA):
Peter Nyong’o is so darn charming we wanted to know more about him, so Nicky Champ put a post of essential facts about Lupita’s little bro together, which you can read right here.
Whinger of the Week goes to…
Gina Rineheart, billionaire and Australia’s richest woman.
Rinehart, who is worth a modest $19.8 billion, wrote an article published on Friday in which she called for the Australian government to cut the amount of money spent on welfare payments for those in need.
Because a BILLIONAIRE definitely has the perspective needed to write about people who are struggling. Because a BILLIONAIRE definitely understands what it’s like to have to choose between groceries and electricity. Because a BILLIONAIRE can definitely empathise with people who are unemployed or underemployed. Because a BILLIONAIRE can definitely relate to the complex dynamics that lead to a person being stuck in a lifetime cycle of poverty.
Ugh.
Do some people abuse the welfare system? Yes, probably. But that doesn’t mean that every welfare payment the government dishes out is taken straight to the TV section at JB Hi-Fi. To whinge that everyone on welfare just needs to work harder and be better with their money, demonstrates a shocking lack of social understanding and empathy.
Gina, babe, you were born unimaginably rich, and you’ll die unimaginably rich. We know you wish you could just pay everyone $2 an hour and and have them thank you for the privelege, but this is a country where we look out for the less fortunate.
Stop whinging about people who won’t see the amount of money you make in an hour in their entire lifetimes. Oh, and by the way…
Top Comments
My suggestion for shocker of the week, maybe century? Hanon suggesting that parents who are on welfare should have their kids taken away from them. I seriously cannot believe that the interwebs are not on fire.
Yes, he also qualifies that *some* people do need and deserve welfare. Who appointed you judge, Hanon? If you're on welfare for 5 years you're a bludger? If you really think that you don't know what is actually out there.
BTW - no, I'm not on welfare, but in very insecure employment and the thought of having to apply for welfare payments scares the shit out of me. I know what Centrelink actually put people through and it's not fun. Your 'pull yourself up by the bootstraps' mentality just demonstrates you don't have a clue. I did a degree and post grad study to try and gain more stable work (no I didn't get any govt. payments) and I've tried for the past 6 years to find something more secure. Attitudes like yours are not helpful. Try educating yourself.
Work for the dole at minimum wage? Considering that minimum wage is twice that of the dole, that'd be okay. I think it's great if you can put yourself through uni and work, but I sure as hell can't do that.
I'm being treated for PTSD and bulimia, while being full time at uni and experiencing a relapse in my eating disorder. Now I've done my fair share of time on the dole, because according to centrelink I'm not unwell enough to be able to go on disability, despite my GP and other treating professionals feeling strongly that I need it. So when I'm not studying I have no choice but to go onto the dole, so I resent people like Gina Rinehart opening their traps about things they have no understanding of.
Mel,
You are the person who deserves welfare. Of that there should be no doubt. Psychological disorders deserve the same recognition as physiological injuries.
I'm certainly not referring to you, and I doubt Gina Rinehart is either.
I'm damn sure the comments are directed at able bodied people who sit on their arses and take welfare as their absolute right.
You need it, they don't.
The other difference is that you are doing something for yourself, they don't.
You don't just need welfare, you deserve it for a number of reasons.