Online news comments reveal deep anger and shallow understanding

…we have public housing used by people selling drugs…isn't it time the rules were closely examined. (H.G.)

I can't stop wander why am I working... (J.W)

Surely 10-18 years is ample time for someone to try and make an effort with their life and turn it around? … hire a few motivational coaches... (Mum of many)

If people are not happy waiting for 18 years for a free house, perhaps they should stop relying on hand-outs, get a job and stand on their OWN two feet. (Investor Brad)

… No sympathy for those bludging of others. Get a job, and do your bit for society. (JK)

Many of the statements were factually incorrect and showed a poor understanding of how the system works. They also demonstrated a great deal of prejudice and negative stereotyping against public housing tenants with the core idea being that the majority of public housing tenants are engaged in unethical or illegal activities.

It is in fact a very small minority of tenants who do the wrong thing. If a majority of tenants trashed their properties or dealt drugs, the entire system would collapse quickly.

The real problem in Victoria is our lack of public housing -- not that it doesn’t work for people when made available.

I’ve seen similar patterns repeated in articles highlighting other socially disadvantaged groups such as single mothers, refugees, people who are homeless, Indigenous Australians and the unemployed.

While it is true that online forums rarely host well informed debates on public policy, these comments represent views held by large segments of the community. We also see them come out in the tabloid media, often in programs such as Australia’s highest rating ‘current affairs’ program, Today Tonight.

It is worth looking more closely at why such hostility flourishes regarding, in this case, individuals and families who fall victim to housing crisis.