Squatters take your questions

Every week, we are giving Argus readers the chance to put questions to leading figures, politicians and business people across Sussex as part of our Your Interview feature.

Next week, a representative of the Squatters Network of Brighton will take a grilling from our readers.

To put your questions, email ben.parsons@theargus.co.uk, call 01273 544520 or leave your comment below.

 

* Who would you like to see on the spot? Email your ideas to news@theargus.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 01273 544512.

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Comments(32)

george smith says...
8:04pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Why do you not pay rent like everyone else, rather than free loading?

mictrix says...
8:13pm Tue 18 Dec 12

if it was my property you would all be battered and thrown out in the street.just so you know

gusset snatcher says...
8:34pm Tue 18 Dec 12

What would you do if you came back from the dole office and some other squatters had squatted in your squat, stolen your stash of drugs, drunk all your cider/special brew and thrown your belongings on to the street outside?
Or are all you squatters loyal to each other and wouldn't do that?

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:41pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Why is it that posh kids like you with very privileged backgrounds and massive financial safety nets feel the need to do this?

Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:48pm Tue 18 Dec 12

You have two arms, two legs and the health of fitness of youth and the spirit to fight for causes so therefore you are fit to work and support yourself, are you not ashamed that people with cancer, disabilites and mental health problems manage to get themselves to work and pay taxes for you?

HJarrs says...
9:57pm Tue 18 Dec 12

While there is no doubt that some people squatting are antisocial, squatters generally get a bad press and are being dehumanised in the media as an easy target.

Can you point to examples of where squatting has been beneficial to the community at large and what are you doing to alter public perceptions of squatting?

AmboGuy says...
10:05pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Why do you think so many people support the law change that made squatting in private premises illegal?

Also, are you aware that most people also want this law extended to commercial properties too?

HJarrs says...
10:15pm Tue 18 Dec 12

AmboGuy wrote:
Why do you think so many people support the law change that made squatting in private premises illegal?

Also, are you aware that most people also want this law extended to commercial properties too?
Its my question, I await their answer.

There is a worrying trend of stereotyping groups and dehumanising those that stand out from the mainstream. I am intersted in what the squatters have to say before judging.

AmboGuy says...
10:18pm Tue 18 Dec 12

HJarrs wrote:
AmboGuy wrote:
Why do you think so many people support the law change that made squatting in private premises illegal?

Also, are you aware that most people also want this law extended to commercial properties too?
Its my question, I await their answer.

There is a worrying trend of stereotyping groups and dehumanising those that stand out from the mainstream. I am intersted in what the squatters have to say before judging.
I'm asking them the question - it's not just YOUR question I'm afraid.

Unless you're a member of snob then perhaps you should refrain from commenting on other people's questions to them.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:25pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Why do squatters often fail to give journalists their real identities, is there something to hide?

leobrighton says...
10:47pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Why are you answering questions from people who do not publicly identify themselves and hide behind the anonimity of the Argus comments threads to air their views

trystero says...
10:54pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Why do squatters often fail to give journalists their real identities, is there something to hide?
Says somebody whose "real identity" is "Maxwell's Ghost" - presumably no relation to Maxwell House....

Algeria Touchshriek says...
10:55pm Tue 18 Dec 12

If you illegally break in to somebody's house why don't you illegally use their bath as well?

You may be immoral scum, but do you have to be so filthy as well?

trystero says...
10:56pm Tue 18 Dec 12

My question is: do you blame "the Greens"?

If not, who DO you blame? And if not, WHY not?

NickBrt says...
12:13am Wed 19 Dec 12

Why does Caroline Lucas love you so much?

friscokid says...
12:18am Wed 19 Dec 12

I can sympathise with people who find themselves homeless and are in genuine need of a place to live.

These are different from squat party people who are attracted to Brighton for a squatter lifestyle. They ruin buildings, play crap music and I get the impression they feel they have a right to steal from people who they beleive have more money than them. I'm sure most of them could easliy return to Mummy and Daddy's mansion in kent... so please do

These fake brighton squatters do nothing good to help homeless people.

friscokid says...
12:29am Wed 19 Dec 12

This is the latest post from SNOB:

This is just a quick heads up to those who attended the action on Wednesday 14th Nov. The Police are investigating the events of that day. If you were involved, it may be best to change your appearance or “lose” the clothes you were wearing.

It doesn’t look like the police have much evidence… most likely this’ll be the last we hear of it. We’ll keep you updated.

YOU IDIOTS HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESS WHEN YOU ADMIT ASSUALT
be pro active not stupid and destructive

funkyyoyo says...
2:41am Wed 19 Dec 12

how about grow up you pratt and get a job,syrias nice this time of year !!! ill even help you pack

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
5:49am Wed 19 Dec 12

HJarrs wrote:
While there is no doubt that some people squatting are antisocial, squatters generally get a bad press and are being dehumanised in the media as an easy target.

Can you point to examples of where squatting has been beneficial to the community at large and what are you doing to alter public perceptions of squatting?
Are you concerned that the Green party's very own village idiot appears to lend support to your often illegal antics?

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
5:57am Wed 19 Dec 12

At what financial income threshold does squatting stop being attractive. e.g. is it £3K a month, £4K, £5K etc and why?

george smith says...
6:39am Wed 19 Dec 12

Somethingsarejustwro
ng
wrote:
Why is it that posh kids like you with very privileged backgrounds and massive financial safety nets feel the need to do this?
That's because their parents don't rent, they think it is a waste of money.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:53am Wed 19 Dec 12

trystero...Maxwell as in Robert Maxwell who stole my pension.
As a journalist I have visited many squats all over the UK and while the squatters were always usually articulate and willing to chat, I would give them my business card with my details, but more often than not I would find they had given false identities.
This makes it very difficult for the public to trust their motives.
For all I know they could have been hired by a developer to reduce the value of a plot or other similar scams.... particularly when they go into listed buildings and then tear them apart. In the 1990s any building which was uninhabitable (ie no electrics etc) was exempt from council tax which was a considerable saving for the owners so there was a belief that squatting had actually been used by property owners to avoid tax. How do we know that's not the case now?
It's a shame that some of them are not truthful because the media and the public then doubt their true motives.

Morpheus says...
9:42am Wed 19 Dec 12

There are lots of new, empty properties in Spain. Why don't you go and squat over there?

AmboGuy says...
10:45am Wed 19 Dec 12

friscokid wrote:
This is the latest post from SNOB:

This is just a quick heads up to those who attended the action on Wednesday 14th Nov. The Police are investigating the events of that day. If you were involved, it may be best to change your appearance or “lose” the clothes you were wearing.

It doesn’t look like the police have much evidence… most likely this’ll be the last we hear of it. We’ll keep you updated.

YOU IDIOTS HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESS WHEN YOU ADMIT ASSUALT
be pro active not stupid and destructive
Yes I've read that, at least now they have admitted that YES objects were thrown at MP Mike Weatherley. A certain numpty on this forum assured us that nothing was thrown but they've now confirmed this themslves on their own website! They also quote people in the crowd as saying he should get lynched and executed.

Nasty nasty people indeed.

Here's the link in case anyone wants to know exactly what kind of people this lot are
https://network23.or
g/snob/

stir up says...
10:51am Wed 19 Dec 12

It is no good expecting this type of person, i.e., the dedicated squatter, to even give some thought to other people and their property, they just counld not care less. They will come up with every excuse and blame society and never see they are the real problem. One day some of them when they grow up, may end up with a family and a home of their own it is to be hoped that squatters will get into their place and see what they think then.if the law really works at least they will have free food and lodgings in prison the only down side is that we the tax payers will have to foot the bill. It should become a real criminal offence so that if they try to holiday abroad they will find many countries will not allow anyone with a criminal record across theie borders. The other thing is we still own Rockall off the coast of Scotland cannot we send them there for a few month.

Fairfax Sakes says...
11:25am Wed 19 Dec 12

Do you use shampoo AND conditioner, or do you prefer the two-in-one kind?

Roundbill says...
11:46am Wed 19 Dec 12

Does it annoy you that the decimal equivalent of the fraction "one third" isn't finite?

AmboGuy says...
12:58pm Wed 19 Dec 12

So when are these squatters actually going to answer our questions?

What's the bet they choose to ignore the more difficult questions regarding whats been published on their own website and choose to answer nice 'easy' questions.

Jonny Knows says...
4:19pm Wed 19 Dec 12

I've squatted a number of times in the past but fortunately have a rented flat at the moment.I think the anti-squatting law is wrong and yet another attack by this government on those in society with the least.However I believe that your tactics are counterproductive.We
atherly has painted all squatters as antisocial,violent anarchists who trash other peoples property for fun.When you stopped him speaking all you did was confirm,in his and the general publics view,what he had said and what they'd already read in the biased,sales hungry press.You should've let the discussion take place and shown how his law is wrong with debate.Imagine how you would feel if the EDL or some other far right group used your tactics to stop an MP they disagreed with from speaking.He's not Nick Griffin,he's an elected MP from the nasty party doing what they do best.

Jonny Knows says...
4:20pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Or maybe I'm just getting old ;-)

mimseycal says...
4:30pm Wed 19 Dec 12

AmboGuy wrote:
So when are these squatters actually going to answer our questions?

What's the bet they choose to ignore the more difficult questions regarding whats been published on their own website and choose to answer nice 'easy' questions.
We've been informed that questions should be emailed to Ben Parsons who presumably will pass them on to SNOB who will then, in turn answer the questions.

AmboGuy says...
9:15pm Wed 19 Dec 12

mimseycal wrote:
AmboGuy wrote:
So when are these squatters actually going to answer our questions?

What's the bet they choose to ignore the more difficult questions regarding whats been published on their own website and choose to answer nice 'easy' questions.
We've been informed that questions should be emailed to Ben Parsons who presumably will pass them on to SNOB who will then, in turn answer the questions.
Yes I've emailed him already.

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