Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
For “everything’s f****ed,” tonight, 20 scams that have become so normalized that normies don’t even notice. These are from a video series from my spiritual sister According to Nicole. Here’s my notes so you don’t have to listen to over an hour of videos.
These 5 SCAMS Have Become so Normalized, We Don't Even Notice Them Anymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qFr0BXmpMg (15 minutes)
Bank Fees. Monthly account fee, ATM fee, transfer fees,
Phone Plans are overpriced. [not mentioned in the video, the carriers pre-load apps that consume data]
Credit Card Interest
Insurance. They’re in business to make a profit.
University Degrees Too many degrees don’t have a return on investment.
5 MORE Scams that Have Become so Normalized, We Don't Even Notice Them Anymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8X2bGALYOU (16 minutes)
Real Estate Agents, 3% commission for not doing much?
Unpaid Internships
Extended Warranties
Financial Advisors (Assets Under Management fee)
High School focuses on teaching skills most people don’t need, and doesn’t cover skills all of us need. Homework teaches kids not to have boundaries. Turns us into soft complacent workers.
Another 5 Scams that Have Become so Normalized, We Don't Even Notice Them Anymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vZ0khh93q4 (19 minutes)
Planned Obsolescence
Razor and Blade Business Model, Printers and Ink, Coffee Pods
Organized Religion divides us and takes our money
Ticketmaster and Live Nation
Food Delivery Apps, app takes 30% cut so restaurants raise prices and then the app charges you a service fee, and you should tip the driver.
Yet ANOTHER 5 Scams that Have Become so Normalized, We Don't Even Notice Them Anymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-xG3Sgp0yU (18 minutes)
Multi Level Marketing
Zero Waste Movement, bamboo toothbrushes, paper straws, plastic bag bans
The Pink Tax. Women’s products are often smaller and more expensive.
Cleanses and Detoxes. You don’t need to buy juices and supplements.
Self Checkout, You are working for the store for free.
I am surprised you didnt list the two biggest scams - fiat currency and taxes!
Never used food delivery apps but watch them on their tiny bikes zigzagging between cars and trucks in the rain and I wonder how they got convinced that living like that make sense.
Then I recently stumbled across a food delivery menu and saw that every item is 2-3 dollars more expensive even though they claim "no delivery fees". Phew, which kind of lazy bums actually use these services?
And yet, every time I go to a restaurant for dinner or pickup I see lines and lines of these delivery pickup guys waiting around.
The whole food delivery service is so depressing.
Credit Card Interest - I tend not to look at anything as a scam if you are told the terms before the deal, but you still opt to go with it. Credit card interest rate was know up front. If you pay off your card monthly, you pay no interest. It's your choice.
Insurance. They’re in business to make a profit. LOLOLOL Why would anyone start an insurance business except to make a profit. You think insurance company is a charity, But in a free market society one should have to be competitive, offer great services. Not so true under crony capitalism. ** University Degrees Too many degrees don’t have a return on investment.** - Agree
Phone Plans are overpriced. [not mentioned in the video, the carriers pre-load apps that consume data - Again, how is this a scam. You know what the price is going into the deal. You are not tricked into the deal, its you choice, but nothing is hidden. As far as apps that use bandwidth I guess that could be a scam if you have a limit on minutes.
Razor and Blade Business Model, Printers and Ink, Coffee Pods Don't know exactly how Razor Blade Model is a scam. Razors are cheap, and if you blow the blade dry after usage by blowing on it, it will last forever almost. Not the hair that dulls razor, it is the buildup of water deposits on the blade.
Printers and Ink - Agree. When ink is 10-20% remaining the printer will stop. Cheaper to buy new printer that ink sometimes.
Coffee Pods. - What is a coffee pod? Use a drip machine.
Organized Religion divides us and takes our money This claim is a cop out of the weak minded. No one in any church I've ever attended caused division without the person being a willing participant, say in the case of a church splitting apart, or took money without it being offered. No church takes your money without your knowledge.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation - (Not that familiar with either) If you know the terms upfront, nothing is hidden and you still choice to do participate, how can it be a scam.
Planned Obsolescence Definitely agree with this one. Cheap crap.
Food Delivery Apps - You know the terms up front. If you choice to participate, how the hell can it be a scam.
Cleanses and Detoxes Scam only if product is advertised to do more than it actually will. True you don't need them, but if these products perform as advertised, it's no scam. There are cheap ways to do something with natural products, but do you expect seller to educate each person on the least cost method.
Self Checkout If I was forced to checkout someone besides myself I would agree, but using self checkout is only serving my on convenience. You are not force to use self checkout, you can opt to stand in line and forgo the convenience. Are you working for the gas station when you pump your own gas. Are you working for the farmers market when you bag you own fruit. Grow up man.
Regarding being informed before credit card agreement, banks do NOT tell you how they calculate the beginning balances that interest is calculated upon. They cannot show and prove those balances are correct.