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Life, as you perhaps know, is an unfair thing, but not everyone really agrees with this. Many people believe that accepting individual problems and inconveniences, taking them for granted, is a kind of social contract, enshrined in years of human silence.

Indeed, there are a huge number of strange things in our life that we just get used to and take them for granted. However, if you look at the situation from a different angle, certain facts, traditions, things or services will turn out to be simply ridiculous or even absurd. Or, let's call a spade a spade - a total scam.

There is a thread on Reddit whose authors collect opinions about the biggest scam in life that no one wants to admit. To date, the thread has already gained more than 52.1K upvotes and gathered around 36.8K comments. Some of the comments look pretty ridiculous too, but many of them just have a kernel of truth.

Bored Panda created a special curated list of the most popular comments for you, so feel free to scroll to the very end. You will definitely agree with something, object clearly to something, and by the way, we will be glad to read comments of both kinds - after all, truth, as you know, is born in disputes.

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group How the f**k does *HEALTH* insurance not cover dental and vision?what kind of shenanigans is that?

OldDust8123 , Iain Cameron Report

Final score:
261points
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PC
PC
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah and it should cover it given how imperative dental well-being is.

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#2

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Tipping culture. It’s how businesses scammed the general public into paying additional costs so they could avoid paying their staff a living wage.

Mrtw33tums , Tzuhsun Hsu Report

Final score:
234points
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Something
Something
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It also puts the employees in the position where they're at the mercy of disrespectful and cruel customers, and sadly, that might be the point.

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#3

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Religion

rabengeieradlerstein , Karl Baron Report

Final score:
208points
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Joran Quinten
Joran Quinten
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not up to speed on other religions' history, but the way the Catholic church sold tickets to heaven in medieval days, just wow

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#4

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The entire wedding industry.

To be clear, not marriage but weddings specifically.

I’m happily married to my wife and we were content to do something special just the two of us, maybe spend a couple of grand and treat ourselves a little bit to something amazing.

Cue the families getting involved and before you know it we’re spending closer to twenty grand on one day and feeding a bunch of people I’ve not heard of before or since the wedding.

J-ShapedNerd , Chris Waits Report

Final score:
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#5

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group We work the majority of our lives, during our fittest years of health, for the promise of a golden retirement, when we will probably too old and ill to enjoy it properly.

Mr_Bob_Ferguson , aco pbc Report

Final score:
198points
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Foxxy (The Original)
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly and our government wants to increase the retirement age to 70. I don't know anyone at the age of 70+ that is fit and healthy enough to work. Especially in the building industry. We get a few years fun until we start school and then we spend most of our lives as government drones.

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#6

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Mega Churches on TV and elsewhere.

invalidpassword , shankar s. Report

Final score:
194points
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Mark Alibozek
Mark Alibozek
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always ends with the masses supporting the leaders extravagant lifestyles while they dodge taxes and commit crimes.

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#7

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Trickle down economics.

BarcodeNinja , James Droste Report

Final score:
190points
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#8

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Diamonds.

Puppycow , Julian Fong Report

Final score:
177points
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#9

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The easy-to-join, difficult-to-cancel subscription model.

anon , BTC Trinkets .com Report

Final score:
167points
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James016
James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also free trials should not require payment details to automatically subscribe after the trial period expires

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#10

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group A lot of us have been convinced that we are selling our labour to companies at the correct price, in reality we're selling it too cheaply.

TheSameButBetter , Victorian Chamber Report

Final score:
161points
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Nathaniel
Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The companies pay lower and lower wages, people earn less, they cannot afford basic things, capitalism which is based on people buying stuff they do not even need, collapses.

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#11

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Click here to unsubscribe to this email notification

moonman2090 , Mario A. P. Report

Final score:
159points
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#12

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group That climate change is up to each individual to go green. It was a campaign by BP that pushed the solution as each individual going green instead of the dozen massive corporations that account for the lions share of greenhouse gases.

Going green is good, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to oil companies, industrial farming, and cargo ships.

Edit: lots of "yet you participate in society, curious" type comments from the usual contrarians. Your hot air is adding to the problem.

Robust_Rooster , majunznk Report

Final score:
158points
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#13

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group the cost of education

nathanielgallant , Chambre des Députés Report

Final score:
148points
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Amber H
Amber H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES! Education should be free, as it's in everyone's right to study and learn

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#14

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group That getting older gives wisdom. I'm older and I'm just a cranky old f**k.

De_chook , Hajime Nagahata Report

Final score:
145points
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Fat Harry
Fat Harry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If age gave you wisdom, old people wouldn't almost exclusively read the Daily Mail.

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#15

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Insurance!!!! My great grandfather was a doctor, and there were stories of him treating people, often for free. He and his wife helped an entire family with scarlet fever in exchange for a jar of blackberry jam

Bangbangsmashsmash , Hobbies on a Budget Report

Final score:
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#16

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Life.

Like, why is it so damn expensive? I didn’t even ask to be here!

Fandoms_local_Kiwi , Conall Report

Final score:
131points
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Foxxy (The Original)
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's only getting worse. I was gonna buy a lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes yesterday but was gonna cost me approx $12. Which is insane.

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#17

The five day/40hr+ work week.

OrwellianZinn Report

Final score:
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Pisco
Pisco
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks to computers and automation we are more efficient than ever. And yet we work as many hours as our grandparents were. How is that aceptable?

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#18

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group That the Fashion Industry is anything other than planned obsolescence, designed simply to get people to spend money for no reason.

Goriuk , rjp Report

Final score:
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#19

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group That large global companies actually care about you.

FlashPan73 , Bycroft Boy Report

Final score:
119points
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#20

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Online convenience fees

Vast-Anxiety-4066 , Michigan Municipal League Report

Final score:
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#21

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group GLASSES we need pay too see, biggest scam

Nightblast420 , Charles16e Report

Final score:
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Xenon
Xenon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked at a vision center a long time ago. Those $250 frames you just bought? Cost the company less than $10.

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#22

Bottled water

Awkward_Aardvark_975 Report

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#23

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Ticketmaster

bigsz , nerdy girl Report

Final score:
104points
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New Everywhere
New Everywhere
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I watched John Oliver (gem) talk about this. It's really crazy. Like I've said before everywhere you look it's f*ck people, give me more and more money.

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#24

Needing a college degree for most high-level jobs when there is rarely any relevant knowledge gained from the degree relevant to the job.

MrKirkPowers Report

Final score:
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Something
Something
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's often a substitute for direct discrimination. Since disadvantaged groups are less likely to have degrees, if you want to discriminate without breaking the law, a degree requirement makes it easier.

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#25

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The lobby around requiring **[MOST]** Americans to file their taxes with the IRS; while the IRS already has all the relevant information.

Edit: Yes we know there's benefits for you tiny percentage of self-employed individuals and business owners.

dogpupkus , Tom Hilton Report

Final score:
84points
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Something
Something
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It should be automatic by default with the option to do the whole headache for those who want it.

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#26

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The prices of anything baby related. Toys, food, clothes, etc. Was in a store on Saturday to get a cot mattress and cover. I cried.

CarvedWatermelon , INGURALDE Report

Final score:
81points
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Joran Quinten
Joran Quinten
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We bought a lot second hand, and resold after they've grown out of stuff. At the moment were part of a "hand me down chain" 🤣 It saves money and a lot of waste

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#27

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Normal television, paying to watch ads!

martram_ , Rafael Castillo Report

Final score:
79points
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Troux
Troux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Advertising in general always seems to sneak its way into ad-free formats. Cable TV was like network TV except no ads....until they added ads. Youtube was finally like TV except no ads...until they added ads. Then you can always block the ads and just watch the video...until their paid promotional segments.

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#28

Recycling

In remote communities recyclables collected go to the dump with the rest of the garbage, because it’s not feasible to transport it thousands of km where it could potentially get used.

pserenity Report

Final score:
79points
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Mark Alibozek
Mark Alibozek
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also for instance here where I live in Florida the recycling center used to accept glass and then quit. I spoke with an attendant and they said the state quit taking it because there wasn't enough profit. That's not the point!

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#29

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The fact that airlines have X amount of seats per flight, but almost always sell X+10 seats and then refund you about 80% of your ticket cost. Do that to the 10 people and suddenly you have about 2 tickets worth of profits seemingly out of nowhere, and everyone still has a flight. Just an unbelievably immoral way to gain a few bucks, but everyone just goes with it since the airplanes aren't exactly a train that comes every 10 minutes.

waitihaveaface , Berbal Saborio Report

Final score:
77points
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Justme
Justme
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

About a month after I bought plane tickets I got a message that they had to change my flights. My new return flight was a day later. I asked if they could change it back to the day prior as planned - these tickets were a good 9 months in advance so I know they had seats. They told me yea, they could change back - and the difference in ticket price is $750 please. I argued for a day and finally heard back sorry that was a mistake, it’s only $375 more. I said no - and they finally agreed to change my flight back to the original day free of (additional) charge.

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#30

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Hustle culture

BenjaminoBob , I am R. Report

Final score:
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#31

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group The rat race. The idea that you are making progress towards a better world. Carrying on with the destruction and degradation of our own environment in the name of progress.

daufky , art around Report

Final score:
36points
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I I
I I
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sad thing is progress is the only thing that will save us

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#32

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Buying a star and naming it.

A waste of your cash and time. The only organisation that can name a star is International Astronomical Union.

SuvenPan , Peter Hellberg Report

Final score:
34points
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#33

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Claw Machines in arcades

kilroywasalreadyhere , Joel Kramer Report

Final score:
28points
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Amber H
Amber H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep.. those are especially designed to make it extra difficult to actually grab the plush (or whatever item the prize is) so while it's not impossible, you will definitely spend a good amount before possibly getting a prize

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#34

Mattresseses, diamonds, and home furniture. Massive markups on these items.

Nairbfs79 Report

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28points
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Bexx 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Bexx 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Markets are crazy right now. Cars, electronics, even certain apparel. Makes it hard to gauge this one .

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#35

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Mom: tell me the truth and I wont be mad

anon , Neeta Lind Report

Final score:
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#36

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Data caps

ofsquire , Joel Bez Report

Final score:
24points
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BonnyDK
BonnyDK
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a no data limit plan but still kept getting notices I was reaching my limit and my service would slow down. Found out the no data limit plan did indeed have a limit. WTH?

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#37

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group $18 Salad lol

Marshmello7 , Alex Ranaldi Report

Final score:
21points
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Aisling Raye
Aisling Raye
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's just gloss over the fact that restaurants need to pay things like rent, taxes, utilities, equipment maintenance, insurance, and (in a perfect world) PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES A LIVABLE WAGE with insurance, PTO etc etc etc. (Don't get me started on chains where corporate and upper management get involved and grossly inflated salaries get added to the mix.) It's no wonder restaurant workers are so underpaid and forced to live on tips. If you only want to pay for ingredients, I kindly suggest buying some groceries and cooking at home. (Disclaimer: I have never worked in the food industry and am only sharing what I've heard. Any corrections by actual food industry workers is greatly appreciated)

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#38

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Giving parents your money for safekeeping as a kid

Aleksis4553 , Bradley Gordon Report

Final score:
14points
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lenka
lenka
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is sad. Our kids money is always kept separate and returned to them on request.

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#39

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group *gestures broadly*

This pretty much covers it.

tehdredpirateroberts , Judith Jackson Report

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#40

30 Things Which Are In Fact Big Scams, Yet Most People Don't Realize It, As Shared By Members Of This Online Group Reddit awards

Cartiie , Eric Steuer Report

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11points
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Something
Something
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a scam. People are just willing to buy luxury emojis for some reason.

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