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Aristotle believed that all things in nature contain "something of the marvelous."

However, Reddit user Massive_Quit_7844 was interested in the opposite — our egotistical side. So they made a post on the platform, asking "What's the most unethical life hack you know?"

But as you go through the answers, remember that we already have research, telling us that being a jerk doesn’t help us get ahead. So use them at your own risk!

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Work correspondence hack:

Anything that benefits you, put it in an email, letter, etc. so it can be memorialized when possible. 

Anything that is detrimental to you, make a call or discuss the issue face to face verbally.  Don’t leave a paper trail. .

waitwutok , Stephen Phillips Report

Final score:
119points
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#2

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius When you call in sick to work, call lying down as it makes you sound more congested.

Blurt-Reynolds , Polina Tankilevitch Report

Final score:
88points
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BatPhace
BatPhace
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, if you tell them you have diarrhea nobody asks more questions

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#3

If you mail a letter without a stamp with the return address as the actual address you want it go, they will “return” it to the return address. 😉.

Navel_of_Eve Report

Final score:
78points
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#4

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you want to lie, make a part of the lie something shameful. Everybody will believe you.

Oil-Executive , Keira Burton Report

Final score:
74points
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#5

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you rob a bank you have almost guaranteed shelter regardless of the outcome.

MiguelSalaOp , Guy Hurst Report

Final score:
66points
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Enuya
Enuya
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Weren't there studies showing that homeless people commit more pettybcrimes during cold months as this way they get shelter and food?

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#6

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Using billions in tax payer federally funded research to create medications and then turn around and charge those same tax payers a 1000 fold increase in costs WHILE also getting tax cuts myself from the very middle man politicians who give me the public funds. Oh but wait - one important caveat, why do these politicians help me out so much? because of course I get ultra rich, but they want their cut, their political campaign donation of course, from the very pool of profits I made off their constituents tax payer money!, Bwahahahahhaa - "EVIL LAUGH".

Minute_Butterfly9382 , Alexander Grey Report

Final score:
63points
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Rostit.. .
Rostit.. .
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why the us house of representatives wants to force the sale of tiktok

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#7

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you’re planning on calling out sick, schedule an email about it at a weird time early in the morning. People don’t doubt it when they think you were up at 4:37 am vomiting.

Then if you need to physically call, you can do that later and have written documentation that you were “up all night vomiting” or whatever.

blackholesymposium , Taryn Elliott Report

Final score:
60points
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John Nelson
John Nelson
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Trying to give a description of the diarrhea usually ends the call pretty quickly... :)

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#8

Pretty unethical but also pretty harmless: if you’re ever out and about and forgot your sunglasses, go to any grocery store customer service counter and say “Did anyone turn in some black (or whatever) sunglasses?” They will proceed to dump a literal pile of lost sunglasses in front of you. Look decisive so as to not draw suspicion.

Pizza-is-American Report

Final score:
60points
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#9

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius On a trip to Las Vegas, I decided to visit their adult pool area at the Delano. Upon paid entry, they provided me a bright neon wristband. I also happened to be attending a Red Hot Chili Peppers show the same night and still had my pool wristband on when I entered the venue.


While trying to navigate to my seating area, I asked the usher for directions to get to my seat.
Well, they didn't look too closely at the ticket location on my phone and only noticed my wristband. The next thing I knew, I was being directed into the VIP access area right up front.

Apparently, the VIP wristband was the same color, so I was able to enjoy the show as a VIP.

billoweb , Vishnu R Nair Report

Final score:
58points
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Saddest_Lion
Saddest_Lion
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That seems more like a happy accident than an unethical life hack

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#10

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Wear black carpenter pants, black polo, multi tool, flash light and a clipboard. Walk with purpose. Get you backstage 90% of the time.

azorianmilk , Joao Viegas Report

Final score:
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#11

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Just before covid my son worked at a multi national that had posh reception areas with coffee machines, large tv’s running the companies products and advances all day and always smart receptionists.

One day a van pulls up with three blokes in it, all in hi viz and clean smart workwear, they show their work order to the receptionist and get on with removing 4 x 70” tv screens and a projector all for upgrades and replacements.

To this day, neither the blokes, van or tv’s have been seen again.

Just walk out like you own it comes to mind.

The receptionists were not sacked but from then on every one who came to that facility had to be checked properly.

vossmanspal , Jason Leung Report

Final score:
51points
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Gavin Johnson
Gavin Johnson
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a Bang & Olufsen display in the car dealership I worked at (Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, Porsche), it was worth more than a few grand, B&O installed it and changed it up every few months. Three blokes stroll in, talk to the car sales manager he gives them approval to get on with the work, they remove CD players, telephones, a couple of TVs, all the kit, load their van and are never seen again. Took two days before the manager rings B&O to enquire about the replacements….. It’s fair to say B&O were VERY unhappy. Those of us working in the garage found it all very amusing, every time the manager walked through someone would ask to borrow his car or the keys to his house, honest guv, it’s all legit, lend us your Porsche for a bit….,

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#12

Wear a generic shirt, jeans, and boots. Put on a safety vest. Carry a 6ft ladder. You just got access to damn near anywhere. Just say you're "Auditing the camera system" and you basically have free run of most places.


Source - I'm an electrician, and never get questioned unless I'm going into a bank vault.

InfernoWoodworks Report

Final score:
51points
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#13

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you shop around at garage sales or good will, some brands offer lifetime warranties.

FunCouple037 , Anastasiya Badun Report

Final score:
49points
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#14

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you run for Congress, you get government briefings, some of them confidential, then you can trade stocks on the info.

Disco425 , Louis Velazquez Report

Final score:
48points
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#15

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Educate childs using dog training techniques.

MYTHGUNDAM , John Tuesday Report

Final score:
40points
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#16

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you get in a one-car accident, or fall asleep whilst driving, etc., tell the responding police that you "swerved to avoid an animal.".

Mature_BOS , Per Lööv Report

Final score:
32points
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Surenu
Surenu
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still makes you guilty of causing the accident in Germany, so you'll get insurance trouble.

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#17

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Pay for one movie ticket, stay in cinema all day. Works almost always everywhere.

Klendatu_ , Jake Hills Report

Final score:
32points
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#18

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Have a large, “professional” looking camera. Get a bright vest that says “press” on it. Make an ID. Go to town. Almost free access anywhere.

Xtereo , Terje Sollie Report

Final score:
29points
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Enuya
Enuya
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my ex-roommates got a "press legitimation" (dunno what exactly it is) as she worked for a student newspaper in... 80s. The card for some reason didn't have an expiration date so she uses it to this day to get into some otherwise exclusive events.

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#19

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Re-gifting presents as 'timeless heirlooms'.

Kuroinekou , Jess Bailey Report

Final score:
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#20

You can replace every 'e' in a word document with 'е', the Cyrillic equivalent. Looks identical to us but computers read it as a separate character. It's such a common letter that when replaced, it scrambles the text and lets you get through plagiarism/AI detectors. 


For fun, copy/paste this modified word into Google and see what results you get: расе.

SpookyBlocks Report

Final score:
27points
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RN
RN
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Until it becomes common knowledge and the plagiarism software starts checking for characters belonging to the wrong alphabet.

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#21

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius For entry level / lower level jobs, lie on your resume. Most places don’t have the time to check that you’re telling the truth. Put a friend’s phone number down as an “old boss”, or bump up your degree, whatever you need to do. Just make sure you actually have the skills you claim to have.

EDIT: agree with these comments that even if you don’t have the skills you claim to have, be willing to learn them FAST! That’s actually exactly what I did when I first got into my industry now that I think about it. They never suspected a thing lol.

Warm_Cricket_929 , Gabrielle Henderson Report

Final score:
25points
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BarkingSpider
BarkingSpider
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you use your friends and family for fake references, make sure to inform them of their role.

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#22

Back in the day I worked for Jerry's subs and pizza for a few months running deliveries, it wasn't uncommon that folks would call in pick up orders and just never show. At closing time it was up for grabs so on weekends my friends would call in a decent sized pick up order 30 mins before we closed and I'd show up to hang with the bros with eats in tow.

AKandSevenForties Report

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#23

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius I worked at a grocery store and saw the same 3 people show up all the time and steal stuff. The manager said there aren't even recordings for the cameras and they don't care if people steal. I started treating myself to lunch after that.

MistakeMysterious347 , Hanson Lu Report

Final score:
22points
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Andy Frobig
Andy Frobig
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was working overnight in a wholesale club. My manager was driving a forklift, I don't know if she was trained on it. She broke one of the smoked plastic bubbles hanging from the ceiling. I didn't see any camera parts in the debris so I said to her, "good thing that was a dummy." She said "They're all dummies!"

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#24

If you're any major city pick the nicest hotel you can find and walk in like you're staying there. Use the bathrooms as they are often very nice and with little pressure to rush. My primary source is the 4 seasons bathroom in downtown SF, top tier, has those tough paper towels that are so nice to use.

TheFellatedOne Report

Final score:
21points
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Gavin Johnson
Gavin Johnson
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was on holiday with my whole extended family, a short city break in Spain to celebrate my Grandparents diamond wedding anniversary. They, my grandparents, couldn’t care less, they’d stroll into any hotel / restaurant / posh looking establishment and just use toilet facilities or ask for a place to rest. As they were always polite, smiled and looked every one of their 80+ years they’d be treated like Royalty. Us young ‘uns couldn’t help but be impressed by their savvy 😀😂

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#25

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius For ubereats, mcdonalds, burger king, etc start like 20-30 accounts on their apps. Once they realize you have been inactive for a period of time they will almost always give you offers for free food, or like a burger for a dollar or whatever. Because i have so many accounts i can check through them and there is almost always ways for me to get a full meal for about 3-4 bucks at most. You can also use multiple accounts at the same time to make different orders and pick them up all at once if you really want a lot of basically free food, but thats a little more risky.

Ubereats regularly sends me 25 dollars off orders of 25 or more for the first order on a new account if i dont order anything on that account for a bit. Now you cant use the same card you have used on other accounts so you have to buy a cheap prepaid card each time.

If done right it ends up being like 20 dollars off any order of 25 because of the cost of purchasing the prepaid card. I do this regularly and order exactly 25 dollars of food which ends up being 5 dollars+fees+tip. Generally means i get to order 25 dollars of food from any restaurant for around 15 bucks all fees and tip included vs the 40+ it would be normally. Cheaper than going there or picking it up myself.

15 bucks for enough food to feed 3 people and have it delivered is pretty awesome. It takes a few steps but honestly not more than just starting a new email address and a quick stop on the way home for a cheap prepaid gift card.



For the accounts you have already used your first order deal on they will still send 40% off 3 orders of 25 dollars or more almost consistently on accounts that havent been used in a few weeks and i always have one on deck if the girlfriend and i want to order food on the weekend.

Panderverse , cottonbro studio Report

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#26

To quit smoking cigarettes, know that you can't smoke if you're asleep. It is extremely hard to give up nicotine, so I just bought a bottle of z quill and knocked myself out. I'd wake up feeling like s**t and groggy, but as soon as the craving came along, I just knocked myself out again. 


It's probably not the "healthy" way to quit, but it's healthier than being a smoker your whole life. I only did this for about 3 days, and after that you're over the hump. You don't feel the discomfort or the cravings if youre asleep all day. .

LilCornandbeans Report

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kissmychakram
kissmychakram
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stopped smoking over 3 years ago and I still get cravings occasionally. Certainly the 1st 6 months were terribly difficult so I suggest the above advice is unhelpful at best and absolutely stupid at worse.

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#27

I buy a lot of things on Amazon. And it happened that the delivery status doesn't work. So I got my package in my mailbox but Amazon sent a message saying that, as my package is late/or lost I can ask for a refund of it. I did it a few times so I got some pretty good stuff for free.

anon Report

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TheAmericanAmerican
TheAmericanAmerican
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8 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

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#28

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Bluffing on your resume about trending skills & experience - although make sure you are well-versed in the skills & aware of the fake experience.

Alter_Ego_Single_17 , Van Tay Media Report

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Raymond Smith
Raymond Smith
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As long as you can walk the walk and talk the talk. I been working for an aerospace and defense company for 17 years and can do the work with no college paper. I am self taught.

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#29

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius I have lied thru my teeth every time I have been sat on a jury to get out of it. Works every time.

Quiet_Ad328 , Billy Report

Final score:
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Andy Frobig
Andy Frobig
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually got on a jury, we heard opening arguments, went to lunch and the case was settled while we ate. It was cool

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#30

To get more ice cream at a shop, order a single scoop first then change your mind and tell them 2 scoops instead. The scoop for the second will be bigger if not same to match the first scoop.

Moon_Jewel90 Report

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DRMAGDN
DRMAGDN
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you order Chipotle in person you actually get more ingredients in your burrito or bowl than online. Read that they did a study somewhere.

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#31

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If you're looking for parking and you ended up somewhere where rows of cars got fined, just pull up, park your car, walk over to one of those cars, take the fine from their windscreen and put it on yours. Enjoy your day. .

BerakGoreng , Caspar Rae Report

Final score:
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DennyS (denzoren)
DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just make sure to put it back afterwards, don't want someone having a warrant...but then again, these are unethical hacks....carry on.

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#32

You don't actually have to be a violent sociopath to make people believe you can snap at any moment and make them behave accordingly.

UnoriginalUse Report

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#33

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius You can get into most places by wearing a maintenance uniform i.e cover alls a construction helmet+ vest and carrying a tool box or ladder. I would recommend a respirator and gloves. No more movie tickets needed.

dragonboysam , Guilherme Cunha Report

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Donkeywheel
Donkeywheel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s gonna be so comfortable to watch a movie with your 4 meters ladder on one side and your toolbox on the knees.

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#34

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius If I break something that is still available for sale, I go buy a new one, then return the broken one with the new receipt a day later, saying it only lasted a day. I've used this for video game controllers, toasters, blenders, vaccums, and a lot of items.

The store never questions it, and I get a new item for very little effort and no additional cost.

xsvspd81 , Andrew Valdivia Report

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#35

If you are in the middle of a war it is okay to buy and sell things on the black market. That includes buying and selling things like salt or met. The black market isn't always about things that are unethical like guns or d***s. Sometimes it can be about everyday items most of us have access to now.

You do you when the world around you is falling apart.

Dull-Geologist-8204 Report

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nancy
nancy
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to buy tampons on the black market in South Korea (30 years ago)... apparently unmarried women don't have access to them? It was bizarre.

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#36

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Petty judgemental attitude towards others to make you forget your low self esteem . Unethical but way too common.

slayclaycrash , Tim Douglas Report

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Canandelabra
Canandelabra
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jokes on them, I assume everyone dislikes me BEFORE they get the chance to judge me with pettiness.

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#37

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Flights around 9/11 are cheaper 👀.

redstarzer06ix , Oleksandr P Report

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#38

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius In the self-checkout aisle, you call the shots. Organic pears become regular pears. Organic apples become regular pears. Organic meat becomes regular pears; if you tear off the bar code.


The scanner is just a mindless machine, take control of your own destiny.

karajoyxoxo , mart945 Report

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Diana Lucas
Diana Lucas
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just theft. People doing this is why our local grocery store is getting rid of the self-checkout machines.

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#39

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Road signs are free you can just take em!

LaLiLuLela , Tim Mossholder Report

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#40

40 Hacks That Are Unethical But Pretty Genius Girl Scout cookies are able to be resold easily. Girl Scouts are terrible at spotting counterfeit currency.

ArchaicBrainWorms , Darren Halstead Report

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wowbagger
wowbagger
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried that but I look terrible in a Girl Scout uniform.

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