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45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn’t Be

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The sign of a ‘good’ scam is that someone manages to weasel away your hard-earned cash from your wallet and you're left devastated. The sign of a great scam, however, is when the victim doesn’t even realize they’ve been swindled. Instead, they sit there with huge smiles on their faces, marveling at what a great deal they just got. All the while, someone’s laughing behind their backs.

Meanwhile, some things have become so ingrained into society that some folks don’t even stop to think whether their money would better be spent elsewhere. Redditor u/efd71f03 sparked an interesting thread after asking the internet about what people “refuse to view” as scams because they’ve been a part of the culture for so long. From engagement rings to Ticketmaster fees, scroll down to check out their most interesting insights. Bored Panda reached out to the author of the thread, u/efd71f03, and they were kind enough to share their thoughts on culturally-embedded scams with us. Read on to see what they had to say.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Trickle down economics

Final score:

344points

Charles Kormos 1 year ago

and anything else Ronald Reagan said.

15points

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#2

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be My grandmother won the lottery, twice.

Not huge, but decent, in the tens of thousands both times.

Both times (and 10% of her income) she tithed the whole amount to the Catholic church.

The Vatican is litterally made of gold and ivory, but they need my Grandma's paycheck? Her lottery winnings?

That's a scam if ever I saw one.

Knytemare44 , charcoal soul Report

Final score:

323points

Bernd Herbert 1 year ago

why would she do that?

50points

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#3

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be 40 hour work week. We should be on 32 hours and 3 day weekends. No loss in productivity.

MasteroChieftan , AlphaTradeZone Report

Final score:

321points

Dan Padgett 1 year ago (edited)

You aren't wrong. Has been trialled in certain parts of the UK. Those that trialled it have decided to keep it. Same salary, less stress, same productivity.

93points

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Redditor u/efd71f03 revealed to Bored Panda what the inspiration behind their thread was. According to them, they felt "annoyed about tipping in the USA" and that's what sparked the idea to start a discussion on r/AskReddit about all the things that people are so used to, they don't even consider whether they could be scams.

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In the OP's opinion, the best ways to avoid getting swindled include "getting educated about particular scams," as well as listening to your gut. "Remember the rule, 'if it's too good to be true, it probably is,'" they shared with us.

There are two main issues at work here when it comes to scams that become a part of a society's culture. The first is that people tend to behave in a way that matches what others around them do.

So, for example, if everyone’s talking about the importance of engagement rings and competing on whose is the biggest, shiniest, and most impressive one, you’re likely to feel a lot of peer pressure to conform. We value our status in society. We want to be respected and adored. It’s hard to go against the grain, especially when it comes to traditions because we yearn for social approval. And sometimes, that approval sparkles like an engagement ring.

According to Grand View Research, the diamond jewelry market was valued at 340.6 billion dollars in 2022, globally. Meanwhile, Verified Market Research valued the United States and Canadian diamond engagement ring market size at 28.6 million dollars in 2019. It’s projected to grow to 39.7 million dollars by the year 2027. In short, diamonds are big business.

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#4

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Donating money...

...to preachers with private jets

icrushallevil , ArtHouse Studio Report

Final score:

318points

James Edwards 1 year ago

How else are they going to pay for it?

24points

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#5

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Engagement rings that costs multiple months of salary and *must* be diamonds or else they are worthless.

That's a tradition that's not even 100 years old. It's just the result of an *insanely* effective ad campaign by the diamond industry.

ricochetpeestream , axecop Report

Final score:

287points

troufaki13 1 year ago

My perfect partner will propose to me with a kitty! ^.^

113points

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#6

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Private health insurance, you pay premiums every month only to find out it doesn't cover what needs to be done.

LettuceCapital546 , National Cancer Institute Report

Final score:

257points

D Destroyers 1 year ago

Good ol USA, lol

72points

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The second issue is that there is a lack of competition in the market. Ticketmaster has recently received a ton of criticism from music-lovers and high-ranking politicians for their business practices. The company is the world’s largest ticket seller and accounts for 70% of all tickets sold in the United States. Just recently, a Canadian law firm filed a class-action lawsuit against the company for inflating ticket prices for a Drake concert that is due to take place in July.

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The BBC reports that earlier in March, Robert Smith, The Cure’s frontman, criticized Ticketmaster because it charged additional fees that ended up costing more than the value of the tickets. When a company has so much power and influence, it doesn’t necessarily prioritize its customers’ welfare. However, many folks don’t have an alternative and continue to use its services.

Bored Panda asked u/efd71f03, the author of the thread, for their opinion as to why so many Americans continue to use Ticketmaster even though it's becoming increasingly more apparent that the company doesn't have its clients' best interests at heart.

In the redditor's opinion, it's because "they either don't care or don't have any other choice."

At the same time, u/efd71f03 noted that all cultures are different, so what might be entirely accepted in one country might seem rather peculiar in another. According to them, "the entire industrial system" could be seen as a scam, however, they pointed out that this is "more a philosophical matter."

#7

CEO's pay

Taupistan Report

Final score:

222points

Bron 1 year ago

An obscene scam!

39points

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#8

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Homeopathy.

It's 100% a scam, you're just getting filler tablets, I will fight you.

spike4379 , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report

Final score:

207points

Raumpfleger 1 year ago

I got a piece of blank paper in my wallet for pharmacists who try to sell me homeopathic products. Always tell them I'll take it, but will pay with this sheet of paper which is not money by itself but got the money-information from the real bills in the wallet. Hilarious faces guaranteed every single time!

113points

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#9

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Multi-level-marketing schemes.

GrownThenBrewed , Luis Quintero Report

Final score:

195points

Loverboy 1 year ago

They're everywhere too. Something as innocent as a makeup company could be an mlm.

26points

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Many of us like to think that we’re more intelligent than the average person on the street (hi, Dunning-Krugger effect!) and that we’d never fall for a silly old trick. However, nobody is completely immune to getting bamboozled or swindled, no matter if the scams are large or small.

Absolutely everyone is susceptible to scams and everyone can be a victim. Scammers know how people think and feel, so they create situations where they can manipulate their marks by pretending to be a friend or creating an atmosphere of fear. There are three main ways to protect yourself from scammers: staying calm, keeping a tight grip on what info you share, and educating yourself.

First of all, it’s all about being in control of your emotions. The more you rush, the more likely you are to make a mistake you'll later regret. If you get a call or a message from an unknown number about a loved one being in an accident or that your bank’s shutting down your account, for instance, you have to proactively slow down and prevent yourself from panicking.

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Get in touch with your family, friends, or neighbors so they can offer you another perspective. In our experience, two heads are always better than one, and a friendly local can prevent someone from falling prey to scammers. In the meantime, don’t click on any suspicious links, and don’t lose your head. Often, if something sounds too good or too awful to be true, it probably is.

#10

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Rent increases due to "market value" with no upgrades to the property.

HappyTimeHollis , Aaron Sousa Report

Final score:

184points

Nikki Sevven 1 year ago

The concept of "market value" is, in and of itself, a scam. I bought my small 2BR house in 1997 for $99k. I've made some minor upgrades, but there are major ones that need to be done (siding, roof, kitchen, bath). Zillow gives my house a market value of $260k, which is ridiculous.

6points

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#11

I suppose this has changed a bit in recent times but college textbooks are a massive scam. Costing hundreds of dollars to buy or even to rent and half the time you don't even use them.

HostileSkittles Report

Final score:

180points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

When I was teaching I never gave out a textbook, just my course notes which I'd work through. I was more interested in the kids knowing the concepts than making a buck on my own self-authored textbook, which is what a lot of these high-level profs do.

39points

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#12

College prices

Obscure_Things Report

Final score:

178points

Loverboy 1 year ago

College shouldn't have a price.

44points

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Secondly, keep a tight lid on what information you share with others, especially strangers. Don’t give out any details if you can because a crafty enough swindler can use it against you in the future. That can also mean cleaning up your online presence so that others have less raw data to work with.

And finally, it’s vital to stay up to date with the latest scams. At least in passing. Read the news, talk to your friends and colleagues to see what’s new. Scams are something that will continue to evolve until the end of humankind as we know it, so never have the illusion they’ll stop at some point and we’ll live in a scam-free world.

It’s a constantly ongoing fight against swindlers who adapt to an ever-changing world and find new ways to trick the vulnerable, naive, greedy, and scared. Meanwhile, the internet has given criminals new tools to do this. What's more, it's easier to trick someone when you never have to meet them face to face and look them in the eyes...

#13

Religion

aytaidunno Report

Final score:

170points

FluffyPanda 1 year ago

Religion can be used to harm people yes, and I’m not excusing that. But as a Jewish kid, I love my community, and of people was to believe in a higher power, that’s up to them. I personally don’t believe in god, but some of my family does. HOWEVER, religion is not an excuse to treat people like s**t. And don’t get me started with Christian Mega Churches. I do believe a lot of religion is very corrupt, but believing in a higher power and making a community out of it is not inherently bad.

61points

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#14

Ticketmaster fees

The_Wata_Boy Report

Final score:

170points

Solidhog 1 year ago

This should just say Ticketmaster. Should be in court for their robbery.

39points

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#15

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The American voting system (gerrymandering in particular)

Cat_o_meter , Chic Bee Report

Final score:

165points

Bonesko 1 year ago

I still think the electoral college is bulls**t. I know the reason, but it doesn't seem fair to me. "Everyone must vote, but we have tk make sure the riff raff makes the choice we want." 🙄

62points

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#16

US Healthcare

Simple-Pop-4965 Report

Final score:

152points

RomanceRadish 1 year ago

Insured? Good start, but not full guarantee of coverage. Uninsured? Very very bad position to be in.

16points

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#17

Fox News.

firesidefire Report

Final score:

146points

CHRIS DOMRES 1 year ago

FOX news in court says they are an entertainment show, not a news show. They say is should be obvious to anyone who watches that they make all that stuff up for entertainment. So does that mean the 50% of the population that believes FOX are all incapable of recognizing false news as being entertainment?

63points

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#18

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be I think most day to day things are now scams to a certain extent.

I mean if you look at a scam as something that’s in place to take unfair advantage of a person, then most facets of life are scams.

Even the most innocent concepts and programs can be viewed as scams, look at things like food donations to help the needy, maybe on the surface it’s not a scam… but it’s in place bc the way the current system is setup, it’s taking advantage of people and forcing others to step up and support them.

nunyabizz0000 , Joel Muniz Report

Final score:

144points

ThéviNinja 1 year ago

Tax refunds. I gave you an interest-free loan, and now I have to do the work to figure out what you owe me? At least pay me interest

27points

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#19

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Tipping: makes no sense to me as an European.

efd71f03 , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:

132points

Perry Sologia 1 year ago

No, tipping for good service makes sense. COMPULSORY tipping makes no sense.

106points

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#20

Micro purchases in video games

SludgeFactoryBoss Report

Final score:

128points

Jake Lewis 1 year ago

Spoiler alert, the game IS the scam

27points

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#21

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The concept that you work from 16 to 18 years of age, until 65-70 and somehow anything in between that is wrong. There is too much s**t interconnected to keep people slaving away only to blink and one day you’re 60.

Before someone tries to justify “well you should live within your means” or “save better”, realize that’s part of the problem. The only reason the retirement age keeps getting pushed back is to keep people working as long as possible since the life expectancy keeps going up. Imo.

Pure-Economics-8369 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

120points

Loverboy 1 year ago

A lot of people don't even get to retire.

54points

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#22

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be herbalife

brightstar9 , Eduardo Francisco Vazquez MurilloFollow Report

Final score:

116points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

sawdust shakes.

15points

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#23

Electoral College.

Sad-Raise-754 Report

Final score:

116points

Bonesko 1 year ago

YES! I posted on one earlier that I still think it's bulls**t. Like "your vote counts! We'll definitely consider it."

19points

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#24

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Tell you what. Property taxes - paying for what you already own? Now THAT'S a scam.

-Dee Reynolds

Rollthembones1989 , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report

Final score:

110points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

Property taxes are used by your local municipality to pay for workers to do things like remove garbage, fix the roads, fix the street lights and road signs, etc. There is a point to them. The problem I have with property taxes is that churches are exempt and schools aren't, in my country. I would like churches, especially evangelical megachurches, to pay taxes. Those guys are already millionaires/billionaires. SAfrica.

153points

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#25

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The fact that it’s very hard to find a job making any kind of decent money without going to college, yet you have to have a c**p ton of money to go to college

Money_Potato2609 , Gül Işık Report

Final score:

106points

Dan Padgett 1 year ago

Then when you graduate, they want experience. Experience you can only get with a job. So guess what.... Work for free. That can't pay your debt, so you work a side job to pay for that. It's a mess to say the least.

35points

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#26

Carbon offsetting.

Millionaire wants to offset his carbon use so he donates a percentage of his fortune to a climate charity who promises that every dollar he spends will allow him to continue to pollute at the levels he does.

Half of all these carbon offsetting charities don't actually reduce carbon emissions... or if they do they exaggerate by how much they do it.

So if a person gives $100K to one of these charities and they don't reduce emissions by the levels they say they do.... do the rich person still have to give more money or can he just pretend that he's done enough?

garlicroastedpotato Report

Final score:

95points

Loverboy 1 year ago

Money can't fix everything. If you have billions of dollars, I feel like you're morally obliged to spend a large portion of that giving back to your planet.

18points

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#27

diamonds. I'm sure people can create much much cheaper artificial gems that will look more fancy than diamonds (not to mention actual artificial diamonds which are cheaper too)

i_lick_icicles Report

Final score:

94points

Bonesko 1 year ago

I never really cared for diamonds. My boyfriend bought me a ring with a moonstone and I love it!

4points

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#28

Valentine’s day

Hackerjurassicpark Report

Final score:

94points

Loverboy 1 year ago

For me, it's just an excuse to buy a bunch of candy and food. You should treat your partner the same on every other day.

27points

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#29

Private health insurance. The layer of expensive bureaucracy and ludicrous profits make healthcare unaffordable for many and clog up emergency rooms, which jack up rates to subsidize those who can't afford the often unnecessary level of treatment. But less expensive family doctors won't see you without insurance.

mekonsrevenge Report

Final score:

88points

Laura Lett 1 year ago

Hate my insurance company.

11points

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#30

Insurance, that cant even covered your bills.

SaintLeoAioliaa Report

Final score:

87points

Bonesko 1 year ago

Honestly, I think it's cheaper to not get insurance and wing it, (if you don't have a chronic condition.) If I break my arm I'm f**ked anyway. Might as well save a few hundred bucks a month

18points

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#31

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The so called American Dream.

Super-Diver-1266 , Edgar Colomba Report

Final score:

87points

RH-8514 1 year ago

"It's called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it" -George carlin

7points

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#32

Electric cars - Have you ever heard of ethically mined cobalt? That's because it doesn't exist.

littleladybug33 Report

Final score:

87points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)

petrol is refined oil mined in the middle east mostly. It props up mostly theocratic dictatorships, and causes most of the middle east political turmoil. Take your pick.

28points

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#33

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The lottery. Just state sponsored gambling for poor people

Dbonzai12 , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:

85points

Dan Padgett 1 year ago

Doesn't stop me getting jealous when someone wins. I don't play, never have but get annoyed when someone wins. The human brain is perplexing.

19points

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#34

Bottled water.

SpartacusMantooth42 Report

Final score:

83points

Marzipanda 1 year ago

Then there are products now on store shelves called Smart Water, Just Water, etc. I presume they are a notch up from Garden Hose Water, but that might just be the water from the Grade School Fountain That Jimmy Spit In talking.

20points

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#35

Catholicism in Poland. It exist only to leech from poor and uneducated, a "lost" generation that was raised during communism regime.

Raul_Endy Report

Final score:

81points

The Scout 1 year ago

It could be debated if this really is still Catholicism. It is centered a lot on things like political conservativism, mysticism and a hyped-up veneration of Virgin Mary that some might find cult-like.

11points

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#36

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be People forced to get married. Or else your relationship is not valid.

Lets be honest. The prices of a classic wedding are insane. And all for one day and mostly to impress others.

GoodAlicia , Emma Bauso Report

Final score:

77points

Perry Sologia 1 year ago

Getting married is not the same as having an expensive wedding.

143points

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#37

ATM Surcharge

an0nym0uswr1ter Report

Final score:

69points

Bron 1 year ago

In Australia, you own bank ones are free, withdrawing cash while shopping is also free.

8points

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#38

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Prom

School sports

School rings

All the things above require money spent by young people (by proxy, their parents).

It's all what's known as "induced demand". When you get can't get money out of adults, you move further down to their kids.

Saturday morning cartoons had commercials and employed the "nag effect" where the kids nagged their parents to death to buy them the toys that were advertised.

With "important" things like prom, sports, rings, for older kids, these are all a more nuanced or subtle form of the nag effect. By promoting this concept of "school spirit", kids feel compelled to be part of the in-group and do what everyone else is doing. The schools condone it, they sponsor it, and the businesses that spring up in the periphery around it reap all the rewards. *And they heavily gouge these kids (and their parents).* Dress and suit rentals and stores. Limo rentals. Sports supply and equipment stores. Jewelers who sell the rings. All of it heavily marked up, of course, because the kids **must** have these things.

So now everyone is told that if they don't go to prom, that's so sad. If they don't get involved in sports or do other things, that's so sad. If you don't get a school ring, that's so sad. Although I think the school ring is started to go away, right?

I say all of this as a former photographer who knows very well the demands of school seniors and their photos (I don't do them, it took one or two to make me hate it). They couldn't care less if it wasn't for instagram and the entire industry feeding off this need for validation. I mean, we didn't when I was a senior.

Oh and don't even get me started on weddings...

Engelgrafik , Todd Cravens Report

Final score:

69points

Daenarys 1 year ago

And it's gotten even more out of hand now. When I was a kid and played little league softball the team provided all the equipment except your glove and shoes. Now, all the kids come to school with at least 2 bats, their own batting helmet, and some of the catchers have all their own gear. It's ridiculous how much money parents must spend on their kids' sports, especially when they are still growing and that equipment will have to be replaced almost every year.

15points

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#39

Tipping.

And astrology.

KingCeasar666 Report

Final score:

67points

Rocco MZ 1 year ago

I love how people don't believe in Astrology, but pray to an invisible man in the sky.

40points

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#40

Extended warranties.

kellyelliott63 Report

Final score:

64points

Otto Katz 1 year ago

LOL. 35 years ago, or so, I bought an extended warrantee on my dishwasher. the timer on it went 6 times. I got it replaced 6 times. All covered under the warrantee. And the dishwasher wouldn't run without the timer, it was part of the electronics. Best thing I ever did. (almost)

3points

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#41

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be The government being accountable for how our money is spent.

BOMBSHELL_ALERT , Sora Shimazaki Report

Final score:

62points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

yep, I wonder if people actually got to vote on the budget if they'd approve so much military spend.

20points

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#42

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Chopping a chicken wing in half and selling it as two wings.

Darkroomist , Leonardo Luz Report

Final score:

62points

JoMeBee 1 year ago

The price of wings! They used to be basically scrap! Now they can be more expensive than the prices with actual meat on them!

25points

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#43

Chiropractors.

grrrrumble Report

Final score:

57points

James Edwards 1 year ago

This one cracks me up!

62points

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#44

Funeral homes

fertdingo Report

Final score:

57points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

yep. Burn and go. Waste of money the whole thing. Don't even bother with a casket. Just shroud, burn, and do something with the ashes. Probably scatter at their favourite place or whatever.

23points

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#45

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Having children

imnew_here_helpme , August de Richelieu Report

Final score:

41points

Dan Padgett 1 year ago

I reckon if people could look into the future and see how hard it can be, the population crisis would be solved. I have kids, love them but holy hell sometimes it's hellish.

28points

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#46

Wall street shenanigans.

dafrstofus Report

Final score:

27points

Bols 1 year ago

I think "wall street" is just enough

8points

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#47

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Student teaching. You pay the college tuition, have to secure and pay for a place to live, often have to get a vehicle, and then agree to not have any outside employment during the semester long assignment. They want you to focus on learning how to become a teacher is the argument but unless you have alternate means of support it's not feasible for many. And folks wonder why young people are not pursuing this option. It's the first of many issues with how teachers are educated and trained

TeacherLady3 , ICSA Report

Final score:

26points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

Student teachers are the original unpaid interns.

1point

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#48

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Weight watchers or slimming world

fodmap_victim , Andres Ayrton Report

Final score:

23points

Rocco MZ 1 year ago

My cousin lost 60lbs on WW and has stuck with the program. She's kept the weight off and it's been 10 years. I think it's too expensive, but it does work. I know many who lost weight on WW.

8points

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#49

Microtransactions

Decimusczf Report

Final score:

22points

#50

Capitalism

Final score:

21points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

sort-of. I don't think that letting people create their own companies, make products/services, and selling them, is a scam. That's the core of capitalism. However, when you sell "shares" in the company to someone, and do not gives shares to your workers who produce your products/services, and you start gambling with share prices, then yes. But that's the stock market. Not capitalism per se.

8points

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Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

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#51

Ponzi schemes are still seen as legitimate investments in some cultures. #scam #culture

Any_Philosopher4036 Report

Final score:

20points

#52

Communism. (“This time it will work. I’m sure of it!”)

Ok_Yogurtcloset2398 Report

Final score:

18points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

I reckon if I didn't have to earn a living and the state would sponsor anything I came up with, e.g. innovations, I'd be quite happy to live in communism. The trouble is human nature, we are greedy and communism, like capitalism, etc., descends into plutocracy/oligarchy or both.

14points

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#53

Paying "book time" at the mechanic. Basically every type of repair is categorized and given an amount of time that it should take to complete. The people who write this book are very generous to the mechanic with many 5 minute fixes being billable for 0.75-1 hour and 1-2 hour fixes being billable for 5+ hours. Industry people see it as completely normal.

Smyley12345 Report

Final score:

17points

Florence O'Grady 1 year ago

I think that this person is not a mechanic has never worked on a car. Neither have I. I am though a delivery driver and I deliver car parts for a living. I've been to over 100 different places with car parts. Most on a pretty regular basis. I have found out cars can be harder to fix than non-mechanics understand. People choose not to follow the manufacturer 's recommendations on the proper upkeep of their vehicle and not following the common sense rules of driving cause most of not all mechanical issues. At least from what I have heard from the mechanics I've spoken with. Yes vehicle makers do sometimes produce s****y vehicles. But it is usually the person who owns the vehicle who causes most of the problems the mechanic has to fix.

8points

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#54

dating apps

raman1972 Report

Final score:

17points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)

not at all, just be very careful which one you pick and watch out for scammers on them (catfish). They work well for me.

3points

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#55

Interest and the entire banking system.

Cypher032 Report

Final score:

17points

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“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

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#56

US Stock market

Final score:

17points

Vicki Cunningham 1 year ago

I've been saying that for years. It's mostly fake money. Someone says the wrong thing and instantly your millions are worth nothing.

1point

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#57

the bank is a safe place to store money

Available_Let_1785 Report

Final score:

16points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DT7bX-B1Mg

2points

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#58

Entry level customer service jobs.

KingofDerdeb Report

Final score:

16points

#59

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be ‘Temporary’ tax

Bending_toast , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report

Final score:

15points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

never heard of this?

7points

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#60

drink prices at bars.

theyamayamaman Report

Final score:

15points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

The price is to make the place profitable so that it can afford to run and pay its rent. Whether the profit margin is excessive can't be speculated on. You'd need to look at the quality of life of the owner of the bar; is he struggling, or comfortable, or a fatcat?

2points

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#61

Buying life insurance when you’re not married and don’t have dependents. Stupidest decision you can make as a 20 year old early on life. What a waste of money and payments going down the drain

Former_Catch302 Report

Final score:

14points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

unless you work in a high-risk industry and your parents might benefit from your payments if you are killed. Likewise if you are permanently disabled at work or doing an action sport and need to be put onto a pension for the rest of your life, then no. All insurance is worth it in my view.

6points

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Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

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#62

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be A lot of college degrees/courses

Edit: apparently, some people are telling me that what I am saying is wrong and that useful degrees exist. Let me clarify:
I said *’A lot’*
Here’s the definition:
**lot**
/lät/
*pronoun*
a large number or amount; a great deal.

I did **not** say *’all’*
Here’s the definition:
**all**
/ôl/
*predeterminer · determiner · pronoun
determiner:* all; pronoun: all
used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing

‘A lot’ ≠ ‘all’
Ex:
“I do not like a lot of types of cheese” ≠ “I do not like all types of cheese”, “I do not like a lot of dogs” ≠ “I do not like all dogs”

I am not saying all degrees or courses are useless or a scam, I’m saying a lot of them are. Yes, I am in college pursuing an Engineering degree. I have taken chemistry, physics, math, and others courses. They are useful. I see people pursuing degrees in biology, psychology, chemistry, etc. those are useful. However, there are other courses that are not useful.

budoucnost , ICSA Report

Final score:

13points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

I'm not sure which other courses are not useful? Let's say philosophy or religion, for example, or classics (latin /greek/ roman culture etc). Tell me, what is so important about western society that the West wants to defend it against say, Russia or China? Or seeing Islamic State as a threat? I mean... the only significant difference between these cultures is... their culture. So if you think philosophy, religion, classics, et.c, is not important... why bother arguing when the Russian or Chinese army shows up? Just say ok cool we'll be Russian/Chinese now? See my point? Your alleged "worthless" courses are culture, they are WHAT MAKES UP your very being "western". You can talk about "Free market capitalism" if you want, that's not actually much different to what china has, except they clamp down on co's that step out of line, unlike USA. So perhaps the diff is culture. Without classics USA would not have frats at universities. Buildings in Wa.D.C would not have fluted columns. etc

2points

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College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

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#63

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be McDonald's happy meals. Does it really bring happiness and fulfillment? Or just diabetes...

r0cket_Noodle , Hilda Solis Report

Final score:

13points

Petra Schaap 1 year ago

do you think one Happymeal brings diabetes?

4points

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#64

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Taxes on your incomes + taxes on what you buy

Taxes to drive a car + taxes to park the car

In France we have a tax on a tax : we have a tax that is calculate on your income before another tax is levied !

Kerlutinoec , Oran Viriyincy Report

Final score:

11points

Samuel Pelatan 1 year ago (edited)

They mix everything : In France we don't have tax over tax. When you get paid you have a brut amount of money, some of it goes to tax (the state), some of it goes to solidiarity structure (unemployment, pension, healthcare, etc...). And what's left is yours, period. People being mad at taxes and not at profit don't make much sense in general anyway

11points

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#65

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Engagement rings for sure.
Also, most small fines, parking tix, etc

ThirstyGherkin , Caitlin Regan Report

Final score:

8points

Petra Schaap 1 year ago

parking tickets? Just park like you should, its not rocket science.

16points

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#66

2-4+ dollars for a cup of coffee with breakfast. Growing up, coffee came as part of breakfast. Now I drink water wirh breakfast at restaurants, then make a pot of coffee at home.

abby_normally Report

Final score:

7points

Ace 1 year ago

You're confused if you think that the coffee is a scam but continue to go to a restaurant for breakfast. Why not just have that at home as well as the coffee?

17points

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#67

Renting

lobster-overrun Report

Final score:

4points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

Not really. I prefer to rent as I like being able to just ditch the place and go. I always opt for a month-to-month contract even if they charge more, so I can ditch at any time. With a house there's a huge fuss with ownership transfer and lawyers if you want to sell and move. I like the flexibility.

6points

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#68

45 Examples Of Scams That Have Become Socially Acceptable But Shouldn't Be Pensions systems in many European countries.
It's basically a Ponzi scheme.

JavitoMA , Gustavo Fring Report

Final score:

3points

Samuel Pelatan 1 year ago

The system with capital, yes. In France we built and maintain the institution responsible for our pension. It's not a Ponzi scheme but an institution protecting our rights.

4points

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#69

Souvenir stores.

Final score:

0points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

I don't think so. As someone who has travelled quite a lot, I like them.

12points

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#70

Social programs. They are touted as “free”. But you, your kids, their kids, and their kids will pay for it. And it’s always a bloated, poorly managed government thing.

BellyScratchFTW Report

Final score:

-22points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

you must be american. Go live in europe for a bit. I was in the uk as a non-citizen and still got good healthcare from this alleged bloated social programme.

15points

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Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Ieva Pečiulytė

I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

What do you think ?

Carrie de Luka 1 year ago

Same old, same old. These things come up time and time again on BP. Even worse when they don't remove the duplicated (or more) entries.

12points

MP 1 year ago

Same thing I thought. Complaining about the same issues over and over and over again.

3points

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Barong 1 year ago

Some of these are legit scams. Some are just whining and complaining about costs, charges, taxes, or pure simple choices people make. Many of the prices for these are truly justified. I know it’s different original posters but it seems like complaining about taxes and on the same breath complaining that services should be free.

6points

Jake Lewis 1 year ago

Every product in every ad on Bored Panda

6points

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Carrie de Luka 1 year ago

Same old, same old. These things come up time and time again on BP. Even worse when they don't remove the duplicated (or more) entries.

12points

MP 1 year ago

Same thing I thought. Complaining about the same issues over and over and over again.

3points

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Barong 1 year ago

Some of these are legit scams. Some are just whining and complaining about costs, charges, taxes, or pure simple choices people make. Many of the prices for these are truly justified. I know it’s different original posters but it seems like complaining about taxes and on the same breath complaining that services should be free.

6points

Jake Lewis 1 year ago

Every product in every ad on Bored Panda

6points

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