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Article created by: Saulė Tolstych

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.

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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

#1

The Cost Of Education

Classroom desks with school supplies, highlighting common items involved in big scams many people don’t realize. the cost of education

nathanielgallant , Chambre des Députés Report

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    #2

    Online Convenience Fees

    Person browsing an online group discussing big scams on a laptop with a can of Sprite on the table. Online convenience fees

    Vast-Anxiety-4066 , Michigan Municipal League Report

    #3

    Tipping Culture

    Money and coins placed on a tray beside a pot of soup, illustrating common big scams many people don't realize. 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

    #4

    The Entire Wedding Industry

    Rear window of a car decorated with colorful markers showing a wedding message, illustrating common scams around marriage. 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

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    #5

    The Promise Of A Golden Retirement

    Cluttered kitchen with microwave, jars, utensils, and various items, illustrating common household scams unnoticed by many. 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

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    #6

    Trickle Down Economics

    Red shopping cart tipped over on grass near sidewalk, illustrating common big scams people often don't realize. Trickle down economics.

    BarcodeNinja , James Droste Report

    #7

    Diamonds (Are Not Forever)

    Blue sapphire necklace displayed in a glass case, highlighting one of the big scams many people don’t realize. Diamonds.

    Puppycow , Julian Fong Report

    #8

    Subscription Models

    Money clip with Bitcoin symbol on top of folded 50 euro banknotes, illustrating big scams related to cryptocurrency and currency. The easy-to-join, difficult-to-cancel subscription model.

    anon , BTC Trinkets .com Report

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    #9

    Salaries

    Waiter in black apron serving appetizers to guests in formal attire at an event about big scams shared by an 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

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    #10

    Email Subscriptions

    Gmail booth at an event, showcasing Google’s email service during its beta phase with visitors seated nearby. Click here to unsubscribe to this email notification

    moonman2090 , Mario A. P. Report

    #11

    Fight Against Climate Change

    Protesters sitting and lying on grass holding signs about climate and politics, illustrating common big scams topics. 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

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    #12

    The Entire Fashion Industry

    Clothing rack filled with various dresses and jackets, illustrating common scams in fashion resale and thrift shopping. That the Fashion Industry is anything other than planned obsolescence, designed simply to get people to spend money for no reason.

    Goriuk , rjp Report

    #13

    Global Companies Declaring Care Of Their Customers

    KitKat chocolate bar advertisements in a subway station highlighting popular candy brands linked to big scams discussions. That large global companies actually care about you.

    FlashPan73 , Bycroft Boy Report

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    #14

    Glasses, Especially Expensive Ones

    A pair of eyeglasses resting on a white surface in front of a computer keyboard, highlighting big scams awareness. GLASSES we need pay too see, biggest scam

    Nightblast420 , Charles16e Report

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    #15

    Ticketmaster

    Event tickets from Ticketmaster stacked on a surface representing common big scams in online ticket purchases. Ticketmaster

    bigsz , nerdy girl Report

    #16

    Taxes And Everything Connected With Them

    People in costumes at a protest highlighting big scams, including a cookie monster and a character with a vampire mask. 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

    #17

    The Prices Of Anything Baby Related

    Children's clothing store window display with winter coats, festive decorations, and discount signs highlighting big scams. 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

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    #18

    Advertising On Paid Television

    Television screen with two hosts presenting content about big scams as shared by an online group, in a living room setting. Normal television, paying to watch ads!

    martram_ , Rafael Castillo Report

    #19

    Airlines Ticket Policy

    Airplane taxiing on runway surrounded by green fields and distant trees illustrating big scams discussed in 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

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    #20

    Hustle Culture

    Office workspace with desk, laptop, shelves, and hats, illustrating things that are big scams many people don't realize. Hustle culture

    BenjaminoBob , I am R. Report

    #21

    Religion

    Historic church building with intricate architecture and spires against a clear blue sky, illustrating big scams concept. Religion

    rabengeieradlerstein , Karl Baron Report

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    #22

    Church And Everything Connected With It

    Historic building with a green dome at sunset, symbolizing big scams often unnoticed by most people online. Mega Churches on TV and elsewhere.

    invalidpassword , shankar s. Report

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    #23

    Insurance And Everything About It

    Child's hands holding a few silver coins, illustrating the concept of big scams that most people don't realize. 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