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“Some People Have Real Life Problems”: Wealthy Woman Sparks Fallout After Trying To Live Like Everyone Else
Two women in deep conversation at a table with laptop, highlighting privilege and social challenges among friends.

"Oh God, Shut Up": Rich Woman Pretends To Be Poor To Learn Financial Responsibility

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Not everyone is privileged to grow up with money. And we can all agree that those who did already have fewer problems to deal with than those who didn’t, particularly when it comes to finances. 

That said, it can be off-putting to encounter someone from wealth who tries so hard to live as if they share the same worries as everyone else. This was the exact scenario among a group of friends when a rich kid tried to open up about incurring credit card debt from lavish living.

Can you guess how it all played out? Your presumptions are likely right on the money (no pun intended), but do scroll through to see how it all unfolded. 

RELATED:

    There’s nothing inherently wrong with coming from a wealthy family

    Image credits: Vitaly Gariev (not the actual photo)

    However, it became a problem with this friend group, where one of them grew up with money

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    Image credits: Vitaly Gariev (not the actual photo)

    The author, who was cut off by a friend for “acting ghetto,” wonders what she did wrong

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    Image source: anonymous

    Having money changes how a person thinks and feels about themselves and others

    Image credits: Getty Images(not the actual photo)

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    She may have asserted her supposed humility and understanding for her non-wealthy peers, but the author nonetheless appeared naive and sheltered because of her upbringing with money. 

    One of them appears to be the lack of empathy. 

    To demonstrate this, psychology professor Dr. Paul Piff conducted a Monopoly experiment in which one person would be the rich player and another the poor player. 

    In his interview with the American Psychological Association, rich players who had double the advantage began moving around the board “in a louder fashion” while completely becoming “less sensitive” to the plight of the poor players. 

    You can create this kind of rigged experience of privilege through the flip of a coin and get someone to experience that privilege and actually start to manifest as if they deserve that privilege in certain ways within an experience,” Dr. Piff noted. 

    Another study by researchers from Harvard and the University of Utah found that money tends to lead to unpleasant behaviors, regardless of the person’s true intentions. 

    As University of Utah professor and one of the study’s co-authors, Kristin Smith-Crowe, explains, “Even if we are well-intentioned, even if we think we know right from wrong, there may be factors influencing our decisions and behaviors that we’re not aware of.” 

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    Reading through the texts, you may also sense the author’s seemingly out-of-touch views on wealth disparity, especially when she said how she could pay off her credit card debt using her trust fund if she “needed to.” 

    While she may not have malice or arrogance behind her statements, the reactions from her friends who didn’t grow up under the same circumstances were understandable. 

    She will need to apologize to keep the friendship, but she also needs a reality check from those close to her.

    The author provided more information about her post

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    Many people in the comments called her out for being the jerk in the situation

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    Some people thought everyone was at fault

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    While there were those who sided with her

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    What do you think ?
    FluffyDreg
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone really needs to explain where the problem in OP trying to learn important life skills by forcing themselves into the deep end, and subsequently struggling as they figure it out is. They are a bit insensitive when it comes to flexing it, yes, but they arent commiting some crime...

    Jonas Fisher
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll explain, using your metaphor. OP (and her friends) are swimming in the deep end. Unlike her friends, though, OP has a platform underneath her that will not only support her weight, but will lift her entirely out of the water anytime she chooses. Yet, while there in the water, she's saying to these other people, "Wow! Swimming in this water is so hard, right? I don't know how much longer I'll be able to do it. I'm just like you guys!"

    Load More Replies...
    Seedy Vine
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think OP's parents are the big AHs here. Why have all that money and then refuse to teach your kids financial responsibility? They will ruin you in your old age that way! And in my experience, they aren't the first parents in the world to do this.

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    Mr. Jones
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A rich kid wanting to work for what she has is a GREAT thing! People calling her the a*****e are the a******s. She said she will not lean on her family bail her out. Everyone needs to STFU! Kudos to her for wanting to learn how to live on her own. It speaks volumes to her character. Nothing lasts forever and if all that money goes away, she will be able to survive and her brother probably has zero survival skills.

    Load More Comments
    FluffyDreg
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone really needs to explain where the problem in OP trying to learn important life skills by forcing themselves into the deep end, and subsequently struggling as they figure it out is. They are a bit insensitive when it comes to flexing it, yes, but they arent commiting some crime...

    Jonas Fisher
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll explain, using your metaphor. OP (and her friends) are swimming in the deep end. Unlike her friends, though, OP has a platform underneath her that will not only support her weight, but will lift her entirely out of the water anytime she chooses. Yet, while there in the water, she's saying to these other people, "Wow! Swimming in this water is so hard, right? I don't know how much longer I'll be able to do it. I'm just like you guys!"

    Load More Replies...
    Seedy Vine
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think OP's parents are the big AHs here. Why have all that money and then refuse to teach your kids financial responsibility? They will ruin you in your old age that way! And in my experience, they aren't the first parents in the world to do this.

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    Mr. Jones
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A rich kid wanting to work for what she has is a GREAT thing! People calling her the a*****e are the a******s. She said she will not lean on her family bail her out. Everyone needs to STFU! Kudos to her for wanting to learn how to live on her own. It speaks volumes to her character. Nothing lasts forever and if all that money goes away, she will be able to survive and her brother probably has zero survival skills.

    Load More Comments
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