Polite Paradise

Like, if I could have a magical genie, or win the lottery (without, you know, ever playing) and get enough money that I could quit my job and still live a nice life, I would definitely do that. (Some people find great satisfaction in working--like my mom is retired but still works 2-3 days a week, and adds on committees and clubs to keep herself busy.) So I understand the desire. But I would be so freakin' embarrassed to ask people to give me money, when it was reasonable that I could find a job and support myself. Don't people ever say anything to them? Don't they feel any shame when they hear stories about other people who are truly hurting, because they physically can't work or whatever? This is one of the times when you should care about what other people think of you.

I know, I know, we all know the answers to those questions already... Just, who puts up with those people, and why? They need a good shunning. Like, not jail, not stoning, not DEATH, just... "Yeah, I don't want to hang out with you anymore." From everyone they know.

I feel exactly the same way! i just don't get it. A former CW used to tell me stories about her SIL and her SIL's family. Who pretty much did as little as they could, but expected everyone to "help out" anytime they needed, or more often, wanted something they couldn't afford.

i say IF i ever won the lottery, i'd have to do something. volunteer etc., not work FT but i need that structure and discipline in m life.

It is funny, isn't it, how most those of us who work like the structure it provides. Maybe we'd like fewer days or hours or another type of work but the division between those who work and those who refuse to (or try not to) is rather large. My sister and I fit that description so well. She thinks of work as hateful, a waste. I think of it as wonderful, but of course I have a boss who is beyond super. It's not my dream job but it fits my lifestyle. I am browsing that Reddit thread someone mentioned above and I came across this, which has me laughing so hard:

Looking for a part-time job .. I need to make $500 a week. I can only work Thursday and every other weekend .. Unless it's nice outside. Then I will need off with pay. TIA. Any leads are helpful.

There are 68 comments. I suspect a lot will not be nice. But I'll read on anyway. Where do people come up with ideas like this? Who raised them to think such things actually exist? Do they know anyone who has such an arrangement?

 

I wish we had an eye-roll symbol I could click for some of these stories!

I also like structure. I'm not super-enthused about my job, but it's a good job for me--it fits my lifestyle, as Amara says. I tend to be very structured about my hobbies, too--I have plans and goals and lists for them. It makes me feel very satisfied. So if I ever had the chance to live comfortably job-free, I know I would set up a new schedule, where I worked on each hobby a certain amount each day, or accomplished certain goals with them. It would be the same sort of structure work gives me now, but I would be getting more done on things I enjoy.

Of course there are other reasons to work. And, I think there must be jobs that don't have so much structure, that appeal to people who like a little more freedom. But, in pretty much every job you have to be reliable--reach the goals that are set, do what you said you would do, produce work to a certain quality. In job education programs, like for ex-cons, they don't emphasize the skills they need for a particular job, like electrician stuff--they emphasize the need to show up on time, get your work done well, communicate when you won't be there, etc.. The technical skills, you can learn on the job. Employers don't want someone who isn't reliable, though, no matter how brilliant they may be in some other way.

I have a friend who always uses gofundme. Her latest gofundme was so that we could pay for her Disney World Honeymoon. (She doesn't work for health reasons, which I have no problem with). A lot of people were put off by this - yes, a honeymoon is lovely, but sometimes it has to wait.

My husband and I have been married since February 2014, and we just had our honeymoon at Mount Rushmore in June of this year. We couldn't afford a honeymoon when we first got married, so we waited until we had the money. Our honeymoon was incredible.

Ugh. I hate that. We ALL want things. But can't always have them. I went on an amazing trip for my 50th bday. Which was almost 3 years ago. I actually went almost a year after my actual bday. Because that allowed me time to save money to do a trip the way I wanted to. I haven't been on another vacation since but am hoping to do one next year sometime. Would I like to take one or two a year? Absolutely, but myu bank account won't allow me to. So I don't.

This is a serious alert:

I just received a warning from my local sheriff's office about scams here that apparently swarming like mosquitoes in the Carolinas. Though this information is local, I think it likely it will be useful to anyone because I am sure it is or soon will be showing up elsewhere.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office wants to warn residents that we are receiving a large number of reports of various yet familiar phone scams. These scammers are going to great lengths right now to trick anyone and everyone they can into giving them money. Please be careful. Just in the past 24-hours, Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatchers have received reports of a Virtual Kidnapping scam and several reports of the Southern California Edison (SCE) scam. In that particular scam, the caller claims to be from SCE and threatens to shut off the resident’s electricity if a payment is not received over the phone. We also have received numerous reports of a scam where the caller poses as an actual Sheriff’s deputy, even using the name of a Lieutenant currently employed by the Sheriff’s Office. In that scam, the caller tells the resident that there is a bench warrant issued for their arrest because they did not show up for jury duty. Dispatchers also are receiving reports about cyber-tech scammers who claim they can fix or upgrade your computer software if you give them your financial information.

The virtual kidnapping scam is one of the most alarming phone scams that we see. In this particular scam, the caller claims to have kidnapped a family member or friend and demands a ransom payment for their release. While no actual kidnapping has taken place, the callers often use co-conspirators to convince their victims of the legitimacy of the threat. For example, a caller might attempt to convince a victim that his daughter was kidnapped by having a young female scream for help in the background during the call. They will typically provide the victim with specific instructions to ensure the safe “return” of the alleged kidnapped individual. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision. The Sherif f’s Office wants to remind the public that these are scams and if you receive a phone call from someone demanding a ransom for an alleged kidnap victim and you suspect it is a scam, hang up the phone, immediately contact family members and notify law enforcement. If you receive a virtual kidnapping call, please report it to the FBI PAL line at 310-477-6565.

We do not want to see any of our residents become a victim of these cowardly scams and urge you to never give your personal or financial information out over the phone. If you receive any phone call where you are being asked for money or identifying information, you should immediately hang up and call the Sheriff’s Office or any other agency where the caller claims to be calling from to verify the information. Do not be fooled by your caller identification, even if it appears that the number is coming from the Sheriff’s Office or an 805 area code. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information. The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind residents that our agency does not call residents over the phone to notify them of a warrant nor do we take any payments of any kind over the phone.

StinkyFeet: So she hasn't figured out that calling people bastards and motherfuckers really isn't going to earn her any brownie points?  Secondly, I treat gofundme like a charity - I donate if I want to donate.

My gabber is flasted...    

from r/ChoosingBeggars

Outrageous. But not in my opinion particularly shocking. I say that because religion has been used for so much fraud, war, hatred, killing and more over the centuries. Are there good people. Yes! Thankfully, a lot, like my parents. But I do not trust religion and have very strong negative feelings over Catholicism since I was raised in that religion but got out when I began to question it at age 13.

This time of year brings out the scammers and beggars and moochers in droves. Even now, with the three wildfires going in California, there are what I believe to be a lot of scammers, people posting on a Crisis Response FB page set up ( https://www.facebook.com/crisisresponse/the-woolsey-fire-in-southern-california-usa-nov08-2018/support/ ). Most people are sincerely trying to help. But there are regular posts from people saying "I have a GoFundMe" page so send me money and I'll make sure it gets donated." HA! I flag them every time I see them but I hate this. CraigsList too is full of this ****. If you ever read their Wanted page you'll see November and December are full of "I just need some money, I have nothing, boohoo, the kids ..."

So watch out!