The truth is out there...
Apr. 16th, 2005 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
azuriteSo today I went to the mall with Shaina and Brooke, my cousins... and boy, was this trip different from the others. One, I didn't feel like the black sheep/lone wolf (funny how those two mean the same thing, though under different circumstances. Wolves eat sheep, yanno?) because Shaina totally understood why I discriminate against stores and people who shop at extremely high prices.
I feel like I'm turning into my mother in that respect, but it's a good thing-- I'd rather be frugal and smart than too spendy and stupid. Being broke is never fun. I didn't buy anything but lunch, and I'm proud of myself for it. If I have one single trait, it's willpower.
The trip inspired me-- for so many things, and it's all Shaina's fault, and I'm really excited. I can't give any details, of course, because that would ruin everything (not like people are reading my journal to steal my ideas, right?). But if all goes well, you'll find out soon enough.
Also, it raises an important question: how do you know who or what to trust online, in terms of businesses, organizations, and those "too good to be true" deals. I usually make it a point to read EULAs (End User License Agreements) and such, but sometimes they're so long and filled with legalese... and then there's always the "just participate in ONE [or two] offers to get your free [insert something sooo amazing here]!" but there's always additional fees, membership, or something. X_X So how do you discern what's what? You can be the pessimist and just say nothing good comes for free, but that's untrue. On the flip side though, not everything that sounds like a scam *is.*
I used to check scams by going to the Better Business Bureau, but my grandfather made a good point-- the BBB is a company just like the places you're trying to investigate. How do you know that their recommendations are any more legit than the next person's? How do you spot a scam? Seriously.
Next, I have to complain quite seriously about somedipshit stranger by the SN of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pyronikari. I don't know him/her/it, or how they know me (Joe...? -_-) but they certainly had a lot of heated, senseless things to say about my posts on Japan, which were friends-locked for a reason. Said person accused me of "japophilism" (not a word, last time I checked the good ol' OED) and elitism, without backing up their claims with any proof. -_- Look, the person had me real riled up a few minutes ago when I replied to the post (my last unlocked post), but right now I'm trying to calm down and think straight. You hardly look mature when you sink to the level of a troll, after all. I might have already missed my chance to appear that way, but in the here and now, at this point, I'd rather just... not care. :)
Anyway, the big Pesach/Passover dinner is starting soon-- I'd better get dressed! X_X And made up, and ready to stuff my face... I wonder if there'll be anything birthday-ish for me somewhere in the details. It'd be nice... I suppose I've gotten spoiled this week with more attention than usual, and I feel like it's making up for all those years when my birthday events were shoddily planned or just plain bombed.
But this year is starting out so great-- lots of wishes, cool gifts, inspiration, and so much more. I have lots to be grateful for, more to accomplish, and then some x a billion. I don't like it when people try to ruin my good moods like this, so I'm just going to log now and stay as optimistic as possible.
I feel like I'm turning into my mother in that respect, but it's a good thing-- I'd rather be frugal and smart than too spendy and stupid. Being broke is never fun. I didn't buy anything but lunch, and I'm proud of myself for it. If I have one single trait, it's willpower.
The trip inspired me-- for so many things, and it's all Shaina's fault, and I'm really excited. I can't give any details, of course, because that would ruin everything (not like people are reading my journal to steal my ideas, right?). But if all goes well, you'll find out soon enough.
Also, it raises an important question: how do you know who or what to trust online, in terms of businesses, organizations, and those "too good to be true" deals. I usually make it a point to read EULAs (End User License Agreements) and such, but sometimes they're so long and filled with legalese... and then there's always the "just participate in ONE [or two] offers to get your free [insert something sooo amazing here]!" but there's always additional fees, membership, or something. X_X So how do you discern what's what? You can be the pessimist and just say nothing good comes for free, but that's untrue. On the flip side though, not everything that sounds like a scam *is.*
I used to check scams by going to the Better Business Bureau, but my grandfather made a good point-- the BBB is a company just like the places you're trying to investigate. How do you know that their recommendations are any more legit than the next person's? How do you spot a scam? Seriously.
Next, I have to complain quite seriously about some
pyronikari. I don't know him/her/it, or how they know me (Joe...? -_-) but they certainly had a lot of heated, senseless things to say about my posts on Japan, which were friends-locked for a reason. Said person accused me of "japophilism" (not a word, last time I checked the good ol' OED) and elitism, without backing up their claims with any proof. -_- Look, the person had me real riled up a few minutes ago when I replied to the post (my last unlocked post), but right now I'm trying to calm down and think straight. You hardly look mature when you sink to the level of a troll, after all. I might have already missed my chance to appear that way, but in the here and now, at this point, I'd rather just... not care. :)Anyway, the big Pesach/Passover dinner is starting soon-- I'd better get dressed! X_X And made up, and ready to stuff my face... I wonder if there'll be anything birthday-ish for me somewhere in the details. It'd be nice... I suppose I've gotten spoiled this week with more attention than usual, and I feel like it's making up for all those years when my birthday events were shoddily planned or just plain bombed.
But this year is starting out so great-- lots of wishes, cool gifts, inspiration, and so much more. I have lots to be grateful for, more to accomplish, and then some x a billion. I don't like it when people try to ruin my good moods like this, so I'm just going to log now and stay as optimistic as possible.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-04-17 02:05 am (UTC)Have a fantastical Passover ^_~
no subject
Date: 2005-04-17 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 08:44 am (UTC)-_-
Date: 2005-04-19 08:36 pm (UTC)Oh great, someone else to contaminate the already polluted SoCal atmosphere.If said guy bothered to back up any of his "points" with fact or proof, maybe I could agree. But he could have been polite about it, instead of calling me names and acting like a four-year-old.
Him, comments from him, etc. are no longer welcome on my journal.