Is it OK for consumers to make a stand?

As stores increasingly promote environmentally-friendly practices and impose additional charges for plastic bags, is it acceptable for consumers to take a principled stance by refraining from making a purchase unless the charges is waived off? Is it seen as petty behavior?

Context: Purchased a $34.50 candle and was charged additional 20 cents for a plastic bag.

I did not make a fuss, I just said I don’t want the item anymore at the cashier. It is not about the cost of the bag but my principle.

Netizens’ comments

1. The main problem i see it as the shop should not be profiting from charging for a plastic bag. It’s fine with me if it goes to some green charity. Not profit for the company.
2. at this point I don’t think there’s much we can amount too. tho I have been more aware of my purchases ever since and sometimes I do decide against buying things because of the dumb bag charge, maybe if there is a visible decline in spending theres a chance.
3. Lol not much of a stand. Is it petty? i guess? It is wrong to have a change of mind? No.
4. Cashier probably dont care either way, they arent the one making the policy nor will they feedback to the boss about “lost of sale”
5. You spend 15 mins to go to the shop, browse the items, q for the cashier then don’t buy. Whose time are you wasting?
6. The point is; take your own bag(s) next time, and you won’t come across to the poor service staff (who have to put up with your entitled attitude) as a bit of a prat for dumping your shopping at the last minute.
   It’s not the service staff who make the charge of 20 cents, but it is them who get the brunt from petty crap like this.
   Don’t want to pay 20 cents for a bag? That’s great! Nothing wrong with that. Bring your own plastic bags with you, and you’ll never pay for another bag again.
   Simple.

Boss threatens to fire me if I don’t smile

I 26F work in a company, my job is all the behind the scenes work, so I never deal with customers or even have to go to events.

Because my job requires me to think a lot, my concentration face looks kinda like this emoji 😐 and this emoji 🤔 mixed together.

I have a highly stressful job. Anyway, he told me he would fire me if I don’t smile while I’m doing my job. The ironic thing is, I do my job the best and get praised by the vice, who said they’ll not let me get fired.

However, I decided I’ll find another job. But my co-workers are begging me to stay. Even one said that if I leave, they’ll leave too. But why do I need to smile ???

Netizens’ comments

1. Does he have male subordinates?
   Just ask him how many of them he asks to smile.
   • (OP) Our company is mostly males. But I realise I’m the only female he ask to smile (that I’m aware of)
2. can you do the creepiest, lifeless serial killer smile?
3. If you do get a new job, when letting him know you’ll be quitting, also inform him he’s a pig and he should F off. And be sure to ….Smile while doing it.
4. Ask him – in an email – to clarify that comment – in writing – so that you understand exactly what his expectation is and why it’s related to your job.
5. Ugh, I could have written this exact thing when I was 26! Except that it was a woman boss who complained that I had “a face on.” I was busy! And concentrating!
6. If you’re sociable, you’re too social. If you concentrate on your work – because that’s what you’re there to do – they complain that you’re antisocial. It’s a bullshit game of petty, unhappy ppl that want to drag you down. Those ppl SUCK.

Now scared to even open pdfs

Apparently my friend send me this about someone she knows.

The scammers have changed their modus operandi. They don’t ask you to download the app. My neighbour told me, yesterday, her sister (a cancer patient)wanted a part time helper to clean her house.

Hence, she went to Facebook. Called the number and made the request. The advertiser asked whether she had a Paynow and she said that she had.

He directed her to make the partial payment and he will send the invoice to confirm. (Note:He did not ask her to download an app as people are getting alert).

When she received the invoice on the PDF format, she did not suspect any foul play and clicked it. The invoice showed the amount paid and the balance to be paid. Thereafter, she went to sleep.

Next morning, her phone could not be switched on. She used her lap top to check her DBS bank account. Her $20K was gone, her 2 fixed deposits of $25K , which had not reached the maturity date was also gone. Total loss was $ 70K.

When she went to the bank and asked why her fixed deposit was also gone, the receptionist told her that digital banking allows you to transfer the amount back to your account to facilitate withdrawals without going to the bank.

Police told her the malware was embedded in the PDF document. So folks, beware that the scammers are always changing their modus operandi

Netizens’ comments

Fyi, you can use a different PDF reader like SumatraPDF on Windows to prevent embedded malware from running. For Android, you can use an alternative PDF reader like ReadEra or Foxit PDF Editor.

However, it is extremely unlikely that she really received a PDF file that has embedded malware. What most likely happened is that the user clicked a link on the PDF file thinking it will redirect to PayNow, but instead it directed the user to download and install an APK file. After installation, the app asked for their login details, which is game over by then. To be clear, after this, the attacker has login password + control of 2FA device, and can now login directly on iBanking website and bypassing any mobile app checks. This is why hardware tokens (or alternative solutions like physically going to ATM to authenticate large transfers) will solve the issue.

Embedded malware exploits the vulnerabilities in the PDF reader (usually Adobe PDF Reader) to escape the Android application sandbox and run malicious code. Using a different PDF reader solves the issue because the embedded code is usually targeted at popular apps like Adobe Acrobat. Since the exploit does not work when you use a different PDF reader, the embedded malware code will not run.

EDIT: Many YouTube channels were hacked by using such techniques on Windows via stealing the session token from Chrome browser. LinusTechTips is one of them. The PDF file was not actually a PDF file but an executable file with “.pdf.exe” and icon looks like the Adobe PDF icon. As of today (21 Oct 2023), I’ve never heard of such embedded malware PDF exploits on Android yet.

A man was left in a lurch after his date ended things with him after consulting a temple stating that they are “not suitable”.

Here is his story:

Breakup due to parents superstition. Anyone encounter this issue?

Met and dated a girl from online dating app for almost 2 months, recently just met her parents. But out of sudden, she told me that her parents went to ask temple said we not suitable.

Wanted to breakup. Both of us 33 years old. Not really sure an excuse or what.

Any advice?

Here are what netizens think:

• When u get a diagnosis from 1 doctor. If its not something good, confirm u will seek 2nd and 3rd opinion.. so u can go Few more temple..

• Do you want parent in-law like that?But they don’t want you to be their son in law. Find the one who welcome you wholeheartedly.P.S. If she really loves you, do you think she will care about this superstitious belief? I married my husband who is 100% incompatible on any science of superstitions. We are together 22 years. She doesn’t want to work it out with you. That’s it. Good luck

• Excuse or not don’t matter already. Just accept that she don’t want to see you anymore.

• Win liao lor, use this as excuse, what else can u do, find another temple to prove her parents wrong?

• it is an excuse if her parents dont know your birth sign and then suddenly know u r incompatible.but either way, it is true that she does not want to continue dating you. find someone else.

My (23M) girlfriend (23F) asked me if I would get a vasectomy and I initially told her “probably not” and now she’s upset with me and is considering this in our relationship and doesn’t want to talk.

We are in long distance relationship and she asked me this out of the blue in a Facetime call. I told her I honestly didn’t even know what a vasectomy initially was so she explained it to me that same call. After explaining she asked me if I would do one and I told her “probably not” and now she’s upset with me and won’t reply to me.

After she hung up, I went ahead and spent a few hours reading articles and blogs to educate myself about the benefits of vasectomies and the reasons to decide if it’s the best choice for me.

I’m much more okay with going through a procedure now after reading up about it but I’m not 100% for doing it because of the process/cost of it and us both talking about wanting to marry each other and have children together.

I don’t think it’s fair for her to ask me out of the blue an important question like this and then get upset with my initial answer because it takes many couples, MONTHS and even YEARS to discuss with each other if a vasectomy is the best option.

I can understand her or any girl getting upset if their partner encourages them to tie their tubes or use birth control and not do the same thing but I never pressed those idea towards her because I know how BC might negatively affect her.

I’ve told her that I’d much rather choose abstinence as the first option before consider doing a vasectomy and also because sure, a vasectomy is reversible, but also there could be implications where it won’t work and can also be very costly.

I’ve sent her a long text about how I feel and how I’ve educated myself on it, but still need to learn more about the procedure and if it’s right. I also let her know how I feel that isn’t fair for her to be upset after my initial response because something as big as this takes a lot of time to think through.

She still hasn’t replied to me so I’m going to wait a little bit to see if she wants to call and talk about it after she reflects on my response. Not sure what I should I say?

I declined a phone call from my mom the night she died

It’s been about a week since she passed away suddenly in her sleep, on the early morning of Friday the 6th.

Today I was thinking about the last time we spoke. I checked my call log with her and saw I declined her call Thursday evening.

My heart dropped.

I wonder what she called for. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well and knew. My mind keeps going over what she wanted to say. Likely just checking in with me.

I’ll never forgive myself for not answering. I dont even remember getting a call from her. I feel so bad.

Netizens’ comments

• My Mom called me and left a message on my phone to tell me she was going down to theatre for her op and would see me later, she died on the operating table. The message was automatically deleted after 7 days, I still hear it in my head, 3 years later. I did see her however, the night before she died and had done every day. I miss her so much and my Dad who died 15 months before her.
  I’m so sorry for your loss but perhaps she was ringing to say she loved you, just keep that memory. Sending love and hugs. Xx

• Maybe you missed her call. Don’t beat yourself up over it – there was no argument or harsh last words. She called because she loves you. You are mourning her because you love her. It sounds like you had a nice relationship; I’m sorry for your loss.

I had never dated *finished* until the night my friend of 6 years and I had this tension around us that could be cut with a knife. Blame the things we never said… or the extra alcohol.

We were tipsy, not drunk. I take consent extremely seriously so we half-jokingly played trivia about each other before making out and eventually engaging in oral.

He ate me out so good I lost my voice. Returned the favour and he was reacting to every bob of my head. I can still feel his fingertips caress my face while he muttered words of praise. We then cuddled, showered each other in kisses and fell asleep.

This all happened at his place. Not a shitty hotell, not the back of a car. He did things right. But the next morning he was cold and curt towards me. Sent indirect about me needing to leave cause he had to go to work. Didn’t have an issue with that cause we’re super close and I know his schedule, but it was odd that he didn’t even drop me off nor offer me a measly cup of coffee. Left hungry, dirty and very confused. Walk of shame, yup.

Texted him to meet up for weekly lunch together. Left on reading. Did not pick up my 2 calls and I will not call him a third for I rather die than beg.

But we always had an amazing bond, endless love for each other and, well… he was my first. I know that means nothing to men but it did mean something to me.

Have I been used? Is he conflicted about his feelings? A common friend says we’re in the middle of skinny love (both parties wanna date but neither makes a move) yet my efforts debunk that! He’s the one running away after getting some honey.

Here are what netizens think:

• Honestly, I (f) once hooked up with a really good friend of mine, regretted it, and then was distant towards him/tried to act like nothing happened because I wasn’t interested in pursuing anything further. My friend definitely seemed interested in a relationship/seeing where things went and I felt like a horrible human being because I just wanted to forget we hooked up at all. It took a while (years), but we are actually good friends again and both of us have partners who suit us way better. Sorry to put it bluntly, but sometimes friends hook up and it means nothing to the other person.

• I don’t think you were used. I think he was just relaxed enough to act on what he wanted in the moment but now regrets it. 

• I would not try for some big confrontation. Hang back a bit and then contact him in a normal way. “Hey, I don’t know what’s going on with you but you have a lot of my stuff and I’d like access to it. I wish we could talk but if you can’t handle it right now then let me get my things so I can use them and we can talk whenever you’re ready “..

• This happened to me when I hooked up with a close friend. I called and asked him for reassurance a few day later, that our friendship was not going to be affected by the night. He freaked out, said something like, “I thought you’d be more cool about it.”

Became a sugar daddy because I’m lonely and disabled.

With my level of disability and being social in person is nearly impossible.

I can’t really go to bars/hold a job/do anything socially, I run into people just walking down the street, and let alone being in a dark bar. Doesn’t work out well even with me trying several times. Nearly got into a fight once over it.

So I tried dating apps – those are a joke. Too few of women and too many guys. Hard to stand out.

So I found sugar dating sites – sifting through the undesirables is easy enough. I’m early 20s so I purely wanted women my age.

During all this I basically had a new girl every weekend, met some cool hippy chick, and eventually met a girl I really liked. Well 3 actually. Chose one and let the rest go.

Sure it cost me quite a bit but the pool of women was amazing. Ever since covid it’s been dead though and I’m lonely again.

Just thought I’d leave this here for any other guys with disabilities that there’s options out there if you can afford it.

Oh and there was lots of bed activities, if you know what I mean. Some quite good – some quite bad. It’s a box of chocolates.

I (20F) have lived with my fiance (23M) near his mother (55F) for 7 months.

I see her every day, she acts fine to my face but talks behind my back. She does the same thing with everyone including her children and grandchildren.

My fiance heard from 2 or 3 people that his mother called him hurtful things. So I said “you know what you say about people can get back to them” where I then explained the situation and she lied saying she didn’t say that. She never said that. I told her she would have to ask her son who it was. The next time they talked she said I snapped at her and I said he was mad at her and never wanted to talk to her again (I didn’t even hint at that.) So the next day I asked if I came off rude and she said “No, you just stated it”

Last night I cut my fiances hair and she got upset with me over it and was talking to HIM about how I was doing it wrong when I was right there. Then she lied saying she doesn’t do that (talk about the person with them right there). My finace asked her why she was lying, she avoided the question then went on to talk about me to her children saying I am always rude and smart off to her everyday.

I was going to send her a message saying if I was being rude to tell me so I can stop but my finace asked me not to say anything.

What can I do?

Here are what netizens think:

• You have to make it clear to your husband or there will be endless troubles.

• Sometimes its better to speak your mind rather than be quiet and let her take control of the situation.

My bf seems very nua – what should I do?

Hi, seeking genuine advice here. I am F (26) and have been with my Bf (26) for around 10 months. I realize there is an issue between us.

Everytime we meet on one day during the weekend, we would just end up at mostly my home (because its has lesser people), then watching Netflix, eating at home and sleeping. To me, it does feel very nice because we can be so chill with each other and live like a family, but on the other hand I sort of question this because we are still a new couple but we are not going for dates out. The only date we go for is food dates.

When I see my friends’ social media, I do envy them sometimes when I see their stories of them going on various activities with their bf e.g. to events, Sentosa, game arena, I do wonder why I did not experience this.

I feel that without these date experiences, it feels that I am not really enjoying the full package of the relationship. Yes I did bring up and suggest for places to go to during our dates, and he is always willing to accompany me. But I do not see him initiating much ideas, which made me feel that he is not putting in effort, the thing when the guy gets you and then he stops putting in effort flashed past my mind.

Initially when we first started, his initiations were also food dates only, so I am not sure if it is because he is not an explorer kind of person or what. Somehow I just feel down about it, any experiences or advice to share? Thanks in advance