I ALWAYS abhorred anything that had to do with numbers, but with the final printing of my manuscript, I couldn’t help but painstakingly calculate. I had to because I felt robbed. I find it ridiculous that there’s such a thing called personalized stationery required that is specifically designed for one’s academic requirements. I sure wouldn’t make a fuss about it if the price I was going to pay for it is three times that of the regular paper—same quality might I add. It’s absurd how ‘creative’ people can get when it comes to making more money.
Things like this always make us look at the bigger picture yet again. I find it not just ridiculous but also greedily insensitive how people can take advantage over others who are left with no other options but to pay for what is being demanded from them. Talking from a student’s perspective, I empathize with the countless others who rant about stupendous fees. True, obtaining a college degree was never meant to be inexpensive. But one starts doubting the logic behind all these fees when you can’t see what you’re actually paying for. Humongous laboratory fees but with dysfunctional lab equipment, library fees with outdated collections, and all those other this-that-fee meant for this-that-purpose which I need not mention. It’s like paying an entrance fee to take a leak at a public comfort room which is poorly-maintained and never been cleaned. The stink reeks so bad that you’d rather hold your piss in. You simply don’t see what you’re supposed to be paying for.
And it goes beyond the academic portals. The world out there is a bigger buck-generating ‘industry’. Private and government entities alike can be so resourceful in coming out with requirements and purportedly valid charges that you have to pay when you become part of their system in any way. To cite, I applaud the ingenuity (sarcasm inserted) of phone companies who set out credit limits when you apply for their plans. How did it become a limit in the first place when it turns out you can actually go limitless with the costs you’re incurring? It’d just come as a big blow to the gut, and your pocket, when your account billing comes and you find out you have spent more than what you can actually afford. The contention in this case is that as a subscriber, is it really your responsibility to keep on checking the costs you are making? You know you have a limit and you know too that as long as you haven’t reached your maximum, then you can keep on making those charges. You only know you’ve maxed out when you’re presented with an astounding bill. You rage, argue, and tirade with the company employees about your plight but still end up paying what they present to you because in the end, you’re left with no other alternative.
It’s frustrating. When it comes to making more money, we can get so cunning and devious. We resort to all means possible to make more than what is reasonable for our demands.
As not to fall prey to these biggies who can take advantage of our naivety and helplessness, we need to outsmart them. But it’s sad that more often than not, we end up being taken advantage of. Pity.
And it goes beyond the academic portals. The world out there is a bigger buck-generating ‘industry’. Private and government entities alike can be so resourceful in coming out with requirements and purportedly valid charges that you have to pay when you become part of their system in any way. To cite, I applaud the ingenuity (sarcasm inserted) of phone companies who set out credit limits when you apply for their plans. How did it become a limit in the first place when it turns out you can actually go limitless with the costs you’re incurring? It’d just come as a big blow to the gut, and your pocket, when your account billing comes and you find out you have spent more than what you can actually afford. The contention in this case is that as a subscriber, is it really your responsibility to keep on checking the costs you are making? You know you have a limit and you know too that as long as you haven’t reached your maximum, then you can keep on making those charges. You only know you’ve maxed out when you’re presented with an astounding bill. You rage, argue, and tirade with the company employees about your plight but still end up paying what they present to you because in the end, you’re left with no other alternative.
It’s frustrating. When it comes to making more money, we can get so cunning and devious. We resort to all means possible to make more than what is reasonable for our demands.
As not to fall prey to these biggies who can take advantage of our naivety and helplessness, we need to outsmart them. But it’s sad that more often than not, we end up being taken advantage of. Pity.