People Are Saying These 35 “Normal Things” Are In Fact Very Toxic

Bored Panda reached out to marketing expert and book author Alex Wong who is better known as the “Hijack” Copywriter. Wong has been on a mission to help small and corporate businesses “hijack” their client’s minds and help them to grow their businesses and sales. He was happy to share some insights into things and behaviors that we as a society have normalized without even realizing it.

According to Wong, for-profit colleges are one of those things. “I think we accept these as another means of education for those who can’t get into a typical college or university. However, the education you receive is subpar, isn’t recognized, and is more expensive than what you would receive at a typical school,” he argues and adds that they prioritize profits over everything else.

The marketing expert recounted visiting Everest College back in high school to check it out. “The entrance test I was asked to complete was some simple math questions for a grade 6 student. The entire campus was empty and there were no students. It’s safe to say I didn’t go there,” he said.

The other thing that has become very common these days is payday loans. Wong believes that although these may help people who need money quickly and can’t get loans from banks, their interest rates are astronomical. “When you are charging 30-50% interest on a loan, you’re forcing people to be stuck in a vicious cycle of debt.”

He added that “payday loans are accepted because they do offer a service for those who need money quickly, but we need to better educate people on why these are a terrible deal.”

“Unless you are the founder or one of the early investors, you have no way to succeed at an MLM,” Wong explained about the flaws of multi-level marketing hiding in plain sight. “Only a few percent of people who join MLMs have a chance of making money, and you would still be better off working a regular part-time job.” The marketing expert argues that we tolerate them because they sell a dream of being your own boss or owning your business and escaping the rat race.

“I had an acquaintance whom I met at a networking event trick me into going to a seminar for Market America years ago. During the whole 1-hour presentation, it was nothing more than a sales pitch to join them. It’s safe to say, I didn’t join them,” Wong told Bored Panda.

Another thing that has been viewed as totally normal which is, in fact, anything but that is teachers spending their own money on classroom supplies, Wong says. “The education system should do a better job supporting its teachers. Teachers are already overworked and underpaid. To expect them to spend their own money to provide a better classroom experience for their students is sad,” he said.

When Wong himself was teaching English in Korea, his co-teacher and he would often have to spend their own money on prizes and gifts for their students. We have become accustomed to high tuition fees and high student debt without questioning it. Many students take the fact for granted.

According to Wong, expensive tuition fees and student debt go hand in hand. “It’s gotten to the point where you can only attend college if you have lots of money, borrow lots of money, or have amazing grades to get a scholarship. Students still believe they have to attend college to find a good job or career, which isn't true anymore. There’s also that constant pressure that if you don’t go, you will be seen as a failure or behind others who do,” he explained and added that “this is exactly how I felt.”

What makes the situation even more difficult is that even after you go to school for 4 years, it doesn’t mean you will find a good-paying career. “After I graduated from college with a BA in psychology, I had a difficult time finding a job. That’s why I ended up going to teach in Korea for a few years to pay off my student debt,” Wong recounted.

Wong argues that the problem is college doesn’t train you for the work field. “I think college only makes sense if your job or career requires specific qualifications, such as a doctor, nurse, or engineer. Everything else can be learned online or by yourself. I’ve probably only used 10% of what I learned in college and I’ve never had an employer ask to see my degree. And now that I have my own business, my degree is even less relevant.”

On the same note, you may wonder why personal finance isn’t taught in schools. Wong believes it’s terrible. “Unless you major in personal finance or accounting, we aren’t taught how to balance a budget, pay off debt, live within our means, and learn how to invest. I had to learn all of this on my own. I think most people just aren’t comfortable talking about money, so we don’t mind if it isn’t taught in school.”

Moreover, “The government and economy also benefit if we spend our money since it helps stimulate the economy. But it’s becoming more apparent that people are struggling, especially with the rising inflation and high costs of living. Approximately 50% of Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck,” Wong explained.