• metaStatic@kbin.earth
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    5 days ago

    Ramen is a scam. Pasta is cheaper.

    Sleeping in your car is a scam. you don’t need to pay yearly registration for a tent or swag or sleeping in the office

    Selling plasma is a scam. and I won’t elaborate further because I benefit.

    • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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      4 days ago

      Car is a lot safer than a tent though. Especially these days when state-sanctioned violence is omnipresent thanks to the Supreme Court.

    • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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      5 days ago

      Selling blood plasma is a scam? I mean there’s obviously a market for it, else blood banks wouldn’t be paying you for your donation. But at least where I live, I get 25€ per donation and can, in theory, go twice a week if I feel like. While between jobs, I actually had to depend on that for a couple months to afford rent, as sad as that sounds. Didn’t sound too horrible.

      Genuinely curious since I’m not super knowledgeable on the topic. Had been donating plasma since 2018, I think, but apart from that…

      • RagingHungryPanda@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        I recently was talking with someone in south America about things in the US, most of which they hated, then when I got to “yeah, a lot of people sell plasma to help get through school” they were like “WTF! I hate your country! Here we do it as a donation! And you do it to help get through school!?” 😂

        • Snowclone@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          The sick part is, when you donate blood/plasma for free, the organization you gave to sells it at the same price as the people who pay you for it. I think the only exception is if you donate directly to a hospital or clinic.

      • BougieBirdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        4 days ago

        I don’t know if I’d call selling plasma a scam, but it doesn’t really feel like a good thing either. I know people on a fixed income where this is one of the only ways they can make some extra cash, so I understand why people would do it.

        Like, sure, you get money for your fluids that you’ll replenish naturally and that has its appeal. But for a lot of people it’s a slippery slope argument about what parts of your body you should be able to sell.

        If you’re economically depressed (the system is working as intended) then you might be tempted to start selling organs. Would you accept five figures for a kindey or cornea? Would you sell your heart or liver for six?

        You might even be able to argue that it’s a noble sacrifice to give your life to secure your family’s comfort. But there’s something to be said about being forced into that position in the first place.

        • ditty@lemm.ee
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          3 days ago

          My friend sold plasma to save up for a PS5 only, so he got juiced a bunch of times over a somewhat brief time. Now, a couple of years later, he still has permanent puncture scars on both arms. I think this can build up scar tissue that makes it harder for nurses to get to your veins in the future (but I could be wrong about that, idk).

            • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              4 days ago

              There really should be a community for “Weird america” or something.

              I live in Europe, and I donate blood because it’s the fucking right thing to do. Everyone knows someone whose life was saved by a random donor, and every time you donate blood you’re saving someone’s life.

              Like there’s literally no reason to not donate it if your body allows it

              • Soulg@sh.itjust.works
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                4 days ago

                I’m American and I donate/sell plasma twice a week. $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time, plus I can help people. It’s a win/win as far as I’m concerned.

                • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
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                  4 days ago

                  $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time

                  Ah, maybe this is the scam.

                  Q1. What volume of blood is worth $110?

                  Q2. How much does the medical industry charge for the same type/quantity?

                  • Soulg@sh.itjust.works
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                    4 days ago
                    1. Don’t know, because I said plasma, not blood.

                    2. Don’t know, don’t care.

                    You’re obviously getting at what the companies make versus what they give me, and yes, they make far more than they give me. The margins are quite high. The machines are also very expensive from what I’ve been told.

                    Like I told the other person, stop being weird. If you don’t want to do it or think it’s not worth your time, don’t do it.

                • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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                  5 days ago

                  Unnecessarily loaded comment. Plasma is used in creating drugs that help people. So you help people. How’s it bad?

                  • snooggums@lemmy.world
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                    4 days ago

                    The setup preys on the poor, and wouldn’t exist if we had living wages. Then people could donate because it is the right thing to do, not because they need to make rent.

        • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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          5 days ago

          I mean, all I have to do is drink a bunch of water before my appointment - like 2 litres, maybe - eat a little and I’m set. Human bodies regenerate blood plasma within days, else you’d not be able to physically sustain donations twice a week, so the only thing I’m losing is my time, which I can spend on my phone.

          Not even touching upon the societal and medicinal benefits of donating blood and plasma, I don’t see what I’m losing here.

          What’s your stance on donating bone marrow and thrombocytes?

    • pyrflie@lemm.ee
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      5 days ago

      Counter point, a car is a tent that travels 1000+ miles per day. When you sleep in it you are actually going somewhere.

    • Sc00ter@lemm.ee
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      4 days ago

      Am I the only one who thinks this is sarcasm? You sure upset a lot of people lol