Maha-Pissed.

Posted: January 22nd, 2009 | Author: faddy | Filed under: General | Comments Off

I really wanted to blog about Kumar tonight, but something happened yesterday which really, really made me so damn angry that I have to let my emotions out. Thus, without further ado, please hear my story.

* * * * *

Around two weeks back, three friends of mine from JC – two guys (Z and N) and a girl (T) – asked me out for dinner for a catching up session. Z and N are people whom I would categorize as hi-bye friends; the kind who drift apart after the school terms ends. T on the other hand, I would consider a normal friend, as I do catch up with her once in a while and even recently went for lunch together.

Initially I found it weird that Z and N were so adamant on meeting me, as we have never been close at all. However, due to the fact that I found it touching that they really wanted to catch up, I agreed and we settled on a date.

The date was yesterday, and the following was what had happened…

Right after I ended work, I met girl T at the Mrt station and we ‘caught up’ – talking about old JC friends, who’s dating who and whatnot. As Z and N were running late, T and I decided to head to the place where Z suggested.

Upon reaching the food place, I was rather taken aback as it was rather nondescript and 90% of the stalls were already closed. Nonetheless, I just kept my silence and ate my food whilst waiting for the two guys to arrive. When they did, they told me they have eaten at home and were full, which I found irritating because they recommended this place (which is so damn far from all our homes) only to not eat there?!

Again, I kept my silence. After all, it has been quite a while since we have last met. For around 15 – 30 minutes, we just chatted and it did strike my mind that the conversation sounded more like they were interviewing me as opposed to ‘catching up’. Blatantly ignoring T, Z and N asked me about my current pay, the workload, how much I would like to earn etc.

As before, I kept my question marks in my head and continued chatting as per normal. A few minutes before 8pm, Z and N said they actually had a business proposal for me, and told me to follow them. I was, at that time, pretty much confused, but I followed nonetheless because T seemed to be at ease. In my mind, I thought they were all playing some silly joke on me.

Seconds later, we were standing outside a big office which had people spilling onto the sidewalks. Z and N turned to me, and said that they wanted me to join some company with them, in a chance to earn thousands of dollars a month.

Right there and then, I felt the blood rushed to my ears.

“So.. wait. You planned this meet up with me not to catch up but to sell me this business idea of yours? So you lied to me about the whole JC reunion thing just so you can get me to attend this meeting?”

Z smiled sheepishly at me and had the nerve to say that it was the only way they could get me to listen. DID YOU EVEN TRY ASKING ME? DID YOU?

“I am pissed. You lied to me, and you even dragged T here when you have no use for her? Aren’t you wasting her time as well?”

And when I looked at T, she said that even she was in the plan as well. Upon which, I totally flipped – for the first time in my entire life.

Halfway through me questioning them and them trying to sell their business idea to me (biz ethics 101 : never sell your ideas to a customer who is pissed at you – nothing enters her ears), even their ‘manager’ came up to me and shook my hand, indicating that he knew I was coming.

I cut him off halfway, gave the 3 kids a piece of my mind and walked off. Z ran after me and had the cheek to make me promise not to spill the beans on his ‘company’ so that it will not dampen their ‘customer prospects’.

I am not breaking my promise, am I? I did not mention your name, nor the company you are working under.

- End of Story -

The point is, I understand that you are trying to help me by helping the both of us (I join : you win, I win), but come on man! What’s with the whole story get up? Do you not have a sense of respect as to my sense of choice? What’s with inviting me on the pretense of catching up, only to force me into a corner?

One : I personally feel that you could have been honest about it. You are a friend. Did you really think I will not listen to you if you had told me about it upfront? Now that you ‘lured’ me unknowingly to your office, in my books you are just like those conmen I read in the news. Good business ethics require honesty.

Two : I did not really listen to what you guys were saying because right after I found out you guys conned me, all I can hear is BLABLABLA. However, if what little that got through is right, you guys have potential to earn thousands a month by recruiting people to join the company.

The huge crowd, the premise of earning thousands, the act of having to recruit people to earn more, the tour groups in the office area as an introduction – all these point to an MLM (multi-level marketing) company, in my knowledge. Two years back, Sunshine Empire too promised something to that effect to its thousands of followers. So where are they now?

If I am wrong, and you guys do succeed in becoming rich, then Alhamdulillah, good for you. But to me, every income requires an equal amount of work to be given. It does not make any sense at all that by just recruiting people, you can earn thousands a month. It just does not click.

Three : When you offend someone, apologize. Don’t give a half-arsed apology and proceed to continue your whole ’scam plan’, punctuated with “She’s pissed.”, “She’s pissed.” and “She’s pissed.“. YES I AM PISSED SO SHUT UP, APOLOGIZE AND LET ME GO HOME!

Ok I feel much better. Blogging is a damn good anger management outlet, I tell you. Good night everyone!