Posts by Michael Sullivan3

Paley said:I was reading recently that the United Kingdom dealt with similar issues regarding massive phone bills, but the police immediately launched an international investigation to identify the owners of those lines and ordered AT&T to protect their subscribers from such calls. Essentially, if they notice a single number repeatedly calling strange digits, the subscriber is notified immediately and the line is blocked. It’s hard to imagine Verizon would ever share its largest dividend yet just to look out for its customers like that.
One instance happened in Switzerland with my relatives. Out of nowhere, someone received a mobile bill twice as high as usual. Since they didn't get a call log, they had no idea who they were even calling. They contacted the carrier to file a complaint, and just like that, the entire bill was wiped clean—they didn't owe a single cent for that month, let alone the regular amount. That is what actual consumer protection looks like. We are lightyears away from the rest of Europe.

Even in Europe, those two examples you mentioned are unfortunately nothing more than rare exceptions.

In Germany, just like here in America, if you aren't careful and fall victim to a dialer, you're stuck footing the entire bill yourself. Though, since more people are on DSL now, that issue isn't quite as prevalent.
As for mobile bills, I can barely name someone who hasn't had issues with their carriers. Whether it's inflated totals, hidden fees—those things buried in the fine print under the fine print—or just the fact that text messaging is still way too expensive, it's a constant struggle.

So, Germany is far from the European standard as well.

(By the way, this whole talk about Europe is driving me crazy. Seriously, what do you all think? Do you actually believe companies in "Europe" are all honest and don't screw people over? Or that politicians in "Europe" are all saints who will magically fix everything and make life perfect?)

Bryan Sanchez86 said:If I checked my computer and realized I’d actually installed a dialer—and if I was foolish enough to have racked up $17 in just a month—I’d sell a kidney just to cover the bill.
It's no different from me paying a parking ticket after intentionally leaving my car in a no-parking zone.

That’s what taking responsibility for your own screw-ups looks like, Walt.

Exactly. 👍

Walter said:At least Michael Sullivan3 is on your side. 🤣 🤣

Walter, what’s your monthly bill looking like? 🤣 🤣

And who’s actually at fault here? Is AT&T to blame? 🤣 🤣 🤣

Jose Miller3 said:Honestly, there’s no point in trying to comfort me if dustyscout53 won't see things my way. 😢 My whole world just feels empty right now.

Give him a little grace... even dustyscout53 had a bit of a mishap with those dialers once, so he’s understandably a bit frustrated with AT&T right now. 😁

Jose Miller3 said:Look, for about 99% of those dialer program installs, the user is solely and exclusively to blame. Our most hated monopoly, AT&T, has absolutely nothing to do with it. Those calls were placed—to places like the Cayman Islands and beyond—almost certainly because he installed a dialer while browsing certain adult sites. He’s the one who installed it, not AT&T. Since the calls originated from his computer, he's the one responsible for the bill.

It is perfectly clear to me that it's just human nature to look for someone else to blame for your own mistakes, especially when there's a damn monopoly involved. I feel for the guy, but he should just pay his bill like everyone else did—people who didn't end up in the news because they aren't public figures or hard of hearing.
Sorry... maybe next time he'll be more careful about what he clicks on when he's downloading stuff!

Exactly. 👍

Just listen to those Soviet Union remnants whining. 😁 😁

la dur said: Holding a concert on May 1st at Main St. in Rome before a crowd of 500,000 people just proves his music is an undeniable global phenomenon today.

Only 500,000? 🤣 🤣

Exactly, where else on earth is Lake filling up arenas like that?

frch said:This forum is honestly a gift to you... you get the chance to actually talk to women... just look at how Lebo The jebač handles himself.😁

Do you even remember when they voted Lebo The jebač as having the most attractive female follower over in the Men's Corner?😍 🤣

LjutiBronxBomber said:If you're looking for a joke, just go be exactly who you are.

🤣 🤣 🤣

Dammit... The Turk was better.

On the bright side, we can take some satisfaction in making it into the final four. It shows there’s still plenty of talent coming up in the next generation of American players.

The result itself is great, but the real issue is that they held a 2-0 lead until the 90th minute, only to concede two goals during stoppage time.

Anyway, we face Israel today. Unfortunately, there isn't a broadcast available.

L. NimoyInvadesMetal~ said:The New York Post is nothing more than a sensationalist tabloid.

Exactly.

On another note, what’s the deal with those chips inside the ball? If I recall correctly, they were even running tests for them over in Major League Soccer.

2:2.

Well, that's just absolute nonsense...

Is anyone watching?

Our boys are up against the Dutch right now, currently leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kalinić. It’s been a bit of an undeserved lead so far. You can catch the broadcast on ESPN.

With Israel and Switzerland also in the group, our team isn't exactly looking like they have much of a shot at moving forward.

Well, look at how quickly they lined up. 😁

driftingdriver4 said:I'm going to ignore the right-wingers because I'm not a psychiatrist.

Well, you aren't one.

A psychiatrist is someone who actually treats you. 😂

Jeffrey Williams2 said:Honestly, you guys were the ones who got cleaned out today.🙂 😉

In all fairness, my intention was to provide an objective observation rather than just being a troll...

Objective observation:

"Americans, you really messed this one up... You forgot the exact strategy that brought you those previous gold medals."

And what exactly is that... strategy? 😁

Actually, don't even bother responding to the critics. We have our silver and we are perfectly content with it, so let me offer my sincere congratulations to you on finishing in 🙂 fifth place. 🙂

darkcanyon13 said:I feel like I can finally understand them better without judging their, shall we say, twisted perspectives. 😢 😢 🙂

You’re talking about twisted perspectives?

What kind of perspective is mocking people who are unemployed—especially in a hostile environment like post-war Germany—where some are actually forced into sex work just to survive the month? Mothers who have to sell themselves just to put food on the table for their kids? Women who see no other way out than the streets, some even being coerced because it's their only alternative to ending up in the ER?

Bravo.

Let's all join in and laugh at them.

That's just how humans act!

And darkcanyon13 is just a champion for women and a textbook American "liberal." 👍

Clash said:Also, a huge congrats to our national team, aka the "bus terminal" (shoutout to Conan O'Brien)

Bus terminal 😂 😂 🙏