I can trace my mistrust of anything anyone tries to sell me to two high school experiences:
Being invited by a friend to what turned out to be a pitch by his older brother for a pyramid scheme at a time when I was unaware of pyramid schemes. It was a big event, everyone lined up in chairs for the presentation of whatever garbage we were supposed to sell. It had like a $1,000 buy-in and there was a strange hunger from everyone wanting you to commit. I hesitated, putting off saying no by telling them I’d think about it. Then, in the car ride back, how my friend’s brother got weirdly upset about the fact that I had to think about it. He seemed to be annoyed that they drove me there and didn’t get a sale for their trouble. Suffice to say I noped out and didn’t look back.
And my first job at a shoe store, where the basis of the business is not just selling you shoes but also getting you to buy stuff with a big markup like shoe cleaner and laces. I think our goal was always to get you to buy a trifecta of clothing such as a T-shirt, cleaner, and laces. And I felt like an asshole every time I had to do it. I eventually stayed long enough to gain seniority and choose to work in the stock room, when it didn’t matter if I achieved any sales goals because I was in the stock room most of the time.
We’re always trying to sell each other shit we don’t need. Our societal structure depends on it. What the hell, man.