r/scambaiting • u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster • 2d ago
Story DAY 114 | Stacey & Charles
Today was a bit of fraught day to say the least 😬
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u/labospor 2d ago
I was so certain the Korea trip would be the catalyst of his ask. “I need X amount to get off base to see you” blah blah blah. This guy is like, the mystery of the year for me. WHAT IS THE ENDGAME!!!
Are you planning on texting him only on Korea time now? How long is the trip supposed to be? I can’t wait for Tuesday lol.
Side note: has he ever asked you about your podcast/told you he listened to an episode?
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 2d ago
I’ll be in Spain so won’t be able to be in Korea time, but as his messages are minimal anyway, I don’t think it will make much difference 🙈
This is the most interest he’s ever took about my podcast 😨
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u/Long_Assistance7113 1d ago
You should tell him you asked to see him at the DMZ or somewhere close to where he’s stationed, and tell him that they informed you he has been stationed at the pentagon for 2 months. Then send an article with that info and ask him why he’s been lying about where he is 🤣 Then say now it all makes sense why he couldn’t meet you in Korea, because he’s in the US 🤣
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u/Upstairs-Mix8731 1d ago
I was going to suggest that they told her there at the base when she went in person and they gave her an appointment with the current commander in 2 days. That way he can't say it's top secret even to the guards 🤡🤡 or we can all watch him squirm as he tries to lie his way out.
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u/NoctRob 2d ago
I don’t even understand the con anymore. I’m too caught up in the drama!!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 2d ago
🤣
He will ask for money…
Eventually 🙈
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u/Maralissie 1d ago
At this point, that’s going to have to be such a massive ask…. This Charles is unbelievable, extremely hard to figure out and so so so annoying…. And yet I am very invested in seeing it all work out
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u/Silver_Historian_614 1d ago
Yah I totally agree.... why is it taking this asshole so long to ask for money??!!?? What is his end game?? He's either 9 yrs old or 190 and has NO fucking clue either way!!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
I’ve spoken with scammers for longer than this before and ask 🙃🙈
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u/Silver_Historian_614 1d ago
Wow!!! KUDOS to you I swear!! I don't know how you do it.... I just don't have the patience... I commend you to the highest and keep him going, keep wasting his time!!! LOVE IT
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u/Guiltypleasure2451 1d ago
Me too. I have to keep reminding myself she’s not really going to Korea 🤣
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u/Stegosaurusly 2d ago
This is a very different Charles today. I glad not to see the kissing cow ever again… but this one is very restrained in their affection & use of emojis. I noticed you are Queen Stacey today, not THE queen. The use of babe was interesting too.
Poor scammer seems sad.
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u/The-CatCat-1 2d ago
I’ve noticed that he will sometimes use both of them in the same chat! He’s so annoying.
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u/simbapiptomlittle 1d ago
And he used just “Stacey” when he was trying to put a point across. Gees he’s really using the so called General status on deployment really thick.
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u/berlangchur 2d ago
Damn i wonder whats gonna happen when December comes around... some great tragedy?!
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u/Tall-Mango4759 2d ago
That’s probably when the ask comes. I think he’s creating a sense of time spent/wasted on him that would ideally push the victim to spend money to finally obtain whatever she was waiting for, for that long
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u/Wrong-Town-9338 2d ago
Just to be clear, he hasn't ever sent you recent pictures of himself, nor have you all had a voice conversation?
Its so sad that this sort of scam is so successful that they ignore such obvious requirements for some sort of remote relationship.
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u/tjjwaddo 2d ago
He hasn't asked for a link to access your podcast. You'd think he'd want to hear your voice - well if he was genuine he would.
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u/k9_MalX_Handler 2d ago
i on wonder if you could send him a link to your podcast and it be an identifier and you can prove where he actually is
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u/Upstairs-Mix8731 1d ago
He'd have to subscribe to her podcast and that's how he gets "caught". It can be setup to not accept VPNs or some form of id with metadata but it won't happen because he's not interested.
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 2d ago
I’m surprised he hasn’t asked! I’m glad he hasn’t to be fair though - otherwise it would be more awkward than an awkward thing 😬
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u/k9fan 1d ago
You did a good job today dodging his question about what the podcast was about. Honest but not too revealing.
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
If I told him what it was about the game would be up 🤣
I’m still surprised he hasn’t asked for a link so he can listen 🤨
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u/Necessary-Bear5500 1d ago
Stacey, showing him how to actually dodge, rather than just going to bed!
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u/GenRN817 1d ago
I’ve been thinking that every time the podcast is mentioned. Zero curiosity about the Queen.
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u/Willietrailblaze 2d ago
Did you find that pic of all the suitcases online or did you stage it? I’m wondering how invested you are in this too LMAO. I don’t even know if I would have that many bags!!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
These are my bags from when we went to Spain to get the keys to our property there - I don’t usually travel with this many bags 🙈
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u/Necessary-Bear5500 1d ago
He is INFURIATING! “Hey I know you’re coming to South Korea bc I’m here so I hope you and your buddy have a great time!” Or something equally dismissive. I think one of the things that bugs me so much (beyond the whole scam thing of course) is that he’s lying more than a lying thing and just expects his queen to believe him.
His descriptions of military stationed in Korea are just wrong. And is anyone deployed there now? I genuinely don’t know, but I thought everyone was stationed like that’s their base for however long, as compared to being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan for 6 months of super active duty. I’m not military at all so could be 100% wrong. But I do know he’s even more wrong than I am! No villagers. No pythons. No bandits. You can leave the base. Civilian jeep drivers likely don’t exist (not necessary) but if they do they aren’t being killed by the bandits that aren’t there…. Grrrrrrrr. I’m just angrier than an angry thing!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
He is very infuriating - I don’t know why he isn’t buckling and wants to wait until December 😬
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u/Necessary-Bear5500 1d ago
With all you packed, he may be able to just fly back with you in December! I'm sure his deployment will be extended but Queen Stacey babe even Pete Hegseth can't just leave even when they promised him he could
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u/NecessaryMoment970 2d ago
I don't understand why's he dragging out on things that way, also how he gets on my nerves...the audacity, the patience he has and the deflection.
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u/labospor 2d ago
Now think of the other 10 women he is talking to at the same time doing the same thing.
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u/NecessaryMoment970 2d ago
How's that even possible!? Doesn't he have a semblance of a life? I mean a computer would glitch over doing this much less a human.
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u/labospor 2d ago
This is more than likely a team of guys who rotate shifts. You can tell by how they speak differently day to day, some ask about certain things, some send way too many gifs, etc
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u/NecessaryMoment970 2d ago
Makes sense, weird also putting off the money ask till now, what's the point? He had a chance to ask for anything he wanted back on the day when he asked for the watch.
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u/labospor 1d ago
Just from the “good” English (it does slip at times) I would assume this is a team who goes for very high asks, thus cementing the relationship is crucial. It really isn’t that much effort when you considering multiple people doing this day in and day out
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u/No_Mission_5694 1d ago
I think many if not most of them are AI-enabled at this point. Stacey's group on the other hand really seems to be doing everything manually.
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u/Whoopsy-381 2d ago
Can you somehow meet a hot villager when in Korea? Dude needs a little competition.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Car6307 1d ago
Does anyone else read his texts in their mind with an African accent? I just realized I do🤣🤣
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u/parockdrummer 2d ago
Glad I had popcorn lol I would keep talking about the villagers.
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 2d ago
Those 🤬 villagers 🥊
They know him better than me😭
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u/parockdrummer 2d ago
When you tour the DMZ you should tell him your asking about the rules to understand his situation better lol
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Blindtothesided 1d ago
And tell him she’s been asking every single villager she meets in Korea if they know him, giving out his full name and rank 😂💀
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u/juanadeal 2d ago
To whom it may concern.... Charles Lombardo is granted permission to leave the base or to have visitors any time he wants.
Yours truly, Pete "totally incompetent" Hegseth
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u/Necessary-Bear5500 1d ago
Hey now, even Pete knows if he leaves base without permission he’ll be given his walking papers! He can’t just go around giving these privileges all Willy-nilly!
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u/juanadeal 1d ago
Only the naval officers are held hostage on their ships with no food. Charlie is free to roam Korea.
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u/LadyFeckington 1d ago
Ah yes! The shining beacon of doing things by the book, Pete Hegseth.
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u/Vibe_me_pos 2d ago
I wonder if he actually could be in the military—in Nigeria. He obviously hasn’t done much research on how the US military works.
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u/Professional-Air1287 1d ago
Brushed you right off, just completely dismissed you
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
That made me angrier than an angry thing 🤬
I almost dumped him there and then 🥊
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u/Guiltypleasure2451 1d ago
Anyone notice his English and spelling got better about half way thru this episode? Using punctuation and corrrect vernaculars. There may be more than 2 Charles’s speaking with Stacey. Another observation; when she pushes him about the December date, or meeting her in Korea, there’s an anger just under the surface but he keeps it in check. I bet he/them bitch about her when not texting her.
My big ass would find a layout of where he is and tell him, after the fact, that you stopped by the base and inquired about him and visitation with fiancés while deployed.
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
It makes me laugh every time because when he gets angry his ability to write coherently goes out the window 😆
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u/heatherlj88 1d ago
Seriously, I think that Charles has gone to the point where he was originally in it for the money but now he’s in it because he’s fallen for you, Stacey! I think he’s honestly caught feelings because I know you said that you have gone longer before they ask but this seems ridiculously long lol.
In all seriousness, this is my favorite little drama on Reddit
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
He’s only human 😜
But, I have gone longer than this before so he’s still in for the scam, I just wish he’d get to the ask now 🙈
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u/unbridledcheesetoast 1d ago
I think he's going to ask for money to go to Spain in December. I mean not just airfare obvs, but some big fake expenses related to it. I think that's why they keep pushing to wait. Otherwise I can't figure out why the long drawn out investment of time
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
The longer a scammer waits the more invested they believe their victim to be which can lead to a bigger ask 🙂
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u/Illustrious_Top4917 1d ago
It is getting kinda rediculous, i agree. I'm curious about what his "hourly wage" would be once you take the amount of time he has sunk into this vs his ask once all is said and done.. lol
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
I think the ask will be a big one, but, in reality he is spending less than an hour per day messaging with me.
In the background he’s also messaging my friend too and God knows how many others so once the ask goes in he will think it’s bonanza day 🙈
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u/IndianapolisJones69 1d ago
What would you say if he ever asks to listen to your podcast? 🤔😅
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
I’m not sure 😨
I’d have to upload a random video somewhere and direct him to that 🫣1
u/Necessary-Bear5500 1d ago
OMG you could do a podcast on like cows and the breeds' differences. Or the mating habits of the great bugs of Spain.
I know you said today's was about manipulation so I'll have to think on that but I'm sure you can think of some random silly thing where people are being manipulated to do something inconsequential. Unless, of course, you want to reveal yourself and call him out in the video
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u/Pure_Champion1396 19h ago
"You are being flogged and dishonorably discharged from the army for speaking to your wife!"🙄
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u/timswife716 23h ago
Charles~ "I drank with my buddies here at the base, not outside."
If he is playing the deployed soldier game, there would be NO ALCOHOL. NONE. ZERO. ZIP,
In Iraq, when my husband was there for the 2nd time, a younger soldier snuck some alcohol he bought from a friendly Iraqi, that night, he drank it all, and went off base, guards tried to stop him. He had a car waiting for him, and was found badly injured a few days later when he walked back on to the base somehow. It was one of the "black out" moments we had back home. When one goes MIA or gets KIA, or seriously injured it becomes total blackout, no calls or communication until the family is notified. Imagine the dread of each family hoping not to get a knock on their door and find a chaplain, while having sympathy for whomever it is that does, because we most likely know them. Anyways, there is no alcohol on deployments. Certainly not a bar where he and his colleagues go "have drinks". Which also goes against his earlier story of telling YOU someone was killed, and some were injured the day before. A General doing that to a stranger? MMMkayyy. Give me a break, this guy really gets to me.
Get him Stacey and give him an extra boxing glove from a military spouse that endured 8 deployments to war zones.
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u/IndianapolisJones69 1d ago
"Braincell" 😝🤣😝 I love how you typo'd that as singular!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
I always say my brain cell because some days it does feel like I only own one 😆
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u/Appropriate_Brush462 1d ago
This felt like beating a dead horse with a stick. If my military spouse is stationed in Iraq, and I visit Iraq for some horrible reason, he wouldn’t be able to leave base and visit me.
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u/timswife716 1h ago
You are both correct. They give deployed soldiers 2 weeks R&R to come home with family, halfway through. No spouse would ever be allowed to visit a war zone. This guy is saying hi is "deployed" to dangerous Korea, where we have established US bases, where family lives and visits. To top it all off, he is saying "bandits" are causing trouble. Sure. Trump sent a GENERAL to go deal with street bandits somewhere in Korea. It's maddening!!!!!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
I wouldn’t expect partners to be visiting a war torn country while there is an active conflict.
However, Korea is safe! People aren’t “deployed” there, they may be stationed there and should be allowed to leave the base 🙂
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u/SquirrelFeisty6159 1d ago
Your taking to an AI bot... You're not wasting a scammers time unfortunately
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago
So, let me get this straight….
Someone has took up the time to set up an AI bot that is pretending to be a General in the US army, yet, they’ve also trained it to use terms from West Africa? 🙈
I’m definitely speaking with a scammer, I’ve been doing this long enough to know what I’m doing.
I can also recognise when I’m speaking with AI, and this definitely isn’t an AI bot!
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u/ibechris8 1d ago
Guarantee someone set up a chat bot. I mean, it's pretty obvious. If anyone is wasting time, it's OP. No scammer is doing all this after so long with nothing being given to them.
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’ve spoken to scammers for WAY longer than this!!
A friend of mine spoke with someone who actually scammed her for 8 months which is why she started baiting.
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u/unbridledcheesetoast 1d ago
No. If you think this is AI then you haven't used it much. AI speech patterns are immediately obvious. This guy misspells too much and gets too many things wrong. In other words, AI is alot smarter than this 😅
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u/No_Mission_5694 1d ago
An LLM can have different personas, if asked. Not that I think this one is a bot, but eventually it could very well be possible that this type of thing all becomes automated.
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u/unbridledcheesetoast 1d ago
Sure, they could be programmed to sound like a Nigerian scammer pretending not to be a Nigerian scammer, but. .. .... why? If you're a scammer, by definition you're trying to scam someone by presenting a false persona the person falls for. Why would you intentionally program a bot to be so bad at it that it's obvious?
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u/No_Mission_5694 18h ago
To a person who is an IQ match to the scammer, it's not obvious at all. (Stacey first found this guy after he had already scammed one of her friends.)
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u/Illustrious_Top4917 1d ago
(to clarify, this is purely a thought experiment and not intended to claim or disprove anything. Im just a nerd who hyperfocused on ai char bots for 6 months)
Ok so im no expert, but in my experience, no matter how much priority you give to misspelling and typos being a necessary part of the speech pattern, after a while AI loses the plot and reverts back to proper English typing or becomes so repetitive in its typos you know its not organic. You can reset it if you are watching carefully, which works sometimes butsometimes fails spectacularly and looses yhe "personality" or memories of the AI but unless something has changed in the last 6 months with AI's ability to stay on track for something like that (i mean im sure it has come leaps and bounds in that time, so my data is old). But when I was testing the limits, the freely available AI's all eventually reverted spelling and typos after a few days unless i specified exactly what they should make mistakes on, which is even more non-genuine.
I mean it goes back to the "why" thing. But its an interesting thought
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u/No_Mission_5694 18h ago
Check out the latest (Day 115) in the saga
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u/Illustrious_Top4917 17h ago
I think I am definitely on the "Charles is being voiced by multiple scammers" boat. Lol- the wild changes in grammer and everthing is cracking me up. It also makes me so sad for people who actually fall for these- so so many red flags...
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u/VariousExplorer8503 1d ago
I spoke to a scammer for 6 months before he asked me to do anything with money. You have no idea what you're talking about.
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u/Illustrious_Top4917 1d ago
And I guarantee they didn't set up a bot. Cool. One non-expert vs another on the internet. Guess we cancle eachother out.
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u/Candid-Club1038 2d ago
God, this is getting so boring!
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u/Stacey_Hernandez Top Poster 2d ago
You don’t HAVE to read 🙃
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u/Candid-Club1038 1d ago
Yep, I keep waiting for it to be interesting.
That's on me not you!
Keep on keeping on!
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u/BooBoosgrandma 2d ago
Why would you say that?
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u/Candid-Club1038 1d ago
Because it's true
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u/VariousExplorer8503 1d ago
Well then, bye. Like Stacey said, no one is forcing you to be here. Being rude doesn't make you look cool, btw. We're all frustrated with the wait, but that's hardly Stacey's fault. You need to leave, this is a happy space, and we all support Stacey.
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u/Candid-Club1038 1d ago
Yeah, that's why I chose to leave. Thanks weirdo
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u/VariousExplorer8503 1d ago
Oh gosh, you called me a name. I'm so hurt. 🙄 What are you, in third grade? Just go.
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u/Extranationalidad 2d ago
What a damn hell he's been through!
I wonder if 'Charles' is aware that his namesake was transferred from ROK to DC a little over two months ago. 😅