Me and three friends, Chelsea, Theresa, and Christina, planned to go to a concert in Korea for an upcoming tour. Buying tickets on the official website is really difficult if you don’t live in Korea and have a permanent Korean phone number to access the Korean version of the website instead of the very slow and buggy global version, so none of us were able to get tickets in the sale.
Chelsea and I ended up buying resale tickets in the first couple of rows. Technically this is banned, but it is possible if you know how and where to look. I’ve done it before for other shows, as has Chelsea (she’s actually the one who taught me how to get them). I am fortunate enough to have a very well-paying job, and Chelsea also has a good income. She has no living expenses because her dad is well off bought her an apartment and covers everything else, so essentially everything she earns is hers to spend on herself.
Christina and Theresa, on the other hand, have modest-paying jobs and no family help. They simply cannot afford $3,500 per ticket, which is about what they are paying for the whole 10 day trip.
Since we bought the tickets, they have been calling us selfish, awful, and spoiled. Theresa specifically said we need to accept when we miss out on something instead of buying our way in because we are richer. I told her that while I understand that sentiment, that is just how life works. Opportunities sometimes cost more than some people can afford and I grew up poor so actually do understand that it sucks, but now that I am in a better place in life, and I don’t think I should have to deny myself something I want and can afford when I work hard at my job. Most of the people upset about this seem to be upset precisely because they cannot afford it and would do the same if they could.
Christina even said she hopes something goes wrong with the tickets so we do not go and have to accept our date. I reminded her to stop being bitter she can’t afford it and taking it out on Chelsea and I that she hasn’t got the money. She stormed off and has been making passive aggressive tweets about "rich kids" for hours and has started "buying scalped tickets is as bad as being a scalper" discourse in our fandom circle.
AITA?
EDIT: They know we have the tickets because they wanted to go watch the live screening in the cinema since we didn’t have tickets, so Chelsea and I had to tell them we actually got tickets to the shows so would be going. We weren’t bragging, they’d have figured it out eventually when they realised we went.
NTA. But they don’t have to be friends with y’all. They don’t have to wish you bon voyage. They are free to decide they don’t like you anymore.
kinda sounds like they need to accept that life ain’t fair and you gotta roll with the punches. can’t help it if you got the cash, right?
NTA. They’re just jealous because you have more money than them.
NTA
I don’t understand. Why is it their business what you do with your money? Are these people actually your friends?
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Is it flaunting your rich ways if you tell someone you got tickets for a concert? I think it’s weird if you have “friends” you can’t share good news with out of risk of them feeling jealous.
NTA. You’re not wrong for spending your own money on something you can afford. Just because your friends can’t buy the resale tickets doesn’t mean you have to miss out too. Opportunities like that don’t come around often
I do get why they’re upset though. It probably feels bad seeing two people in the group get amazing seats while they can’t even go. That kind of money difference can make people feel left out.
Still, wishing your tickets fail and calling you spoiled is unfair. You worked for your money and chose to spend it on something meaningful to you. That doesn’t make you an asshole.
You could end up being TA to yourself if you’re buying illegal tickets and might not get in, but NTA with respect to your friends who just sound jealous they can’t afford it.
so you hid the fact that you bought these tickets from the friends you’re going on a trip with until they tried to make other plans to see the show with you? You all sound like children
Are your friends upset because you committed a crime, or because they can’t afford to do the same? (There’s plenty of dicussion about the risks of buying from scalpers on the kpop subreddit.)
I think NTA.
I’ve been the friend working multiple jobs but still just scraping by. I never expected my high-earning friends to miss out. Them missing out wouldn’t help me and I wanted them to have a good time. Yes, it can be a bummer to not be able to do things even when you know you work as hard but that hard work isn’t always properly compensated, but that’s just how it goes.
Soft EHS. I would’ve said you aren’t TA until you added the edit to the post. Hiding the fact that you have tickets from your two friends, who tried finding another way of watching the concert as a group, does make you a jerk imo.
Basically, I think all of you are being childish.