Sunday, January 29, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

The freecycler asking for "a shrubbery that looks nice and isn't too expensive" is made of awesome.

As Always,
Me.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

There are a lot of advantages to having a moderator that is nice enough to allow your local list to be unmoderated for posting. This means that if you have a time sensitive OFFER or WANTED post, it will reach the local freecyclers almost immediately after you posted it. In moderated lists, you are subjected to the whim of the moderator so your time sensitive post could end up getting sent out hours to a full day after you needed it out there.

So if you're lucky enough to be a member of a list that's unmoderated, don't abuse it. A moderator can always delete posts that are inappropriate but it should really be unnecessary for a moderator to have to delete a post that went out to over a thousand people asking for a blowjob.

Grow up.

As Always,
Me.

Update:
Specifically about freecycling for sexual favors, a member who posted a WANTED for a blowjob was reported as "Inappropriate" by several other members. The moderator then reported the post to the local police department whose Sexual Victims Unit launched an investigation. Part of the investigation is tracing the post to the individual who created it. Freecycling for sexual favors is considered Sexting and Sexual Harassment. It is against the law in many areas of the United States, as well as throughout other parts of the world.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

If you want seven different items and your local list requests that you keep or outright requires you to keep a 1:1 ratio with WANTED and OFFER posts, do not for the love of all that is good and decent in this world, pick out seven paperback books from your bookcase and create an OFFER post for each individual book.

That old John Grisham bestseller might have been made into a movie but it's not really on par with asking for a new carpet shampooer and you know it. Not only is it bad manners to flood the list, it's blatant that you're being cute to get what you want.

Control yourself, please.

As Always,
Me.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

Hi. I have two very helpful suggestions today.

When you're offering books and you say they're old, that's good. When you say they're a little worn, that's a considerate disclosure, too. Don't omit that they're water damaged and moldy. Not only is that very gross but it is a health hazard. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others but you do not mess around with mold and this should not be a surprise during the pick-up. I agree wholeheartedly that it's a shame when old books are going to waste and I wish many of them could be passed on to people who would use them. They can't have mold. It may break your heart to throw them away but that's what needs to be done. You have no idea how mad I am at you.

When you're offering bath/body products, that's awesome. Lots of people love that stuff, the variety they can get, and to get it for free is incredible. That's really generous. It's great that you mentioned some of them were opened and partially used but you might just want to hold on to those. I'm sure someone will take it but... eww!

As Always,
Me.