Showing posts with label i see what you did there. Show all posts
Showing posts with label i see what you did there. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

Here's my favorite from today:

Subject: RE-OFFER: DIET SODA
Diet Mountain Holler, fridge-ready 12 pack...minus one can.

Just tell us that the soda tastes like ass and you'd like to share this 11 pack of vile misery with others. LOL

As Always,
Me.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

Very rarely do I post WANTEDs. It's usually something that I cannot afford for a while but could really put to use if acquired immediately or something that I don't really need but would gladly have if it was available. This way, if I don't get it, it's really not that big of a deal.

I understand that there are pseudo-hoarders who use the Freecycle list to feed their addiction. They post OFFERs often, to make it appear like they are giving things away but, in honesty, they aren't choosing anyone who responds. Then they post WANTEDs. Let me say, I understand this much and generally have accepted it. Hoarding is a manifestation of a legitimate psychological condition. They're going to be at garage sales, poking through curb piles, and posting on Freecycle lists. That's just how it goes.

But I'm really annoyed. It really, really annoys me. I mean I absolutely hate it. When one of these people constantly posts a WANTED for an item that was just posted as wanted by another Freecycler. It's as if the other person reminded that hoarder that they would also like whatever that is. So they just post their WANTED for the same exact damn thing just moments after the original post went out to the group.

It pisses me off because then it becomes a competition and the hoarder's inherent selfishness bubbles to the surface.

It's ugly.

Just ugly.

Don't do it.

As Always,
Me.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

In consideration of this letter where we reviewed the types of post labels permitted to Freecycle, I'd like to get into how not to side-step around the WANTED to post a NEED.

WANTED: I really need a stack of magazines by this afternoon

I have changed the actual item but the original was equivalent to a stack of magazines.

First of all, you don't start explaining in the subject. The subject should read: WANTED: stack of magazines

Secondly, you don't set a deadline to it. You're asking someone to give you something. Plus, on moderated lists, it's likely the post won't even be distributed to the list before your deadline expires. This will make it even less likely that you will receive what you want because people think the time has passed.

Finally, you don't need magazines. You want them. They may be required for a project but if you're posting same day for a stack of them, that's poor planning on your part and does not constitute an emergency to violate basic posting guidelines and etiquette. Freecycle doesn't post NEEDED, it posts WANTED because everyone is equal and all WANTEDS and OFFERS are equal.

As Always,
Me

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.