|
Friday, August 29, 2008
|
|
Call me a cynic, but...
|
You may have heard of "Freecycle" on the web. If not, it is a network implemented through local Yahoo groups, whose stated mission is to help reduce the amount of "stuff" that ends up in landfills. The general idea is that if you have something you no longer need or want, rather than throw it away, you can post a notice on a local Freecycle stating that you have an unwanted but still good widget. Other people in your area who subscribe to the group will receive an email about your unwanted widget. If one of them can use said widget, they email you directly and you can arrange to meet with them to give them your widget. One less thing in the dump. A proverbial win-win deal, you get rid of an unneeded item, someone who can use it gets it. I love the concept, and have been a "stuff" recycler long before it was fashionable and long before there was Freecycle. Things like freecycle make it much easier. I hate throwing out stuff that is still serviceable and have given loads of stuff away via freecycle, and gotten some goodies as well. Apparently lots of other people like the idea as well, there are over 4500 of these groups now. Like I said, win-win.
Freecycle rules allow one to occasionally request an item or two, but over doing that is strongly discouraged, as is "begging". Postings like: "I am a one-legged blind single mother of 12 from Sri-lanka in DESPERATE need of a ...." are a definite no-no. They go to some lengths to explain that freecycle is NOT a charity organization. Posting requests for expensive items is generally not allowed and is considered bad etiquette. You are also specifically forbidden to ask for or offer money or "swaps" for you wants or offers. Doing any of the above occasionally results in someone being banned from a group. Of course, there is ALWAYS someone too rude, clueless, or stupid to abide by such conventions. I saw the following posted the other day:
"I need wheels BAD! I take walk and buses to at least 4 medical appts. each week, (im disabled) and I need wheels to help this , the appointments take HOURS longer cuz I need public trans. So I can come get that eyesore out of our yard and then fix it up and wont have to walk or bus to my doctors appointments. Plus I can offer to trade you out some help for it...
Like the stairs in the back you need replaced, or it's time to clean the chimney, maybe you just need help in the yard to remove a few bushes."
Aside from the multiple obvious violations of the rules and "spirit" of the whole freecycle thing, look at what this guy is telling us. He's disabled. He does not like to rely on public transit, as it wastes too much of his time. He obviously cannot work due to his disability, but he can fix the free car you give him and possibly rebuild your stairs (!?), dig up some bushes for you, or CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY!!. HUH? Yeah, that's just what I want, a DISABLED guy up on my roof with a 30 foot long wire brush scrubbing out my chimney. Great plan. Amazing!
But wait, there's more. The same guy also posted 3 other requests. One under the title of "Pennies, pennies, pennies for charity" and in the body of the message stated only:
"You got pennies, I got charities..." Yeah, I'll bet you do. He also, in three other posts, requested a "large cooler so that we can go camping this weekend" and "luggage suitable for international travel", and "An LCD monitor because I have no more room on my desk." I swear I am not making this stuff up. In fairness I must mention that he did also post some offers to give stuff away. A couple of partial cans of house paint, some shower curtain hooks, a 50' network cable, and a brake cylinder hone (with extra replacement stones!).*
It never ceases to amaze me how people can take the most simple and well intentioned thing, and abuse it.
* Full disclosure - I sort of wanted the brake cylinder hone and considered responding, but decided against it. I already have one.
|
|
thus voiced The A, Mistah @ 7:49 PM
|
|
+
|
|
|
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
May 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
October 2011
November 2011
December 2011
January 2012
June 2012
July 2012
|
