primitives don't like freeloaders

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x1400

Oh my.

I'm not familiar with this "freecycle" thing, but I reasonably assume it's a place where people post "wish-list," hoping to get something for nothing?

youthere  (1000+ posts)        Fri Aug-10-07 02:54 PM
Original message
 
A small rant about Freecycle...

I belong to three different Freecycle groups and I get email updates everytime someone posts a message and I am so SICK of seeing "WANTED" on every frickin' one of them. Page after page of people looking to get something...and it's postings like "Wanted: Piano or Wanted: Color television with remote or Wanted: Blue or Green Sofa" and each person posts six or seven "wants". That is NOT what freecycle was created for.

Now I understand there are those people who have genuine needs but I just get the feeling there are too many folks out there with the Gimmees.

I have never taken one single thing off of freecycle, and I love the fact that someone else might be able to use something I might otherwise throw away, or something that would just sit here and collect dust, but it irks me that some people see it as a private shopping service. I know for the most part freecycle is great but I just got done wading through 46 "WANTED" messages...(and I live in rural Iowa)

Okay...I'm done.

DrDan  (1000+ posts)      Mon Aug-13-07 06:56 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. doesn't bother me

I have helped out some of the "wanted" posters - the latest a girl who needed a high-chair . . .

The little-kid would probably not need a high chair had she simply waited for someone to post one as available . . . and I never would have thought of it as it was stuck away in the attic . . .

So a "wanted" is fine on my mail list.

youthere  (1000+ posts)        Tue Aug-14-07 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. I'm not talking about those kind of "wanteds" 

Some recent ones:

Laptop Computer

DVR

Washer and Dryer (with a stipulation they should be frontloading only)-I've seen plenty of wanteds asking for washers and dryers, but if you need a washer and dryer so bad why does it matter if they are frontloaders?

Under the counter dishwasher (preferably no more than 5 years old)

THESE are the kind of WANTEDS I'm talking about. There was one a couple days ago wanting a 32 color flatscreen television. I finally emailed the moderators to ask if these were joke postings.

Ms. Ed, the unappellated eohippus, the nonmonickered equine:

Horse with no Name  (1000+ posts)        Thu Aug-16-07 02:43 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
4. Someone on our Freecycle wanted a Harley

Can you absolutely believe that ONE?

I know exactly what you mean.

I give tons of stuff away, and TWICE I asked for something someone offered, but I didn't have a sob story to get the stuff.

youthere  (1000+ posts)        Mon Aug-20-07 01:03 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
6. A freaking HARLEY? 

doesn't EVERYONE have one of those just lying around the house?

xmas74 (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-11-08 11:46 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
13. Someone wanted a Wii on one of my lists. I thought it had to be a joke.

Le Taz Hot  (1000+ posts)      Wed Feb-13-08 10:14 AM
Response to Reply #13
 
14. You're not going to believe this but someone actually offered up a Wii on my Freecyle. I can't believe some of the things that have gone up for Offer -- TV's, dishwashers, washers, dryers. I guess I'm hooked into a really good one because you can't put up a Wanted without putting up an Offer. I just scored a child's car seat for a foster child that I know of. In return, I Offered Bergenias that I had thinned out of my yard.

xmas74 (1000+ posts)        Wed Feb-13-08 10:18 AM
Response to Reply #14
 
15. We are supposed to offer something before we can claim anything but that doesn't always work.

semillama  (1000+ posts)      Wed Aug-15-07 09:37 AM
Response to Original message
 
3. Yeah, there's some real idiots on there

I went to digest and finally went to no mail with my group, but mainly because I was using freecycle to get rid of stuff before I moved, not to acquire stuff.

One thing I noticed with the people who picked up my stuff - all of them were "rednecks" - sorry to use the stereotype but these people were spitting images of the stereotype - crappy pickup trucks, horribly done tattoos, missing teeth, mixture of chubby people with gaunt skeletal types. It was sort of creepy.

youthere  (1000+ posts)        Mon Aug-20-07 01:02 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. I have had the same experience.

kind of weird, huh?

zalinda (1000+ posts)      Mon Aug-27-07 12:38 PM
Response to Reply #3
 
7. Maybe not "rednecks" but poor people

"crappy pickup truck", can't afford a newer one
"horribly done tattoos" either do it yourself or cheap tattoo parlors
"missing teeth" no money for dentist
"mixture of chubby people with gaunt skeletal types" poor nutrition

I've gotten and given away things through freecycle, but the ones that got me are the ones who are making money off of the lists.

I was giving away a bunch of aluminum storm windows, which could be used on an older home that had no storm windows. I got 5 emails right away, 4 were from people who deal in scrap metal. I checked out each person who emailed me and looked to see what their wanteds were, 4 had posted scrap metal wanted. What pissed me off, is that not one of them said they were scrap dealers.

Our freecycle list has changed into a reuse it list, something to do with freecycle changing and becoming corporate.........I'm not sure. I'm hoping that things will change, but yeah people asking for really specific things do kind of turn me off.

Kolesar  (1000+ posts)        Sun Sep-23-07 06:05 AM
Response to Original message

8. I only occasionally scan the local freecycle board and I had the same impression!

Le Taz Hot  (1000+ posts)      Wed Jan-16-08 11:45 AM
Response to Original message

9. I joined the one on Yahoo Groups and I've had exactly the opposite experience.

They have certain rules that deter people from asking for color Tv's, DVD's etc. In this one, you have to Offer up an item or fulfill someone's Wanted item in order to put up a Wanted item of your own.

Consequently, the board is pretty evenly split between Wanted and Offers.

So far I've given away an old transcriber I had sitting around collecting dust and have gotten canning lids and vegetable and fruit seeds -- all free. Not only that, the lady with the canning lids has a lemon tree in her back yard and she said I'm free to pick all that I can haul off in my pick up.

I guess you just have to find the right freecycle but so far, I've hit the jack pot.

Ms. Ed again:

Horse with no Name  (1000+ posts)        Fri Jan-18-08 04:12 AM
Response to Original message
 
10. We have that on ours

Our Freecycle has a BuySellTrade sister site and what pisses me off are the ones on Freecycle who are ALWAYS asking for very specific things...post to sell the stuff they don't need on the sister site yet never offer it on Freecycle.

They ask for unreasonable things...boats, Harleys, etc...things of that nature.

Ours very rarely has anything to be given away except pets and old clothes.

Hardly worth the trouble except when I am cleaning out my garage and have exhausted all other means of giving things away.

Katherine Brengle (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-24-08 12:31 AM
Response to Original message
 
11. I've seen some bad ones...

Playstation 2 and XBox...

I have responded to a couple of wants though - but they were very basic (one was for a microwave and one for a high chair). I did post one once, asking for old raggedy t-shirts because I wanted to make a quilt out of them (still collecting lol) but try to avoid it.

I've only ever dealt with really nice people through Freecycle - maybe it depends a lot on the area in which one lives.

napi21  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-24-08 10:41 AM
Response to Original message
 
12. The 2 Freecycle lists I subscribe to also have restrictions that you must OFFER at least 1 free item before you can list a WANTED item. There have been a few outrageous requests, but very few. I just laugh when I read them, and wonder if that poster reall believes they're going to get that valuable of an item FREE?

HarukaTheTrophyWife  (1000+ posts)      Fri Feb-06-09 10:36 PM
Response to Original message
 
17. I don't care when people ask for kid stuff or stuff for the elderly

But on my freecycle list, we've had people asking for ATVs, dirt bikes, pick up trucks (all must be in good working condition), and an ice boat.

Meanwhile, we posted a $900 oak entertainment center on Freecycle (just too big for our living room in the new house) with precise dimensions and we had three people show up and waste our time, because they discovered it was too big to fit in their car. We flat out posted that anyone taking it would need a pick up truck or a trailer.

We ended up donating it to Habitat for Humanity. Seriously, if we say it's 6' long, 5' high and 2' deep, why the hell would you think it would fit in your back seat?

Or the worst was "wanted dog." There are a bunch of pounds around here. Go get a dog there. I'm highly suspicious of anyone posting on the internet looking for free dogs. Sounds like someone looking for bait dogs for pit fighting or a buncher for an animal lab. I brought it up to the freecycle mod, and she got really nasty with me, then posted a message saying, despite complaints, it was perfectly fine to request free animals.

Le Taz Hot  (1000+ posts)      Mon Feb-09-09 08:59 AM
Response to Original message
 
18. The Yahoo Freecycle I was on has a rule that you HAVE to do at least a 1:1 Offer/Wanted ratio but they'd prefer a 2:1. The only reason I'm not on it any longer is that I got tired of getting 200+e-mails a day.

The warped primitive:

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-09-09 02:53 PM
Response to Original message
 
19. Right, they need to delete those messages

Even if I have something, there's no way I'm going to give it to a grabber.

My own group was mostly questions about local services from veterinarians to movers. Advice was solicited and rarely was anything listed to freecycle. I deleted it about a year ago.

I've had much better luck with Craigslist. It doesn't clog my in box and I've been able to give and get things at nominal prices.

You know, I'm going to have to check out this "freecycle" thing.

I already have my wish-list written:

"Wanted, chick, dark brown or black hair, preferably 5'10" or above, aesthetics to include what are commonly referred to as 'Hebraic characteristics,' and not unnerved by the sight of a man who puts sour cream on his corn-on-the-cob or vacuums a wooden floor."

I wonder if there's any of those out there, available.

[MrsSmith]

Page after page of people looking to get something

Talk about Pot - Kettle!!   

[LC EFA]

Freecycling loves freeloaders.

If in principle it worked as you have X and would like to swap it for Y and you get Y all is well.

However it seems many people are prepared to give away X in the hope that someday someone has Y to give away, they in turn hoping that someday Z will be available at the same exchange rate. Some sort of karmic credit card.

Freeloaders like the DUmmies love this system as they request Y without having X or any intention to ever provide X.

[Chris_]

Actually, I am going to check it out.  I give away a lot of stuff -- when I haven't used something for a long time I usually give it away.

I am pretty much thinking I will be donating all the furniture in my home when I relocate next summer.  All of it is very nice and hardly used (since I am never home).  I have a perfect small DVD players and an MP3 player that I want to give away since I rip everything to disk these days.  I just gave away my 3MP camera to my MIL since my PDA/phone takes 5MP pictures.

It just isnt worth it to put the stuff on eBAY -- I just want it taken off my hands and I can't stand the guilt of knowing it is sitting there when it can be used by SOMEONE.

I will check it out to see if I can help someone.  Hey, it never hurts to ask.

Anyone know how this works?

[franksolich]

Anyone know how this works?

I'll bet the primitives, always looking for something for nothing, know how it works.

The only thing that bothers me about your generosity, sir, is that it might be expended upon a freeloading primitive, rather than a worthy cause.

[Chris_]

I'll bet the primtives, always looking for something for nothing, know how it works.

The only thing that bothers me about your generosity, sir, is that it might be expended upon a freeloading primitive, rather than a worthy cause.

Good point -- I am better off giving to Goodwill now that you mention it, since it appears there is some sort of idea of a I WANT to accompany I GIVE thing.

I don't want anything free, except birthday and Christmas gifts.  And even then, I am always feeling very appreciative.

[LC EFA]

Actually, I am going to check it out.  I give away a lot of stuff -- when I haven't used something for a long time I usually give it away.

I am pretty much thinking I will be donating all the furniture in my home when I relocate next summer.  All of it is very nice and hardly used (since I am never home).  I have a perfect small DVD players and an MP3 player that I want to give away since I rip everything to disk these days.  I just gave away my 3MP camera to my MIL since my PDA/phone takes 5MP pictures.

It just isnt worth it to put the stuff on eBAY -- I just want it taken off my hands and I can't stand the guilt of knowing it is sitting there when it can be used by SOMEONE.

I will check it out to see if I can help someone.  Hey, it never hurts to ask.

Anyone know how this works?

I take anything that I no longer need or want and can't easily sell , to a charity provided it's in good enough condition for them to accept.

They then ensure it's clean , safe / etc and either sell it in their store for a token sum or give it to people they've deemed most need it.

[Chris_]

I take anything that I no longer need or want and can't easily sell , to a charity provided it's in good enough condition for them to accept.

They then ensure it's clean , safe / etc and either sell it in their store for a token sum or give it to people they've deemed most need it.

I guess I like giving to individuals rather than organizations.  But, as Frank and you point out, I know the organizations are doing good with my stuff.  I have no way of knowing what kind of stranger I am giving to.

[jukin]

You can't make this shit up.  Freeloaders puttin the hate on freeloaders.

LMFAO-Snortin beer out my nose...which BTW ain't no fun..but stlill LFMAO...now RTFL SBOMN

[The Village Idiot]

self loathing?

[JohnnyReb]

WANTED: Airplane, must be at least 4 place, have low hours and a recent annual. Will trade finest grass clippings cut from over the septic tank in backyard.

[Carl]

Outside of the obvious irony of this being posted on a forum that is populated almost entirely of people who expect the government to confiscate the means necessary to provide them with all their wants in life is that they don`t even see why human nature proves socialism can`t work.

What to they expect everyone to ask of them to provide?
Only the most basic and meager things to exist yet they believe somehow that a share and share alike socialist state will work.
Given the opportunity to share their good fortune and wealth they get upset about it.

It is all the proof one will ever need that human nature and socialism can`t coexist.
They are too stupid,greedy and power hungry to grasp it though.

[USA4ME]

These kooks even complain about free stuff.  Further evidence the perpetually misreable will never be happy.

.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Primitives Don't Like OTHER Freeloaders.

F1xxorized.

[AllosaursRus]

I take anything that I no longer need or want and can't easily sell , to a charity provided it's in good enough condition for them to accept.

They then ensure it's clean , safe / etc and either sell it in their store for a token sum or give it to people they've deemed most need it.

Exactly! There are at least 4 second hand or charity stores around here. They all will accept anything and most times will even come out and pick stuff up if it's too big for you to move yourself.

Places like the Senior Center or Animal Rescue are my favs. There's even one that deals in used lawn mowers! They give away mowers to those who just can't afford to let go of $150 in order to keep the weeds down!

And guess what? NO GOVERNMENT INVOLVED!!! Amazing, aint it?

[delilahmused]

Anyone know how this works?

There's a freecycle in just about every area. You can find it through a google search. My group happens to be in a farm-rural area so we actually do have a lot of give and take. It's great when you just have inches of fencing left to put up and don't want to go by a whole roll.

Cindie

[AllosaursRus]

There's a freecycle in just about every area. You can find it through a google search. My group happens to be in a farm-rural area so we actually do have a lot of give and take. It's great when you just have inches of fencing left to put up and don't want to go by a whole roll.

Cindie

I'm going to have to check this out! Any chance you can get somebody to intall it too? 

I've got 50 steers coming in April!!