freecycle

freecycle

ok, I adore Freecycle. Its ethos, the way you can post something on the board and someone will pitch up and haul off your tat, the mild aura of virtue as you are thanked profusely...
I don't believe for a moment that humans do anything for altruism only. We may think we do but c'mon...you telling me you don't like being thanked for your help, or enjoy that rosy glow of having helped out your fellow man? pah!

Anyhow - on London's freecycle today, there is a heated thread going on about whether people should read the WANTED ads before posting an OFFERED ad. ( FYI - you can post OFFERED when you have something to offer, WANTED if you want something, and TAKEN to let everyone know they can stop filling your inbox.) When I joined around a year ago, it was understood that the etiquette of posting dictates that you offer something before asking for something. Nowt was mentioned about taking stuff without offering, which, I believe, is what most people do.

Anyhow, irate person no. 1 was going on about how they wanted something and saw 3 similar items get offered ( and taken ). They said that there should be some rule that says that people should read the wanted ads and offer their stuff to the wanting ones, before posting an offer. Hmmm, needless to say, this person didn't manage to get what they want...if they had gotten it, would they have posted an irate message? No...methinks not.

Heated emails shot back and forth, clogging up inboxes the length and breadth of London. Personally, if I have something to get rid of, I am going to post it under OFFERED and let the damn thing go. I am not going to trawl the old emails to see if someone wants it. And, how, pray, will somone know if they WANTED something and they got it..? huh? post a GOT IT message? foo! If I see a wanted add and it reminds me that I have the item that is wanted, gathering dust, then, great - I contact them and they can have it.

Anyhow - another interesting fact is that whenever a chattering classes broadsheet publishes an article on Freecycle, not only is it inundated with new users, but they are rather vocal users. As in demanding top of the range appliances ( spot the difference: need a telly please as mine has broken, with remote if possible. Will collect anywhere AND I want a 32" flat screen television, working only, will collect in SE6) and as in having lots to say about the way freecycle is run, which type of person is deserving of their unwanted stuff (only unwed mothers it seems, anyone else obviously doesn't need a helping hand). Or am I just seeing a slice of society?

When something is free, it's amazing how ordinarily polite people are changed into ravening, righteous, greedy beasts. Oh, nothing new there then. Rant over.