Freecycle - Beggars CAN be choosers!

mttylad

axomoxia wrote: »

The purpose of freecycle is to keep things out of landfill. It has no other purpose

Actually many groups do have other purposes but keeping stuff out of landfill is their main aim.

and certainly not a chance for people to play Lord and Lady Bountiful, bestowing their gift upon the grovelling poor.

People do not do this, however they are giving away something of theirs and are fully entitled to choose who they give it to with whatever criteria they choose, not giving it to someone who constantly claims to be destitute but desperate for lots of high value goods is one criteria that many choose to use to put someone on their black list.

I got a few noses out of joint when I suggested on my old freecycle forum that if they wanted to _really_ help people there where a couple of local charities that aided those who were genuinely completely destitute who would be very glad of items they were holding back for the "right sort".

Is should blooming well think you got several people upset, did you actually read what you wrote?

Let me remind you.

axomoxia wrote: »

The purpose of freecycle is to keep things out of landfill. It has no other purpose

The purpose of Freecycle is NOT to provide stuff to the poor, the needy or anyone with a purple hippopotamus called George that needs a wheelchair! Someone offering something does not need to give it to the most neediest person, they get to choose who to give it to - what part of their right to choose do you not understand?

Anyone that wants to give to charities can do so however there are not many left that will accept microwaves, faulty washing machines or 32" CRT tv's - Freecycle members do.

Elsewhere

jackthelad wrote: »

WANTED: Portable air conditioning unit (Mitcham)
It is so hot in this house and I'm desperate for an air-con unit. Thanks
for looking

Yea right -try opening windows!:D

Weird as it may seem, we actually gave away a brand new one of these last year - we won it in a raffle and didn't need it ourselves.

:rotfl:

spike7451

I've gotten a couple things of Freecycle myself,mainly a leather Pouffe stool, (to go under the high windowsill in the living room for Daisy cat to use to jump onto) a soft baby changing thing,that Daisy uses for a bed,a few large sofa pillows for the Feral cats in the ASSISI Animal Sanctuary & recently,a Flymo mini mo (to replace my knackered Flymo) ironically from another volunteer (although I didn't know till we met up to swap!) at ASSISI.
Little things that are of use,I've also seen more requests for fridges,laptops,game consols althought the one in the local Freecycle group last month took the biscuit...Someone was looking for a CARAVAN!!

popadom

I used to put loads on freecylce . Dont do it as much anymore. I put some books on freecycle-saying first come first serve. About 2 hours later i had two people turn up, thought they looked familair , but let them take the books. It was only after someone pointing out i hadnt infact given anyone the address (checked emails) that i panicked a bit. I emailed the people who picked it up and they had either been given my address by a friend who had had something of me or kept it. I cant remember which but i was furious. I emailed the admin and they didnt seem to care. These people were the ones who tended to ask for loads and never offer.