the freecycle rant

I joined our local freecycle group a few years ago in hopes of passing on some of my no-longer-needed items to people who could really use them, and possibly getting a few things I could use in return.  I used the group a lot when I first joined, giving away loads of things and receiving some plants, a shower head, and I'm not even sure what else.  It seemed to work well.

Then came the recession, I suppose.  Now, my freecycle email folder is chock full of messages from the same people asking for the same things over and over and over again.  This isn't a charity, people!  This is supposed to be a way to keep things out of the landfills, or so I originally supposed.  Want, want, want, want, want, from all the same people, with very few offers in between.  It seems to me that, in order for the system to work effectively, the wants and offers ought to somewhat balance each other out.  At least, that's the way it seems.

Furthermore, the wants are absolutely absurd.  No, I'm not going to give your son a brand new laptop for school.  No, I don't have a whatchamacallit in mint condition.  Ooops, sorry.  I don't have a spare flat-screen tv laying around, nor do I want to give you the cd player or "shinee" rims that you think you need for your car.

Get over it, people.  Let's remember what is the difference between wants and needs.  My wants are many, but my needs are few.  When I do peruse the listings in freecycle, I'd rather not see your whiney-ass asking for the same thing for the tenth time in as many days.  Lucky number two hundred and eighty three doesn't cut it.  Sorry, sucker.