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Letters and Emails To The Moderators From ReadingFreecycle Members

Here are some letters and emails that our members have sent us on a variety of issues - these are not every letter that has been sent to us, just the ones that we felt that the group would find interesting or informative (or funny).

We have protected the anonymity of the writer.  In some cases, we also show the reply that we sent to the writer.

If you would like to speak out on a particular subject, send an email to us and we may include your letter on this "We Get Letters" page.

readingfreecycle@gmail.com

Member Judy C:  "I love your pet policy! It's absolutely on target - thanks for being part of the solution!"

Member:  "Kudos to you for hosting such a wonderful web site.  I have been able to share lots of things, and have had fun along the way, and met a lot of really nice people."

Member:  "Why do people lie?  Gas prices are not cheap ya know......I had a member offer something to me and give me directions to her work to pick them up and low and behold I get there and she does not have them. She says she forgot to bring them to work with her.

OK, so then she said she would call me the next day and bring them over to my house.....but the next day comes and goes and NO phone call.

I know you can't post my gripe to the entire group, and there really isn't anything you can do about it, but I feel a little better because I got to complain to someone about her."

Moderator Note: This was an open letter to the group that the member wrote as a portion of a "Taken" post.  We edited out this part of the post but added it to this "We Get Letters" page:

Member:  "To all members, shame on those of you who had the audacity to be picky in what I was offering. YES, the 'never used VCR' works and it IS a very good brand name. Shame on all of you for ruining my own excitement of offering something to someone else who could really use it.

My family is so broke this year that nobody is getting Christmas gifts, yet I'm giving away something I could easily sell.....I'm giving it away to others in need like I am.  And you all ruined my excitement by being picky.  I can't express my disappointment enough.

Thank you to all of you who were polite and didn't care what condition anything was in, as long as I was willing to consider you. You are what the spirit of Freecycling is all about."

This email was received in a series of "back-and-forth" emails that were started when we rejected a "Wanted" post - the member tried to ask for guns and rifles that he said would be turned in to his church's "Toys For Guns" program.  We tried to explain that even if we believed that his church had such a program, firearms, guns and rifles, etc are not allowed to be posted on Freecycle.  The member wrote back and asked for a further explanation. 

We replied that "Prohibiting gun postings is only common sense - think about it for a minute - what if someone gets a gun on Freecycle and then commits a crime or God forbid even kills someone?  We will NEVER make an exception to this policy.  Ever.  No matter how good you think the reason is, it isn't good enough.  If any of our members has a firearm or ammunition they don't want, they should take it to the police themselves and turn it in."

Member:  "You are acting like guns are the problem & they aren't, it's people that know nothing about them or people who shouldn't have them in the first place.

How is it common sense?  Someone could get a car on Freecycle and get in an accident or God forbid run someone over.  So maybe cars shouldn't be allowed either.

Or maybe no electronics, because you know if someone used them near water, they could get electrocuted."

Member:  "I noticed that there have been several WANTED postings by a member named (we deleted the member name from this page to protect the member's anonymity) for some rather pricey items in the same day.  I try not to complain but I would love to get the same things for my son.  The fact that this person asked for items worth $100 or more concerns me that they are abusing our website."

Moderator note:  We agreed, so we deleted the posts and put the offending member back on moderation.

Member:  "I really hate to sound like a tattle tale, but I feel that this is important and needs to be brought to your attention.

Yesterday I posted an air conditioner and of course, had a lot of response (the post was during the summer). This morning when I checked my email, I got a message from someone named (we deleted the member name from this page to protect the member's anonymity).

She said she really needed this air conditioner and proceeded to try to coerce me into giving it to her.  She said her boyfriend could hardly breathe in this heat and that this could be a life or death situation.

Basically, I feel, trying to guilt me into giving it to her. I don't feel this kind of request is necessary. According to the rules and regulations, you may give your freecycle items to whomever you chose.  No one should be made to feel that the MUST give it to any one person. Thank you for your time."

Member:  "I am a new member and I feel I get too many requests from people looking for things rather than offering items. This does not seem to be in the spirit of Freecycle, clogs up the e-mail, and may discourage people from staying active.

I know there is probably little you can do, and I want you to know that I very much appreciate your efforts to make this wonderful website available!  Thank you."

Moderator note:  We replied, "Wanted postings are generally a good thing because sometimes people see a wanted posting for an item that they have, an item that has just been collecting dust, etc. Some members have told me they NEVER offer anything, but just watch for Wanted postings because it is (for them) a memory jogger. They also say it is easier and less hassle to respond to one person's Wanted posting than it is to actually Offer an item, and then have to read 20 emails requesting that item, etc and pick one person to give the item to."

Read the next "Letter" for another Member's opinion of Wanted postings.

Member:   "I'm a member of several freecycle groups and a lot of people complain about wanted ads.  I understand it can get frustrating when someone is asking for an expensive item, but those posts are easy to ignore.

I love the wanted ads.  Most of what I've given on Freecycle was because I saw their wanted ad.  I just simply don't realize it's something I could get rid of or anyone would want until I see someone looking for it. 

Besides, I hate it when someone responds to my free ads and when I write back I never hear from them again.  It took me a week to get rid of something recently because I was trying to give to the people that responded first.  I told them they could come and they never wrote even to say that they weren't interested anymore.

Anyway, sorry to waste your time, but I couldn't resist giving my opinion on it all.  Thanks for reading my ramblings!"

Member:  "I would like to post a message that I remove unwanted lawn tractors that are NOT running (I know that I am not allowed to ask for working lawn tractors). Anyway, I see this as a form of keeping things out of the landfill. I am a mechanic and I repair them and resell them after I have put many hours into them.

I wanted to check with the moderators though before I went ahead and posted.  Is this OK?"

Moderator Note:  We replied, "Yes, it's perfectly OK to post a WANTED message for NOT running or junk lawn tractors. You do not need to say anything about fixing them and reselling them (because everyone will know that is what you are doing).

Good luck - hope you get a few to work on (and keep them out of the landfills!).

This reply was received after we had to reject a post that contained a small amount of advertising - we asked the member to revise the post and then resubmit it.

Member:  "Moderators, I totally understand. You've got a tough job to do, and I'm sure you get a lot of crap for doing it.  I'll change the post and resubmit it."

Member:   "I just want to say thank you for the work you do in moderating this group.  I'm sure it is a lot more work than we realize, and you get way more grief than you deserve.

I've always figured that if I get a post I don't want, I just delete it. If the person continues to annoy me, I can block that sender in my mail program - problem solved.

In any case, thank you for moderating the group. I have enjoyed being a member since I joined and I intend to continue using and enjoying Freecycle!"

Member:   "I have been a member with the Reading Freecycle group for a number of months... I see the Reading Freecycle moderators as some of the least intrusive behind the scenes operators of any message service/bulletin board service I have ever been involved with going back to the old FidoNet days.

In short, I think you moderators do a great job! Like many folks in that type of position, I feel they are highly under-appreciated. If someone doesn't like the job being done I would love to see them try it themselves! (or find the door)."

Member:  "Dear moderators, I love Freecycle and I have a question about posting photos. I noticed that there is a photo menu on the group page. Would I be able to make an album with pictures of the available items that i would be freecycling. I figured that this would save time from having to email interested people pictures and would help people know ahead of time if this item is really what they are thinking about. Thus cutting down on emails. Please let me know if I can do this. This is my first time using yahoo groups so I'm not quite sure if this is the purpose of the photo section. Thanks."

Moderator Note:  We sent this email in reply:  "Sorry - we don't allow photos group's website. It's a safeguard because if we allowed pictures to be posted, they could be porn or otherwise objectionable material.  Also, because we have over 4,000 members, you really don't need pictures to find a member who would love to come get your item."

Member:  "I appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to this group.  Freecycle is an innovative group that has provided my family with the opportunity to purge and acquire items. Keep up the great work you do!"

Member:  "I have been a member for about a year and I absolutely enjoy freecycling.  I enjoy helping others and all of the wonderful help and advice from others.

Thanks for doing a GREAT job!!!"