Problems with FreeCycle? Issues with FreeCycle Moderators? You’re Not Alone. - 8,322 Views, 112 Comments
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Note: If you’ve been disaffected by FreeCycle or their moderators, check out the comments below and add to the discussion! I used to be a huge fan of FreeCycle. And I still love the concept - what a great use of the Internet! For those not familiar with FreeCycle, it’s a program that was started in Tucson, Arizona by Deron Beal. Deron was, and probably still is, a huge fan and proponent of recycling. So Deron Beal had this great idea: let’s use the Internet as a way of getting together people who have stuff they don’t want anymore and people who want that stuff. The ultimate in recycling things so that they don’t end up in the dump, as landfill, and instead end up being used by someone who needs them. Like I said, a great idea. So Deron Beal founded FreeCycle, and it caught on like wildfire. From that first effort in Tucson, FreeCycle groups have sprung up around the country and around the world, with the current number of FreeCycling groups at over 3,500, and the current number of members over 2million. These groups are run through region-based mailing lists, with people posting things they have to give away, and others posting things that they need. Many of the lists are run through Yahoo Groups. And most, if not all, of the lists have moderators. And therein lies the rub. Because while it may be that all of the moderators started out taking on this task for a love of the earth, recycling and their fellow man, many (not all, but many) have come to treat their local FreeCycle group as their own personal fiefdom, and oh, what control freaks they are. Recycling with organizations such as FreeCycle is supposed to be a positive experience. Everybody involved is (presumably) doing something for a good reason, and for a good cause. (Cf. CansForCritters.com) But just as customer service reps make a company’s reputation (and shape a customer’s experience), so do the moderators at FreeCycle influence FreeCycle’s image, and shape the recycler’s experience. Here is a case in point. There is a moderator in the San Jose FreeCycle group - let’s call him “Tom” (because, hey, that’s his name). I personally have given away lots of things through FreeCycle, and have occasionally posted a “wanted” post as well. Such was the case earlier this week, when, due to some health issues, and an attendant change in eating style, I posted looking for an Excalibur food dehydrator (or comparable dehydrator) and a VitaMix or comparable blender. Following generally accepted Internet etiquette, I posted one post with both items, rather than posting two separate posts and clogging up everyone’s inbox with two emails when one email would do. In my post I also explained why I was looking for these items - which are rather high end items - so folks would understand why I was asking for them. My message was not approved, and I got back this response from the moderator, whose username was “playgroundsuper@yahoo.com” (that right there should have told me something): “You are allowed to ask for ONE item and we ask that you simply ask for the one item with no long reason why. This keeps the list objective. please review the policies of freecycle. Just ask for either one, only one, not to be repeated for one month.” Now, I have asked for more than one item at once before..lots of people do. But apparently playgroundsuper and the folks in San Jose FreeCycle don’t like that. Also, this rejection can be read a couple of ways - either ask for one item per email and keep it short (which is consistent with the “no long reason why”), or you may only ask at all for one item in a given month. Well, I’ve been using FreeCycle long enough to know that the latter made no sense, and besides, that would just be ridiculous. So I gamely reposted a request for each item separately, keeping it very short (so short that to me it seemed rude, but if that’s what they wanted…). And…I got back this reply from playgroundsuper (mind you, they did not sign their notes with a name, so that’s all I knew to call them), rejecting my Excalibur dehydrator request (and making no mention of the VitaMix request, which I therefore assumed had gone through). The post she had rejected was for an “Excalibur or comparable dehydrator”: “My message strictly said pick ONE item. Wanted posts are for ONE item at a time. And the requested item cannot be repeated for a month.” Ok, now, WTF? I had done exactly what she had demanded - I had posted just one item in my post. (I say “she” because by this point I was sure that I was dealing with some frustrated housewife, given both the “playgroundsuper”, and the fact that she was such a complete bitch). “One item at a time” means, well, just that - one item at a time. And the “And the requested item cannot be repeated for a month” only reinforced that. After all, if you could only post one request per month at all, you wouldn’t then say “And the requested item cannot be repeated for a month,”, you’d say “And you cannot post any other wanted request for a month”. [Yes, I'm being a lawyer, hey, language construction is my job.] Anyways, clearly a reasonable reading of all this was that you can only post one item per post, and you can not repeat a given request within a month. At this point, despite her bitchiness, I decided to try and play nice - it’s worth it once in awhile to rub elbows with the hoi polloi after all. So I wrote back very politely: “That was one item! I’m confused? I’m trying to comply with your request, but what did I do wrong?” Came the instant answer: “When I originally rejected your post I asked that you pick ONE item and post, not to post them in separate messages.”‘ Umm..no, you didn’t..you told me “You are allowed to ask for ONE item and we ask that you simply ask for the one item with no long reason why.” Given that most of FreeCycle has no problem with people asking for several things, the interpretation was certainly reasonable. Ok, so now I figured I was dealing with not only a frustrated housewife bitch, but one who did not really have a clear grasp about how to write effectively. Clearly this poor underachiever, for whom FreeCycle moderatorship was probably her own domain of power, needed me to be polite and understanding not withstanding her own poor attitude. Given her problem with the language, and given that the Excalibur post was the one at issue, I deduced that perhaps “Excalibur or comparable” was violating the “not two items” rule - or maybe she thought I was asking for a sword and a dehydrator, so I wrote back: “I’m trying to figure this out…maybe you didn’t realize that an Excalibur is a certain style of dehydrator, so I was saying we needed one or one like it? Kind of like saying “I need a rain coat or a similar kind of coat”. Is that not ok?” And playgroundsuper wrote back: “You posted for two items. A dehydrter AND a vitamix. You cannot post for two wanteds. Please see the other message I sent. And yes I know what that item is, in fact I know what both of them are. It is a matter of posting for two separate wanteds, whether they are in the same post or in two posts. One wanted post, one item. ” Ok, now I see. Despite how ridiculous it may seem, it really is the case that you can only ask for one item per month (why she couldn’t have made it easy and said “one item per month” at the outset was beyond me - perhaps that sort of straight-forward language hadn’t, oh, maybe, occurred to her). [Note that all of the quotes from playgroundsuper are exactly as they came to me - typo and grammar and all.] Still biting my tongue - it’s not fair to hold someone’s handicaps against them after all - I responded with what I thought was a perfectly reasonable response and request - what do you think?: “Ok, sorry, that wasn’t clear from your first message; it sounded like you couldn’t put more than one request per message. Does this mean that you approved the VitaMix, but rejected the dehydrator?” ..because Lord knows that at this point I sure didn’t want to post any more requests if she’d in fact put the VitaMix request through! Replied playgroundsuper@yahoo.com: “It means pick one to post. No I did not approve either one. I need to make sure a member undestands.” Got that? She needs to make sure that a member understands. Ok, that’s when I lost it. And when I knew that I was going to write this post. So the point is not actually to help out, but to beat someone into submission. You bitch. But first I had to play this out to its natural conclusion. “Yep, I understand now. Is there a way for me to delete the dehydrator post, so that the VitaMix one can go through? Sorry to have made your job a bit harder; I know you have thousands of members with which to deal.” (Oh, how hard it was to write that reply!) Came her answer: “Neither of your posts went to the board. Neither one so nothing needs to be removed. And if one had been approved you could not post the other one. Only one item for a wanted. I’m off to get some sleep now. I have an early day. You want to pick your item, let me know tomorrow so I can take care of it. It’s been a long long day. I’m deep in work, legal issues, helping a non-profit set up, finishing a security evaluation and moderating and I need a break. Just call it a night and let me know tomorrow. I need some sleep, please. Take time to decide what you want to post and let me know in the mroning.” Ok, now I was stunned. This was no frustrated housewife, but someone who works in the legal industry. MY industry. This was one of those 97% who give the other 3% of us a bad name. She wasn’t just a bitch, she was a power-tripping bitch from my hood. I responded to her gripes about her legal work, still being very polite, and trying to joke her out of her perpetually bad attitude while letting her know that she was not dealing with some - hmmm - frustrated housewife, but with one of her own: “Well, that explains the tone; I should have recognized it, and at least now I can drop my own unnaturally conciliatory tone (grin). Have some good sleep.” ..and then I signed my full name and title (which she had not had up until that point). It should have ended there. She should have at least been polite, or provided some professional courtesy, or something, but no… “Ms. Mitchell, I sent you a short reminder of SJFC policies and I trust you will refer to that in the future. That is basically a shortened version of the welcome letter sent to each member when they join, and you have been a member since early 2005. As you can see if you review the short guide I sent, they are clear and simple. The rules of FC are what we agree to in order to be part of the network and they are also something members agree to follow when they join the lists. Tom Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I was wrong. playgroundsuper@yahoo.com was not a frustrated housewife cum mega bitch. She was a he - a frustrated person working in some legal job (I can only hope he is not a lawyer). But still a mega bitch. So, am I going to refer to the SJFC policies to which Tom “trusts I will refer”? Heck no, I’m going to refer to the above exchange, and never deal with San Jose FreeCycle again. Since this exchange I have learned that a lot of people have had problem with FreeCycle moderators - not just Tom at San Jose FreeCycle, although to be sure plenty have had problems there too - but in other FreeCycle groups too. There is apparently something about FreeCycle moderatorship which either creates or attracts control-freaks. And the problem is not just limited to the local group moderators. It seems that the FreeCycle mothership itself, and its Deron Beal, have some issues. In fact there is a website, GreenRibbon.us, devoted to making public the dirty laundry of a lawsuit filed by FreeCycle against some of their former groups. But wait! There’s more! Editor’s update: Tom from San Jose FreeCycle just emailed me. Apparently somebody pointed him to this posting. In his email he said that he had known all along that I was a lawyer, and that he had looked me up because he was “trying to understand why someone who graduated from Law School and was a Professor could not understand something so simple.” And then he goes on to say, and I kid you not: “And I never said you could only post one wanted a month, just that you cannot repeat the SAME wanted for a month.” Ok, Tom, you said: “You posted for two items. A dehydrter (sic) AND a vitamix. You cannot post for two wanteds. Please see the other message I sent. And yes I know what that item is, in fact I know what both of them are. It is a matter of posting for two separate wanteds, whether they are in the same post or in two posts. One wanted post, one item. ” And then you said “Neither of your posts went to the board. Neither one so nothing needs to be removed. And if one had been approved you could not post the other one. Only one item for a wanted.” How, please, does that translate to “And I never said you could only post one wanted a month, just that you cannot repeat the SAME wanted for a month.”? P.S. I got my dehydrator and my VitaMix. [Note: If you've been disaffected by FreeCycle or their moderators, check out the comments below and add to the discussion!]
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Comment by freecycled — 5/2/2006 @ 8:56 pm
When you refer to someone as a “housewife bitch” you instantly brand yourself as well. I’m a mod. I work hard,long, and free to keep our board free of spam, multiple requests, and editorial comments.
You might want to look at the bigger picture instead of focusing on your own little gripes.
Comment by celia — 5/2/2006 @ 9:54 pm
Too bad you didn’t have one of our residential waste exchanges in your neighbourhood.
Rules are clearly posted, and there’s no limit on the number of items you can post or ask for. That’s because we run on real software, not on Yahoo Groups software adapted to the purpose of a waste exchange.
Have a look at http://www.2good2toss.com or http://www.madisonstuffexchange.com or http://www.surreyreuses.com to see the system working.
Almost 30,000 people using the system with few complaints can’t be wrong.
:-)
Comment by Norm Ruttan — 5/3/2006 @ 4:40 am
Thanks for that very amusing article.
For those frustrated with Freecycle, there is also FreeSharing.org which lists over 450 independent Free Recycling groups.
The problem of ‘Feifdom’ that you describe has been resoloved by allowing multiple groups per area so if one mod turns into a tyrant, any member of the group can form a new group and share equall billing in the directory. Freecycle currently enforces a ‘one group per area’ policy which unfortunately encourages some mods to act like Tom.
Best Regards,
Eric Burke
http://FreeSharing.org
http://GreenRibbon.us
Comment by Eric Burke — 5/3/2006 @ 6:23 am
There was a young girl from Madras
Who had a magnificent ass,
Not rounded and pink
As you possibly think,
It was gray, had long ears, and ate grass.
I wonder if she named it Tom.
Comment by EDWARD SCHWARZMANN — 5/3/2006 @ 1:35 pm
What do their list guidelines say about wanted posts?
If it is stated there, you are responsible for reading and following them. If not, he has no business making up rules that aren’t publicly posted.
Comment by bill keiser — 5/3/2006 @ 2:06 pm
Also, asking for a Vitamix, a heavy duty blender that normally sells for over $300 would be considered extravagant on many lists. Asking for expensive items is a waste of time and tends to strike many members as greedy.
Comment by bill keiser — 5/3/2006 @ 3:02 pm
Sorry, I’ve looked at some of the other sites you posted, and you seem to just be a bunch of malcontents. I’ve been active on 3 different freecyles. They each have slightly different rules, and varying levels of enforcement. Yours seem to be the strictest I’ve seen for WANTED posts, but that may just be due to the part of the country you’re in.
Comment by Roger — 5/3/2006 @ 3:34 pm
I have just find out an alternative in I-recycle. Based in the UK, it is an alternative re-giving group that aim to not use yahoo!groups to be in a better position to evolve in line with community requirements.
Try it at http://irecycle.conceptuel.co.uk
Comment by Guy Secretan — 5/4/2006 @ 8:28 am
Unfortunately I just went through something similar to what the first poster experienced — over a request for WINDCHIMES, of all stupid things. The mods “opinion” was that I was making an extravagant request. Thats funny, I gave away a SWINGSET in response to a WANT post. Arbitrary at best. Spiteful at worst. On a previous occasion, when I politely asked this particular mod to take care not to CHANGE THE MEANING of my posts by editing (another incessant annoyance on this particular list) I received an IRATE PHONE CALL. Can we say obsessive control freak?
Comment by Sandy — 5/6/2006 @ 6:46 am
Craigslist. ‘Nuff said!
Comment by ronan hyde — 5/8/2006 @ 8:39 am
Obviously strict moderation leads to frustrated users. Good thing is that there are alternatives to freecycle emerging.
Check out http://www.favorville.com. This community is much more open and member friendly.
Here’s another example of frustration w/freecycle
http://technomom.livejournal.com/831529.html
Comment by Roger — 5/12/2006 @ 5:12 am
I actually experienced the same thing from the same moderator - except that I specifically asked if I could re-post ONE of the items, or even if he would EDIT the post to have one item, and he absolutely refused, effectively banning me from the group being useful for a month.
How discouraging :(
Comment by Tom — 5/13/2006 @ 2:56 pm
In the Suburban Maryland area outside of Wash.DC, we have a direct violation of the freecycle rules which states:
http://www.freecycle.org/manual/moderator_dos.htm
“Being an owner of more than one group is not allowed.”
There are 3 seperate Freecycle lists which are owned by the same woman (Susanne Brunhart-Wiggins) and heavy handedly moderated by the same moderator (Max Handelsman)- who also “owns” one of the local lists.
Handelsman has recently been reported to Gmail for “phishing” (seeking email addresses!)
This duo bans and places members on moderation for the slightest errors they might make.
Again their actions are in direct violation of the FC Moderator manaul: ” DON’T BE A DICTATOR. If we mods act like dictators, we can only lose. mods act like dictators, we can only lose.”
Comment by woody — 7/15/2006 @ 8:23 am
Please feel free to help test out GigoIt.org.
Comment by GigoIt — 8/2/2006 @ 1:30 am
I think you need to take some prozac and chill out. For one, not all groups operate the way you are making it sound like. Without mods these groups would just turn into one huge orgy fest of a mess! Get a grip, get a life and deal with it.
Comment by Freecycle Mod — 10/17/2006 @ 6:24 am
LOL, I was just banned from the San Jose Group for the exact same reason- Putting two wanteds in one post. Well now, when I posted two OFFER posts in one day I was reprimanded for clogging up the list, so when I wanted these two items, I thought that it only made sense to put them both in one post. One was a basket and the other was some stuffing for the basket. Well apparently, it made no difference that I had given away over 100 items in the last month, those 100 items were not a fair trade for the two paltry little things that I wanted. Are the items that I give away crap, well, I don’t know, a complete wooden train set with over 60 tracks & trains plus a wooden train table doesn’t seem too crappy to me. Nor does a Little Tykes play kitchen (retail over $100)seem like crap. How about the giant boxes of children’s clothing, strollers, car seats, or the DVD player? hmmmm. Well, now I am completely disgusted with Tom and his crappy list. I have met soooo many people that hate him. So, know that we are not alone.
Comment by Lynn — 1/18/2007 @ 11:24 pm
I was also just banned from the San Jose Freecycle group because I asked for building supplies for a nonprofit group to build safe feral cat enclosures for cats living on the streets. Playgroundsuper is an asshole.
Comment by Tarrycats — 2/3/2007 @ 3:52 pm
I was just banned by San Jose Freecycle group for 1) asked for bicycle 2) asked for working laptop, and 3) made the dumb mistake of identifying myself as a homeless student. Kinda’ defeats the whole purpose. Playgroundsuper is an asshole.
Comment by dragonfly99 — 2/3/2007 @ 4:35 pm
I have had problems with SJfreecycle and PlaygroundSuper… first, I just want to say that it would be helpful if all freecycle groups would follow the SAME rules. My posts don’t get approved when I’m crossposting to sj and Campbell, and I’m not allowed to post “PROMISED”, in turn, I get tons of e-mails asking for items I’m making arrangements to be picked up….
It is really annoying, and playgroundsuper keeps telling me to read the rules, when I have tired to clearly point out that I’m visually impaired and sitting and reading a bunch of RULES isn’t that easy. So then he (it?) told me that posting on Campbell would be better, and pointed out that everyone is everywhere anyway. Not necessarily the case. Since I don’t drive, it would be beneficial for me maybe to post in ONE AREA if I was LOOKING for something… So I am debating wether or not to drop my sj subscription. They told me to post on campbell but I can stay on sj just not post on san jose……
Comment by Diane Wetzel — 3/6/2007 @ 4:48 pm
Rather then frustrate oneself by arguing with someone unreasonable request a mediator at info@freecycle.org to handle the situation for you.
Comment by freecyclemod — 3/10/2007 @ 1:50 pm
Beautifully written. The Freecycle in my area (65802) operates by manipulation and by a seemingly fascist system of making members who accidentally post incorrectly feel like political outcasts. They do it by pitting other members (who are no doubt in fear that they’ll screw up and be ousted) against anyone who stands up and complains against the system.
Comment by Mark — 4/9/2007 @ 11:41 am
Oh, and notice how it’s only the mods who are coming in defense of Freecycle?
Comment by Mark — 4/9/2007 @ 11:43 am
Hello, Mark. I am in 65803 and I agree that the local Freecycle list is awful. How I wish there were an alternative.
Comment by Free Person — 4/21/2007 @ 5:57 pm
A mediator from Freecycle? HA!! that is the biggest joke of all. My ex-wife (a complete control freak if ever there was one!) is the “moderator” of the group I was on. Guess what? She got pissed and banned me for no reason. The response from Freecycle? “Sorry, the moderators are independent and have ultimate control over who is on their lists.”
talk about stupid. Freecycle ‘approves’ the lists, but then has NO control over the nut-jobs that end up running them.
I had been a freecycler (in San Jose, no less) since 2005 until I relocated and had this experience.
One bad Mod can, indeed, spoil the whole thing.
Comment by david — 5/21/2007 @ 2:35 pm
Part of the problem is that The Freecycle Network runs a “two strikes and you are out” policy which means that it is very easy to run foul and gives a license to moderators to get rid of you.
The other part is that there is no complaints process in The Freecycle Network. If there had been one you could have used it and if others complained then the said moderator might not be running the group now.
Comment by andyswarbs — 10/8/2007 @ 1:11 pm
People who are disillusioned with FreeCycle should check out http://www.freeswapper.org. I believe FreeSwapper is what FreeCycle should have been. In fact, I wrote Deron back a few years ago about taking FreeCycle to the next level and making it a real website to eliminate the pain. He wasn’t interested. I went ahead with the site anyway.
http://www.freeswapper.org
Comment by Chris Adler — 10/24/2007 @ 12:41 pm
I must thank everybody for info on other groups like freecyling. I’m totally turned off my group after receiving this message from a moderator:
“Wish lists such as this are strictly prohibited and you are being placed back on moderation. We’ve never seen an offer from you and will expect your next post to be an offer.
My wish list- new carpet left-overs as narrow a 9 inches, Wood and styrofoam, any size. I basicly asked for garbage! Nobody would think anybody would want this stuff but
I do. Some have lost sight that the point is to keep things out of the landfill and common sense should be used. She also told me to review the rules and there is nothing in there about being put on “moderation”.
Hopefully I can find another group.
Comment by L Pjak — 11/18/2007 @ 4:41 pm
I HATE Freecycle. I love the idea behind it. In the Westminster MD one, the group owner Patricia Lawrence, well, we call her the Freecycle Nazi. She is so petty and the biggest control freak I have ever met. She is the reason I decided to start my own website, MarylandFreeTrade and WestminsterFreeTrade to help people without being harrassed.
Comment by Jeni Williams — 1/1/2008 @ 5:30 pm
I’ve been a member in several different Freecycle groups and have found that while they all vary on some of the smaller, piddly rules, they tend to be very consistent with the “big picture” stuff.
If I goof and do something disallowed by a group…well, it’s really my own fault for either forgetting or not reading that specific group’s rules. Some allow 3 WANTEDs per week, some only one per month. But if I’m going to use different groups, it’s my responsibility to know their rules, not for them to change to what I think they should do.
I certainly don’t think mods should be arbitrarily inventing rules on the spot, but it also isn’t their fault if you don’t read easily found information.
Maybe they could improve some of the issues by making all their rules mandatory instead of leaving some up to each mods discretion?
Comment by Bob — 1/6/2008 @ 8:40 pm
maybe people should folow rules but they certainly should not be insulted and demeaned for missing one.
I tried to post something. I read it 3 times with screaming kids in the room. So I could have missed one. But this Karen woman came back at me with a million backtalking emails. Basically they all stated how stupid I was that i could not find the rule i was breaking. She insulted my charachter by assuming i was going to pocket money from donated items. When I in reality was looking for donations to sell for 100% proceed to dying children(really, this is what i do). In return to her knowing this she then told me i was manipulating the freecycle members into supporting my fudraiser. Basically she spent 2 hours of insulting me by email and yet could not take 2 minutes to answer my question as to what i was doing wrong. Then put put a cherry on top she revoked my membership. Never seen anything so unproffesional in my life!
And it all started because i thought freecycle was a great idea. And once I asked for help i was answered with a don’t waste my time attitude.
Comment by jaime — 1/16/2008 @ 1:18 pm
I just got booted off of the freecycle group in Barrie and was told to not try and come back. Such grave offenses as using all caps on one or two occasions in the subject line and blatantly leaving out my location in the city the final straw that got me banned for life, from the moderator
“I sent out an Admin Notice Yesterday, asking please, we need to know what your doing with your item, you today, send this “IN OUR SUBJECT LINE. “”"taken ppu Offer: pair of tickets to the Bridal Show in Alliston Sunday”"”.
Comment by Alan Amon — 3/1/2008 @ 11:14 am
accidentally gave away another mods entire household goods with a pick up ad that was not correct.
Complaints about wanting to put out “on the curb take what you want” ads (when you are giving away tons of misc. plants pulled out of the ground, that’s the only way to do it!), gripes about wanting us to wait 24 hours to give to charities first (micro managing is fine for your hamster cage, not 20,000 members!) and bitches about damned near every single post some made while ignoring blatant problems with others…
I wrote Freecycle owners, and joined other local cities instead, where the whiney 20 somethings who think they are allowed to be such bitches cause they got the freecycle name first are more mature, responsible, and not nearly as overbearing. I find it amazing that 99% of the freecycle sites have NO problems at all, yet the SJ freecyclers act like everyone else on the planet must be at fault and not them.
I do wish they would join the Peace Corps and go do good elsewhere– all they are doing here in town in blackening the name Freecycle for the SJ bunch
Oh- The Campbell people? WONDERFUL list.
Comment by sharon — 3/9/2008 @ 4:24 pm
Well the first part of THAT reply got cut off (my fault).. I was saying that I agree with the SJ Freecycle issue– control freaks with no patience and lots of power issues, demanding that the thousands of members wait while they review every post so that they can control the list to their satisfaction rather than implimenting a yahoo group where neighbors can trade stuff and clean out their homes. They are outrageous power hungry twerps. I do hope that each of them someday gets what they deserve– misery at a job under the power of a micromanaging boss who hates their every breath.
Comment by sharon — 3/9/2008 @ 4:30 pm
The sexism in your post is just idiotic. Stop it. Surely, you are bright enough to formulate the sentences necessary to communicate the essence of how stupid Tom is without resorting to tired and insulting gender slams.
Having said that, I agree that your local Freecycle moderator is an assclown. But, not as much of assclown (apparently) as the Oakland moderator who simply decided to blow up our list with no notice.
Comment by Floozie — 3/30/2008 @ 7:32 pm
Instead of talking about it here, why didn’t you go to Freecycle.org and take up your concerns about the moderator you had trouble with. All you had to do was send complete headers and forward the emails you found offensive. If these events really did take place, you would have been able to get alot further than wasting your time griping about it. Ya know. All Freecycle moderators aren’t bad, mine aren’t, they’re great.
Comment by Delilah — 5/3/2008 @ 7:43 pm
Anytime you have trouble with your moderator, you can go to http://www.freecycle.org and click on FAQ or email info@freecycle.org
Comment by Delilah — 5/8/2008 @ 11:23 am
All of these “suggestions” to contact Freecycle.org are pointless and silly. I’ve tried several times to bring attention to playgroundsuper to no avail. The organization has lost its way and completely trashed its original intent with lax consistency (pun intended).
Comment by An — 6/29/2008 @ 5:30 pm
I don’t see any discussions at ihatefreecycle.com.
It’s just a page full of ads.
Does anyone see a discussion there?
I just got “banned” from the San Jose freecycle for supposedly getting complaints about giving away trash, which of course is untrue. There’s a dumpster in the townhome complex where I live so I can easily dump trash. Why post these items, arrange for pickups, and waste my time? I wanted to help someone and I get slapped in the face. What an insult. I’ll give another local freecyle a try.
I got this email from the playground super:
“We have had complaints about your recent offer.
Freecycle is not about giving away trash. Your
posting status has been changed to no post.
MOD”
As for the complaints about giving away trash, I wrote back to the playground super asking for clarifications, but haven’t gotten a response. If I don’t know what the complaint is about, how am I going to learn from this experience?
It’s a great concept of recycling, but it’s very frustrating when the moderator makes it hard to give things away.
Comment by AnSJ — 7/11/2008 @ 8:45 am
The GOA’s can be reached like this. If you live in Arizona, then it would be Arizona@freecycle.org If you live in Oklahoma, then it’s Oklahoma@freecycle.org
There are other contacts to go through that are helpful. I think everyone is missing the point. If you have a bad moderator, discuss your concerns with the GOA of that state.
Comment by Destiny — 7/11/2008 @ 11:34 am
I just quit SJ Freecycle today because of this exact same moderator. Other FC groups have MUCH better mods. This one is just ridiculous.
Comment by JFreeeman — 7/28/2008 @ 9:11 pm
SJ Freecycle is lifting its ban on me, so I assume. The posting emails have now resumed in the form of a daily digest. I haven’t tried posting yet, but I think I’ll pass. If I have anything to give away, I’ll post on the other group in my area.
Comment by AnSJ — 7/28/2008 @ 10:03 pm
hi i dont know why i keep getting taken off of freecycle i dont sell the things i get i want you to put me back on please
Comment by angela casey — 8/9/2008 @ 1:55 am
I haven’t had trouble with the mods in my area, but I’ve just found giving things away to be a headache. More often than not, people don’t show. And I’ve never been fortunate enough to get anything. One time someone told me that if I could pick it up today, the item would be mine. But unfortunately, she never told me where she lived…
Comment by emily — 8/24/2008 @ 11:41 am
Interesting that I search the internet about FreeCycle complaints about moderators, and this page talks about the same moderator/dictator at the San Jose group. The moderator under Yahoo! ID playgroundsuper is a control freak. In the spirit of giving, the first post I made was an “offer.” He didn’t approve of the message because of one line, which he misunderstood. I guess he doesn’t have a good understanding of English. My wanted post was rejected because I used the plural form instead of the singular form of the wanted word. Even after I changed it, he still didn’t like anything in the message body and just posted my message with only the title. This guy gives FreeCycle a poor reputation. It’s just too frustrating to deal with FreeCycle.
Comment by PoorFreeCycle — 10/4/2008 @ 9:06 am
Mods, here like the last word, she banned me, I banned her from my inbox, she was continually going on and on with her power trip. Freecycle central is useless, bunch of whimps. Even after I said fine. I now have 5 new connections in via other email addresses and vpn’s plus remote desktops. There is apparently a clause somehwere in the tos of yahoo about not rejoining a group after being banned, but that directly conflicts with in your eyes marketing yahoo sells its advertisers. Looking at all the sites on the web with complaints and banned members I would say there are at least 10,000 pairs of eyes being denied access to yahoo advertisers. Which if strectched out by, you’ll tell 2 friends and they’ll tell 2 friends and so on and so on, well marketers beware you dollars are not being wisely spent on yahoo.
Comment by Alex G. Bell :) — 10/4/2008 @ 3:16 pm
I too was banned from freecycle for asking if anyone was an attorney that could help us help a young lady that had been living with us with some pressing legal issues. I received an email from our Coeur d’Alene Idaho mod. stating that I had broken policy and that my posting had been removed…that people could not be given away on freecycle.
I responded to this email and asked for a specific area of the policy that I had breached as I knew of several posters who searched for free “services” on freecycle and we had actually been the givers of people searching for the service of a mechanic.
I did not receive a response from the mod–nobadwolf– to my question if offering or requesting services on freecycle was prohibited, but was banned for asking this question in a personal email to the moderator! As of yet I have received no reason as to why I was banned from this group.
This is really just an inconvenience…if I really wanted to be on this group, it is just not that hard to get back on the list. However, what irritates me is that this moderator, nobadwolf is certainly a VERY bad wolf. I still do not know if it is prohibited to offer or request “services” like mechanic, law, or the like on freecycle.
Wit
Comment by Wit — 10/12/2008 @ 1:22 pm
I knew I couldn’t be the only one. While my experiences have been just as bad as the ones posted, I don’t feel like delving into them right now. Suffice it to say, the mods pretty much ARE a bunch of disgruntled, freaky, controlling weirdos. And when you get those types of people into a setting that was designed to assist others and be a GOOD thing, well, of course, they ruin it and leave bad tastes in the mouths of everyone. What makes perfect common sense is suddenly thrown out the window (such as offering of asking about free services, advice, etc..I mean, honestly people…do we really think members are going to get MAD about seeing those posts?? Come the hell on). I’ve been a “member” for oh, about 5 years, I think. And I’ve only been off moderation for maybe 6 months of that. Because I guess I’m just such a bad girl. God. More like we’ve got some women with a tiny bit of power and no lives that probably got the crap kicked out of them in school just RELISHING in the fact that they have a tiny bit of control. If I were a bigger person, I’d feel sorry for them. But more often than not, they just disgust me. I’m pretty sure I hope the scandel of freecycle causes them to go down the tubes. And I’m even more sure that I’m going to find a better site to donate my pricey items too. They’re a bunch of freaks, people. Leave em.
Comment by Charity — 10/17/2008 @ 5:26 pm
I am just about to quit my local Freecycle group in New York State too. I have had it with the uneven moderation–we have several folks who post repeated WANTEDs, for example, some using different email addresses but some using the same address everytime (identical posts, identical contact info) but the mods jump on me any time I break one of the piddly rules. Again, it depends on which group you belong to. One list I belong to allows PROMISED posts, this one doesn’t, and I’ve gotten my butt jumped on a couple of times for forgetting that. One of our moderators is nice about it, but the other one is the Moderator from Hell, and she apparently has more free time to devote to the list than the nice one. Even though I can point out the PROMISED posts that slip through on this list; it, apparently, is more evil when I do it. Also, I have gotten really disgusted at the greedy nature of several of the members. We have one member who repeatedly posts (uh oh, apparently the one time per month rule doesn’t apply to her) for high end digital cameras, among other things. NYGIRL,do you recognize yourself here? Or the parent who says the big screen TV in Little Jonny’s room just blew out and Little Jonny will throw a massive temper tantrum if he doesn’t get at least a 50 inch screen, or the request for a NEW, NOT USED LAPTOP WITH NO LESS THAN XP!!!!!!! Or the people that want cars. Absolutely disgusting. I rarely see “pleases” and “thank yous” and I am tired of posting my own OFFERs and getting nasty greedy replies with entitlement oozing out between the lines. So it’s not just the moderators who are ticking me off, although I suspect they could control some of this if they wanted to. And if they don’t want to, or don’t have time, don’t be a moderator, ok?
Comment by JustMe — 10/22/2008 @ 12:52 pm
I have a similar tale to tell about Playgroundsuper at San Jose FreeCycle.
I once asked for a twinsized bed and specified frame AND mattress and was told that I could not ask for TWO things at the same time. I tried to explain that I needed a whole bed not part of the bed but he/she wouldn’t listen. I also once asked for a computer monitor and was told that it was too high end of an item. My LORD they are desperate to keep those things out of the land fill and that moderator is telling me that it was too high end of an item to ask for? I didn’t only ask for things — I frequently gave good things away too but that didn’t seem to help. That moderator needs to be kicked off the list — what a NAZI!
Comment by Cathy — 10/27/2008 @ 2:08 pm
Freecycle is rapidly becoming adictatorship in the UK, not so much from the mods, but the GOA’s and higher up. There are multiple recycling groups springing up in my area of the UK in defiance of Freecycle. Taking the basic good idea and doing it correctly. lol
Comment by Seamus — 11/13/2008 @ 2:04 am
A moderator of our local group in the UK spammed the list with a link to his personal business. He spoofed the reply-to address to be that of one of the other members. I called him on it, but now I feel reluctant to have anything more to do with the group. Very bad feeling seeing this kind of abuse of such a good idea.
Comment by Carol — 11/24/2008 @ 10:10 am
Playgroundsuper the San Jose moderator is a punk and gives Freecycle a bad reputation. I’m surprised this guy is still moderating. Everyone with a complaint about this guy please e-mail info@freecycle.org.
Comment by David — 11/25/2008 @ 8:04 pm
http://www.gigoit.org is way better
Comment by Peter — 11/29/2008 @ 12:54 pm
This is in response to the person who wrote on March 30 that Tom of SJ Freecycle was nowhere near as bad as the Oakland moderator who deleted that group of over 5,000 members.
Well, guess what? The Oakland moderator in question was none other than Tom, Playground Super. He was a moderator on both groups.
Surprise, surprise!!
Comment by Jennifer — 12/5/2008 @ 7:17 pm
At least now I know I’m not the only one. I joined SJFC because I was moving to a smaller home and had a lot of stuff to give away. After giving away several things to happy recipients, I got on the wrong side of Tom by posting two offers on the same day for different items - one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon. Today I made the mistake of offering VHS movies and got a stern email that I was on permanent moderation. I’ve looked at the rules on the Freecycle site, both the central and local sites, and the email I got when I joined, and nowhere can I find a rule saying that this is not OK. Maybe I should know that it’s illegal to give away videos, but I don’t.
I love the idea of freecycle, but I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face for trying to give good things to people who can use them instead of dumping them in the landfill.
Comment by Terra — 12/28/2008 @ 9:59 pm
Nicole from Freecycle Milwaukee left me several e-mails that had all the tact of a snotty little 13 year-old. Remember, it’s THEIR LIST and if you have anything to say about it you will be BANNED! Wait ’till I contact my buds over at FOX 6 news, and let them know that if you post a want-ad for items for an ELDERLY COUPLE with a SPECIAL NEEDS KID that got BURNED OUT OF THEIR HOME 8 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS…you don’t have a hope in HELL of getting it on freecycle.
However, craigslist was more than accomodating. Fock Freecycle!
Comment by Eddie — 12/31/2008 @ 9:15 pm
In response to previous comment. Person was NEVER told he could NOT post, we explained to him to leave out the explanation of why he needed said items. Being as we stopped allowing stories to go with Wanteds, being as members would get in competition with why they need something more then the previous poster and sometimes the original post would get overlooked.
But seeing all these previous comments, some of these problems could have been avoided by reading the guidelines, the others, I have a feeling there was miscommunication on both ends.
And in regards to comment #57. He was not banned. However, has been now for posting a mod’s personal information publicly.
Comment by Sara — 1/5/2009 @ 3:46 pm
I have many run ins with FreeCycle Mods who have the God complex. I post offers all the time and still my wanteds get rejected for some reason or another. I recently got my request for a bathroom scale denied because “people have been using freecycle as their own person shopping site”
Then told me only one wanted per month…well am I mistaken or is December and January 2 different months?
They think they are God and can do whatever they like. Its sickening.
Comment by Kristen — 1/6/2009 @ 7:36 am
It seems like this is a recurring theme with Freecycle and, while their initial idea was amazing, the continued lack of addressing these issues is very concerning. That’s why we’ve started taking steps to correct the problems that constantly arise concerning Freecycle: 1) poor moderation, 2) excessive emails, 3) lack of following the posting format and 4) ratio of wants to offers. Freebootr.com offers a geo-located, browsable and highly searchable listing of free stuff in your area. Check us out and let us know how we’re doing and how we can improve!
Comment by Curtis — 1/6/2009 @ 11:14 am
I’ll bet some of the FreeCycle MODS (gods) have the BEST rummage sales in town according to the photos. Not that I’m insinuating that there ARE any photos online.
Gee…I wonder…
How DOES one accumulate 4 coffeemakers and a huge garage full of stuff?
And don’t say it’s because your mom passed away and you have to clean out the rental properties.
Comment by Eddie — 1/9/2009 @ 10:41 pm
Dear Sara F. - How could anybody post an address on here unless it was completely by accident.
Comment by Eddie — 1/9/2009 @ 11:01 pm
Eddie, believe what you want to believe. But my Mom passed away Jan 31st 2008, my husband’s mother passed away Jan 1st, 2004 and those items that were accumulated were from both houses. PLUS my sister in law brought some of her items. Hence WHY it was called a family of 4 rummage, me, my Mom, my mother in law, and my sister in law.
I NEVER mentioned rental properties. The upper my Mom lived in, has NOT been rented nor have I ever said the items in my rummage was from that.
You are crossing lines. And I will be looking into see what action I MAY take myself. Contact who you want, the news, everyone in the Freecycle realm, it will not save you from the lines you have crossed now.
Comment by Sara — 1/10/2009 @ 10:08 am
I just had a horrible experience with freecycle. The freecycle.org will NOT even respond to my plea to work the problem out. Some nutbar complained that I was rude to her (not true) and got me thrown out of the group. Then proceeded to send me extremely vulgar e mails. I have no one who will listen to me to resolve this. It’s nuts. I believe in freecycle. But the moderators are their own worst enemy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Comment by Elana — 1/10/2009 @ 5:37 pm
Freecycle is an online recycling group with set guidelines or rules. We all receive those when we join. If we do not agree, we should leave. Otherwise, we should not think that complaining about the rules will make them change. And printing anyone’s email address or name is just wrong. Those moderators are volunteers trying to do what is best for the groups. Bottom line is enjoy the group if you like the rules and go elsewhere if you don’t like them.
Comment by Clutter Queen — 1/12/2009 @ 2:08 pm
You are giving them what they actually want. These are sad and miserable people who unconsciously want to make sure we are all as miserable as they.
I feel sorry for them. Be better than they, move on. Or really piss them off and wish them a good day and then move on.
Comment by Blessed — 1/13/2009 @ 8:55 am
People!! U can’t complain if moderators enforce the guidelines! As 4 the people u SEE posting against the guidelines. Ever stop 2 think they are off moderation?
WAH, WAH WAH, I didn’t get 2 post my Wanted. Did any of u stop 2 think about posting an Offer?
And someone who mentioned that Dec and Jan are 2 different months. It doesn’t work that way, 30 days is 30 days. Not u post on the 29th and then u get 2 post another Wanted on the 1st of the following month. It’s EVERY 30 days!
And many people went WAY out of line posting their grievance with Freecycle. A lot of u do not know ANYTHING about Internet Harrasement/Abuse. Look it up, because the ones who have posted personal information. You can get into BIG TIME trouble!
Comment by Jake — 1/13/2009 @ 11:06 am
I joined the Freecycle San Jose group in December 2008. Several times I have emailed for an item that is offered and it is always given to someone else, no matter how quickly I respond. Some of the members are obviously resellers who turn around and eBay or Craigslist the items. I asked the moderator (PlaygroundSuper) about this and he said that yes, there are resellers who subscribe to the group. Either that, or PlaygroundSuper gives preference to his friends. Who has nothing to do but drive around town and pick up Freecycle items?
Comment by Emzee — 2/6/2009 @ 6:15 pm
love your comment, it unfortunately happens too often so I gave up freecycling and just dump my stuff, great idea though any alternatives?
Comment by iando8 — 2/17/2009 @ 7:32 pm
Ms Mitchell you had me in splits; up untill I saw your rendition of contact with this little Hitler Tom who like the one in Milton Keynes UK likes to live in small recycling hole close to the lower end of their bodies - I honestly thought I was the only one to have come into contact with a mindless beligerant bunch of freaks - I too went through the same motions like yourself and felt I was laughing only in private and alone at the shear rude slanderous boneheads but thank gad for others with humour, after all these guys actually get off on this stuff and you gotta see the funny side of dumb ignorance - right.
Comment by Bunny — 2/19/2009 @ 4:57 pm
I, too, was a victim of Tom - he took a disliking to me and banned me from the group a while back. My experiences were eerily similar to most of what I’ve read. Never have I so heartily disliked a person I’d never even met. And those of you who keep blithely recommending that we go to the GOAs, etc. with our complaints - I have a folder full of e-mails back and forth, all of which simply shrug and tell me the list belongs to Tom, and mods can do and say whatever the hell they want. (I actually had one of Tom’s minions end a vicious Freecycle e-mail to me with “BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA.”) And to those of you self-righteously advising us to “read the guidelines,” or just quit if we can’t hack it: how did you get that far down the string and still miss the entire point? This is not about guidelines - it’s about a small man who wields absurd power over people who are trying to do good with a good idea, and should not be hampered in that by a petty dictator. Freecycle groups all over the country operate smoothly and peacefully, run by excellent mods who treat their members like people. Tom and his ilk don’t get that. So here’s the latest: someone finally listened, and Mr. Playgroundsuper was finally asked by the California GOA to STEP DOWN. He pulled his final, grandly immature, vindictive stunt - rather than actually admit to the error of his ways, he deleted the entire group. If he can’t have it, nobody can!
Comment by Heidi — 2/20/2009 @ 1:42 am
Yes, Playground Super deleted the Oakland group. But he was never asked to step down by Freecycle, as far as I know. I am a Freecycle moderator and I have never been able to understand how he has gotten away with his rude, condescending (actually mean!) treatment of members. As far as I know, he is still moderating a group…it is either Sunnyvale or San Jose.
Comment by Jennifer — 2/20/2009 @ 7:03 pm
Oh, I forgot to mention…when he deleted the Oakland group, the Freecycle Network worked with Yahoo! to restore the group in its entirety.
Comment by Jennifer — 2/20/2009 @ 7:05 pm
I have an e-mail directly from the California GOA (I don’t want to mention his name, because I’m not sure if that’s allowed?) - it states that Tom, aka Playgroundsuper, “was asked to step down; his response was to delete the group.” The San Jose Freecycle group is no longer on Yahoo. I hope someone sane starts it up again - there were a lot of good people on there!
Comment by Heidi — 2/20/2009 @ 9:18 pm
OMG that’s one in the eye for bully boy’s or girl’s as some moderators go - wish they would do something about the Milton Keynes Morerators and group owners there just as bad!
Guy’s ever thought of using freeuseit much nicer service just not many people know about it.
Comment by Bunny — 2/21/2009 @ 3:49 am
Oooooops sorry just checked it out they only seem to cover the UK but you could put a request in for your country and city’s they would probably like to branch out maybe.
The nice thing is there is no haggleing about placing wanted posts because you pay a small fee of a few pence for every wanted post and it get’s the same pride of place as your offer posts pictures can easily be added too with the posting.
Comment by Bunny — 2/21/2009 @ 4:00 am
Yes, he deleted the group, but he then went on to become the Sunnyvale FC Moderator. He had moderated that group before going on to the Oakland group. I know the CA GOA. If they had asked him to “step down”, then why was he allowed to moderate another FC group?
If the San Jose group no longer exists, that is probably because they have moved over to the new My Freecycle (Freecycle’s new independent website).
Some FC groups have moved over completely, thereby closing their Yahoo! groups. Other FC groups are staying with Yahoo! And some groups are presently both on My Freecycle and on Yahoo!
Comment by Jennifer — 2/21/2009 @ 10:27 am
I just heard back from the state freecycle folks that San Jose Freecycle has moved to the new My Freecycle website. I checked it out, and it is there! The person said that the beta test was recently completed and SJ is now one of several groups that has moved off of Yahoo and to the new My Freecycle website.
Comment by Sue — 2/24/2009 @ 3:36 pm
MyFreecycle is still beta and has many problems. The only groups that have moved there are the ones sent by force (Interim or IMod groups). Any normal person would never move willingly. In my state, people are flocking to other groups as their home groups have moved to this MyFreecycle site. It’s not going well at all.
Comment by Clutter Queen — 2/25/2009 @ 11:44 am
It’s not true that the groups that have gone over to the new site have been forced to do so. It IS true that most groups have not moved over yet.
I know this for a fact because I am a Freecycle moderator.
And the new group is still Beta.
Comment by Jennifer — 2/25/2009 @ 1:20 pm
Jennifer I find it a little strange that your so interested in this site/complaints about FC Moderators if you in fact are one. Are you here just to harrang us and wind us up further. Go make your own site and find a willing audience of equally blinkered Bods or are you lonely!
Comment by Bunny — 2/27/2009 @ 9:19 am
Bunny, take a long look at how many posts you have made and how many people “use” the name bunny. Whereas Jennifer is an EXTEMELY common name and if you knew how to READ, you’d see the last one to post was different than the other Jennifers that posted.
Looks like someone’s life revolves around the internet while they’re busy pointing fingers at other people.
Get a life! Or does it just revolve around complaining about anything and everything?
I feel so sorry for people such as yourself.
Comment by Sally — 2/27/2009 @ 1:54 pm
Sally, thank you for sticking up for me, I appreciate it.
However, I must say that I am the same Jennifer that posted previously.
I didn’t realize that this site was only good for you if you want to bash Freecycle, which is what I think Bunny was trying to do.
I admit Freecycle has its problems, but I still think it is great! And I feel I have a right to express that opinion. I have been a moderator for 3 1/2 years now and my group has over 7,000 members.
I don’t feel that anyone has a right to tell me I can’t post here, other than maybe the moderators of this group!
Thank you.
Comment by Jennifer — 2/28/2009 @ 6:54 am
I was really hoping that this string wasn’t going to degenerate into the kind of negative personal back-and-forth that deters so many people from participating in online discussions. In response to Jennifer: the very title of this page makes it clear that this page is a forum for people who have had “Problems with Freecycle” and/or “Issues with Freecycle Moderators.” Not necessarily bashing, as you put it, but rather venting - sharing common problems, maybe even looking for solutions. The intent is obvious in this note:
[Note: If you've been disaffected by FreeCycle or their moderators, check out the comments below and add to the discussion!]
Many of us posting here are not anti-Freecycle; we’re just anti-tyrannical mods, as, I believe, are you. I understand your wish to defend Freecycle, which is a great concept and an eminently defensible one; but hopefully you can also understand that your dissenting comments - on a discussion board specifically created to air legitimate Freecycle grievances - can be alienating. For example, your response to me regarding the fact that I have here, in my In box, an e-mail from the California GOA regarding the moderator of the San Jose group. I respect the fact that you’re a mod yourself, and therefore have the inside track; but I also mildly resent being told that what I’m looking at is not what I’m looking at. I’m not on this board to attack you, or argue with anyone; I’m just here to share my vexing experiences, read about other experiences, tell what I know, and possibly figure out where to go from here. Bunny’s post was, in my opinion, uncalled for - but then so was Sally’s. As I understand it, this discussion is not about Me VS You, or Her VS Him; it’s just about Freecycle Frustrations. I thank everyone who continues to post both the good and the bad about Freecycle; it reminds me I’m not alone in my mixed feelings. :-)
Comment by Heidi Delgros — 2/28/2009 @ 12:00 pm
Errm nope can’t say that “I’m the one having problems reading” further going by the number of comments; as you pointed out I have made here - clearly it’s not my life revolving around the internet and complaining as I found it amusing to find this internet patrol page whilst I was fired up about Moderators in Milton Keynes - it broke the rage and turned it to laughter, oh and by the way my life is just dandy if not a little busy compared with yours judging by the timing of comments. Sally if it helps you go ahead and feel sorry for me because I am the product of the FC moderators victim! OK Sally shall we just say I understand how you would want to stand with your pal Jennifer but I did not refer in any way to you now did I.
Jennifer I did not say you should not express your opinions just wondered why you picked this site to do it if you were a moderator - you came on this site it seemed to challange what was being said and now to pick yet more arguements through your pal Sally with me for asking why were you here if not to harrang us!
I don’t dislike FC just the treatment I have received at the hands of those local to me and further happen to think there are better web sites available that actually have far more to offer by way of hospitable conduct towards their members such as for example Freeuseit - oh and by the way got it wrong they don’t charge for wanted items and nither do they make a fuss over this like freecycle.
Heidi your right this is what I felt I was doing here venting how I feel and Sally had no right to attack me with abuse when I had not addressed her!
I don’t view this as a closed sight to anyone but I can question the motives of someone who represents the very behaviour one is disacussing, I mean it’s a free country right but we can be kicked out of FC at a whim of the moderators with no come back on them but we may not question their motives for being here and the line of their challange!
I too do not see this as a discussion about Me VS You, or Her VS Him; it’s just about Freecycle Frustrations which is why I find it interesting that asking why a moderator from FC should come here and challange our comments and get her friend to further attack verbally without first reading that which she felt I had not read properly altogether very normal behaviour of the FC team of moderators who are in a legue of their own.
Nuf said, end of.
Comment by Bunny — 3/1/2009 @ 4:53 pm
Trust me and my statement about the groups moving to MyFreecycle. I know more than Jennifer, and for my own safety, cannot reveal who I am or how I know what I know.
Comment by Clutter Queen — 3/4/2009 @ 11:06 am
Clutter Queen “your safety”?? you make them sound like the Mafia LOL.
How many of the comments on this page would you say in your opinion were made by FC moderators under very invisible cover - I have just one thing to say about that; if anyone on here is a moderator for FC then say so don’t be scared and tell us why your here and let’s discuss your challanging reputation’s if that’s what your objecting to “being labled as in your opinion” - otherwise at the very least try to understand that in every warp of your life you need to lighten up, laughter is a great way for life to run smoothly and what’s more if we “the normal” give a lot then there is nothing wrong with us receiving as well - so if your gonna take the damn job on then do it with dignity and throw away the silly bitching whilst wearing your control freak hat, sun gogg’s and baggy short’s. If you wanna be loved take note or maybe you just like being unloved.
Comment by Bunny — 3/4/2009 @ 4:24 pm
Yes I think your right it’s possible that Jake and Jennifer are Moderators for freecycle and poss. one other but can’t be bothered to read through again. I too have had a few run-ins with the Milton Keynes branch and have found theres no point complaining as they seem to be a law onto themselves because they are “volunteers”.
The Freeuseit.com and Fruggler forum seems to have been started by someone who was also not happy with FC and it seems he/she is getting a lot of nasty comments since starting up this website.
Comment by Raggie — 3/9/2009 @ 1:49 am
Bunny, I’m not going to make claims on who is whom on this site. You sound like someone with a strong negative motive. My motive is to speak the truth. And at the same time help my community. I’m not out to hurt anyone. Sorry I cannot help you with this.
Comment by Clutter Queen — 3/9/2009 @ 1:58 pm
Clutter Queen if I didn’t know better I’d say you just insulted me when I didn’t challenge your honesty just your perseption of reality LOL.
You need not worry though your help is not being asked for nor required - this is a place for speaking your mind openly and without fear of your own shadow.
Comment by Bunny — 3/9/2009 @ 4:06 pm
Bedford UK freecycle group’s moderator Jackie is now making a name for herself as a message was posted by one of her members on the cafe message board; calling dog owners “idiots” and that the fields should not be used by any dog only her and others children, this she says she had to rant somewhere about as she asked a dog owner to pick up his dog mess and he retorted with so called abuse but she hasn’t said what the abuse was; she seemed to get a few messages of suporting comments and when I wrote a message saying she should pick a kids only place to exercise her children as dogs need to live also and well it stands to reason that if you try telling a grown man how he should behave when your a stranger as if he were a child then what did she expect, if she spoke to me like that I too would tell her to mind her own business and take her kids to a kids only playground oh and by the way that is not classed as abuse unlike her comment. I was told by the Bedford moderator that I was attacking the other member and my comment would be removed?? I have asked if she hadn’t understood the fact that being called an idiot was abusive and being attacked also trying to gather support for her bullying cause was also classed as an attack on a particular type of society, still waiting for a reply but whilst waiting I have closed my membership of this group and of the cafe too!
Comment by Raggie — 3/19/2009 @ 1:25 am
As a Freecycle moderator I found this group by accident and may not visit it again.
However I can assure you that moderators have moved their groups over to freecycle.org of their own volition including my group.
Groups which are closed down on Yahoo by the owners or by Freecycle are usually migrated to freecycle.org as the team that has to run it until a new owner is found; has many groups to cover and it is easier. (other reasons as well)
It is important to complain with evidence to info@freecycle.org and although nothing may appear to be done, if enough complaints are received wheels will start to turn.
Yahoo groups belong to the owners and freecycle cannot close down any groups unless the owner gives them the authority, or they can convince Yahoo it is in their interest.(Lots of spammers etc.) The alternative is to cut the links to freecycle org and get them to change their name, sometimes resorting to threatening legal action.
Comment by Dorothy — 3/27/2009 @ 11:49 am
Dorothy thank you indeed for that very informative comment though I was not the one involved in this debate and had no idea about the politics of freecycle; as for example when I complained about my group Mod. and owner’s lack of ability to understand simple sentances and then as if to add fuel to fire become belligerant and rude with me, I complained to a so called freecycle complaints woman who said in an email that she had a life outside freecycle and did not have the time to deal with this and further that I should remember that the owner of the Milton Keynes Group is a volunteer as is his side kick Mod. woman? So then it seems that perhaps I was being missled from what you say; that he the owner is exactly that and not a volunteer as she would have me belive.
So would you say that the MK group has moved to over to .org and if so is there something to stop for example anyone else starting up another MK group for freecycle on yahoo?
You at least sound like one of the balanced normal Moderators of which I had no doubt there must be some on board at freecycle.
Comment by Raggie — 3/28/2009 @ 2:02 am
I read a few of the posts & am glad others have experienced problems. I am very new to the Chesapeake, VA FC site. I read the many rules & on 3/21/09 posted 2 offers, they were picked up, then posted 2 taken. All 4 ads went through a Moderator. Today 3/29/09 I posted a Wanted ad for a weed eater. I was sent a snippy reply telling me to reread the rules, you must submit 1 offer ad first. I replied saying I posted 2 offer ads. And looked up on their database, found my ads, got the ad# for one, then wrote back with this info. I then received an e-mail saying that the understood my frustration ??? I then started to think I must be on some reality TV show where everyone is in on the joke…but ME! I replied back basically saying look, you’re the Moderator, why are you not able to see the ads in your database like I did. I was then sent an e-mail, the last one of the day so far, this was copied & pasted here: “also we do have all the posts for itsmevickieb@cox.net. If you are using multiple email addresses, your posts from itsmevickieb are still on the site, if you are posting from another email address, it does not show us that you are the same person as itsmevickieb. in order to prevent your posts from being rejected, please post from the same email address each time.” ??? What are these people/person smoking??? It’s now become a joke between family & friends…Will Vickie’s ad EVER get posted. I don’t want to associate myself with so much incompetence. I’m not even going to proof this post for errors before submitting because I feel I’ve devoted far too much of my time to this “event”.
Comment by V. Birch — 3/28/2009 @ 5:06 pm
OFFER!! large amounts of snow and Ice!!! PENDING!!! large amounts of snow and Ice!! E-Mail from FC Owner- GOODBYE!!
FC used to have a purpose!
CraigsList for me!!!
Comment by Wichita — 3/30/2009 @ 9:18 am
Wichita, your not making clear comment here, who the hell is Craig and what does his list have to do with anything, I’m guessing you got a lot of snow and ice where you reside poor you, hire a blow torch and melt the bugger.
By the way if your message was intended as spam then guess you must be a fc owner LOL.
Comment by Raggie — 3/31/2009 @ 5:24 am
V. Birch, your so right to laugh about it with your family you know what comes to mind is that those chosen few are what is known as F…ed in the head and mentally subnormal and what the heck can anyone do about that, nothing apart from laugh.
Comment by Raggie — 3/31/2009 @ 5:37 am
I was banned from the Elk Grove, California freecycle today for posting this add: Hi everyone,
I have a chair if your interested. It is older but in good condition. It has paisley material and is a family room or living room chair. The price tag on the bottom says $250.00 but like I said it’s older. Still lot’s of life in it. You could even put a cover over it! Thanks!
Now, instead of the OWNER Mary kindly emailing me to say that she felt it needed to be written again as it MIGHT look like I was trying to sell the chair, she emailed me this: I’m sorry, what part of “FREE”Cycle did you not understand? This site is for FREE Items, not listing things for sale. Your post is being rejected and you are now banned as a Member.
Mary
Owner- ELk Grove Freecycle
What the !!!! I have given away so many nice things to great people through freecycle and rarely ask for anything! I just posted a free tv right before that post. Our Elk Grove rules state CLEARLY that you have a 3 strike policy. I never even got 1 strike. I’m so sick of bullies like Mary! She obviously has a super reactive personality! I emailed her a few times politely to explain but still have not heard a word and I’m still banned. Can you say CONTROL FREAK! If she thinks she won this one, she better think again! Freecycle is a corporation now and can be held liable for their owners and moderators! All this for trying to give away a chair….and yes, I even had it listed under OFFER…go figure
Shellie Spence
Comment by Shellie — 4/6/2009 @ 8:56 pm
I’ve been on ‘moderation’ at wake freecycle (nc) for over a year for the cardinal sin of posting the same ad on two unrelated groups - one freecycle and one e-cycle. I wrote the freecycle moderator today after having a ‘wanted’ (which almost never post, always offers) not show up, and asked if I’m still being moderated for the same ‘offense’, and when I can expect the modeation to end. The response I got, word for word:
“Yes you are still on moderation, for the same reason.
Moderator”
Notice the lack of response to the question of when moderation of my posts will be lifted.
I wrote back, pointing out that they neglected to answer the question, and also that my ‘moderation’ looks more like a ban since they are not approving my posts at all.
Anyway, I know where this is going. There’s long been a feeling in this freecycle group that our esteemed moderators are on a bit of a power trip. Arguing with them will do no good, and I am under no illusions that they will drop the attitude and reinstate me fully. A damn shame, because of a one-time honest mistake (cross-posting, according to them), I have essentially been locked out of a group that I was an active part of for probably a couple of years previous to this.
Freecycle is a great idea that works when run properly. Unfortunately moderators like this ruin it for everyone, and are people like me once again dumping my crap at the curb rather than go through the hassle of trying to reason with a petty dictator. Oh well.
Comment by bfs — 4/16/2009 @ 6:58 pm
Hey do you think Freecycle owns the monopoly of Yahoo Groups, well, NO THEY DO NOT.
There is absolutely nothing stopping you from creating your own recycling group and call it whatever you like for your area, then send invites to all the people in your mail box to come join you, making sure you offer your stuff on there to members only and there you go, freecycle is history along with it’s Control Trolls who have nothing in their lives and are little educated.
I can’t understand why Yahoo allow these people to bully and discriminate!
Comment by Susan — 4/17/2009 @ 12:57 am
If you think it’s hard to set up your own local group let me tell you it’s not, just type in to your google search bar “Yahoo Groups” then click on create your own Groups the rest is history as Yahoo takes you through all the steps and the group is run on their software all you need to do is name it type in the blurb you want displayed and update it as often as you want send invitations to 50 email addresses all at the same time and you must have plenty of those from fc and to all your friends and family. Bingo your done! Freecycle Shmeecycle can go straight to hell.
Comment by Sunny — 4/19/2009 @ 12:17 am
Actually a member of our local area in Milton Keynes has done just that and the group is called “Milton Keynes Cafe Sale & Wanted Items” it’s so popular because there are no stupid childish rules that in just 3 days it picked up 50 members.
It certainly beats FC treating us like we’re bad kids that need to be punished for something we didn’t do!
Comment by J. Morris — 4/20/2009 @ 3:05 pm
Thank you to everyone who has given me insight on how to handle this control freak Mary Bell from Elk Grove Freecycle! I will definitely either start my own or join one of the other great sites. Thanks again, Shellie
Comment by Shellie Spence — 4/20/2009 @ 7:16 pm
I had heard great things about the San Francisco freecycle program so I decided to try to join my local San Mateo freecycle list on yahoo. Unfortunately I was assaulted by a cold, unwelcoming quiz that included a fifth trick question that confused me and I got wrong. The moderator Christopher F implied that I was a lemming because I could not figure out the answer to his cute trick question. I run a local non-profit as well as give away tons of stuff on craigslist free section every month, and I think I’ll continue to do that because I don’t want to have anything to do with a control freak like this guy.
Comment by Paul D — 4/25/2009 @ 12:30 am
Hi Paul,
I agree with you! I think most of the freecycle moderators are control freaks! That’s really sick that he actually would put questions you have to answer in order to give away your stuff for FREE…how sad for all of them! I know that there are a few good moderators out there like the ones in Tracy, Ca. They need to rename freecycle. It should be called controlcycle…what do you think? I’m getting ready to start my own. I will only have your typical common courtesy rules :-) You should do the same. Even better, do what some of the others have suggested and bring all the freecyclers you know with you. Maybe we can teach the nasty moderators they aren’t God’s! Good luck :-)
Comment by Shellie — 4/25/2009 @ 2:36 pm
My 2 year old daughter just fell into a swimming pool today and my cell phone was in my pocket when I jumped in after her. I tried posting a request for a cheap Verizon cell phone and the Tracy, CA moderators rejected it because cell phones are expensive and they don’t wind up in landfills. Her suggestion to me was to keep an eye on the posts and hopefully someone will post a cell phone. That’s not an option for me so I posted my request on the SanJoaquinValleyCafe yahoo group and they posted it immediately. I’m thinking that maybe the Tracy, CA freecycle group might just be a waste of my time.
Comment by Kim — 5/22/2009 @ 8:15 pm
If you want to see the sucess of someone who has set up a group of their own in Milton Keynes UK go to search groups MIlton Keynes and on page 10 you will find recycleMiltonKeynes then join this group to work out how to set your own group up and ask for tips as the owner Paula is a wonderful person and full of ideas of help.
Comment by Rupert — 5/26/2009 @ 3:10 pm
tried to sign up with four groups, two in Maryland and two in Pennsylvania. I live in Minnesota…my sister lives in Pennsylvania.
This is the situation.
My sister who lives in the Pennsylvania group’s area and the near the other group (within 12 miles) does not have internet access. I planned on calling her when some item came up while searching these groups. Actually look while on the phone with her. She in turn could post (however without images) anything that she wanted to offer.
I asked permission to join and I was denied by the Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (my sister’s town) group for this reason….the moderator said that because she was not online at the same time she would not be able to pickup the item because I don’t live there. According to him, it doesn’t make sense to him how this could be done. He also stated because I don’t live there, Freecycle rules state a person must live within 50 miles of the location to participate. He knows the system and talking to my sister while on line would not work.
Washington County/Hagerstown, Maryland denied because I don’t live there and my sister lives 12 miles away and the purpose of the group is environmental and that Freecycle doesn’t want people driving all over the place to pick up items because of the waste of fuel. My sister works in Hagerstown and can pick up in the area. Also, since Waynesboro has its own group…you can’t belong to one that is in the same geographically area. The Washington County base is bigger than Waynesboro’s…more opportunity for items to be offered.
Now to illustrate inconsistencies…Chambersburg, Pennsylvania…with the explanation that I gave Waynesboro and Washington County/Hagerstown; allowed me to participate. Chambersburg is 20 miles from Waynesboro.
Western Maryland (which I dropped out of because of the distance) didn’t even ask questions, allowed joining without any pre-requisites. That area is 70 miles away.
Jessica the Moderator’s Washington County/Hagerstown, Maryland, Freecycle. In response again to my rejection
We don’t cover Waynesboro PA. They have their own group. So unless I’m missing something, I don’t see the relevance of her living in Waynesboro to applying to a Hagerstown/ Washington County group. You need to join the Waynesboro group.
People without internet access CAN have others join the group for them but both parties need to be within the boundaries we’ve established. Since there are groups that cover all areas surrounding Washington County and Freecycle is primarily an environmental site, it really doesn’t make much sense to have people driving from all over the place increasing pollution and wasting gas (which is directly against the Freecycle mission) to pick up items.
—————————————————————————
Steven the Moderator’s Waynesboro, Pennsylvania Freecycle — his first message (in response to my reply on his rejection).
I’m sorry I’m not going to argue about the situation. The Freecycle Network requires you live within 50 miles of the location.
Just because two other groups allowed you to join doesn’t mean its correct.
You’re going to call your sister every time there is something being offered and think by the time you call her, get her approval, respond to the offering, it will be available? I’ve been doing this for several years, I know how the process works.
There are many things I can think beyond the box about.
Second message from Stephen….
I suggest you get out a map and look up Wayensboro PA and Hagerstown MD, they are only 15 miles apart.
You can argue and put me and my group down all you like. I denied your request to join. I’ve given ample reasons why. (then further said I was being nasty). He called me stupid and I explained the situation. AND he blocked me from responses and said I’m harrassing him…I reported him to Freecycle. (along with Jessica).
I stated that Freecycle, I would think, would rather people be able to recycle regardless of financial means (lack of money to pay for internet access) or work schedules (my sister works odd hours and can’t get to a library)
Jessica’s last email…stated both people need to live in the area.
Comment by Pennagirl — 6/8/2009 @ 1:45 pm
If you go to http://www.freecycle.org/ you can find all the information about Freecycle. Under Member FAQ you should find the rules and guidelines. There are mandatory and discretionary ones. You can also probably get access to the moderators rules.
All the policies and procedures are open for perusal by moderators although from some comments on here many of them obviously fail to read them.
Dorothy
Comment by Dorothy — 6/10/2009 @ 9:45 am
I have problems with some Freecycle groups too but two things I definitely agree with them on is people being in the area of the group they’re joining and limitng the wanted ads. One of the groups I’m a member of has so many wanted ads it’s ridiculous. It’s not for little things either, it’s bit stuff like TVs, RVs, cars, boats, laptops, etc. Funny thing is, the stupid moderators then reject the requests for old socks or margarine containers. WTF???
Pennagirl- I used to be a Freecycle moderator (got out of that when the network started some practices I don’t necessarily agree with). I have never seen anywhere that TFN said that the location boundaries were 50 miles from the group. That may just be that group’s guidelines. That actually doesn’t make much sense if the other town is only 15 miles away. Why would TFN have 2 overlapping groups? There’s a city near me that someone wanted to start a group in but TFN said no because a county-wide group already covered that area. Freecycle groups used to be regional. That didn’t work very well so they broke them up into smaller more local groups.
Also, when I moderated we had people that would complain that they were a member of x group but had people from a neighboring group posting. It got too confusing for them. Apparently the moderators aren’t the only dim bulbs in the box.
Comment by The Sock — 6/11/2009 @ 9:59 am
The facts are, freecycle is one of the biggest network of twits running it, their either ageing old farts who enjoy the only bit of control they have in their lives or their out of work sit at home and mind everyone else’s business and enjoy mixing it to cause bad feeling.
There is no control over this lot as they are individuals that own their own groups and yahoo courteousness is extended only to their baby “freecycle” they allow them pride of place in their directories and if you look there anyone who competes with their baby is functioning at a speed determined by yahoo.
So I would say the best way to end their monopoly is to start your very own group web site as individuals for your own areas called “Freecycle” also on a seperate web server maybe ask gmail if they can help or hotmail or google as they will take care of the software and virus protection. The other way would be to just start your own web site for free not hard but watch out for those peskie mods they do love mixing it and sending you viruses.
Comment by Rupert — 6/20/2009 @ 2:15 am
You want to here the latest odd ball story about the Milton Keynes Group owner……………
I placed 2 wanted posts the other day after some months of not bothering with Freecycle Milton Keynes because of the discriminating ways employed with my membership, so anyway, one was for a Cat transporters box and the other for a Mobility scooter for my old folk friends who are no longer able to get around and the husband is now too frail to push his wife around in a wheel chair; I found that my cat box post went in and two other people asking for mobility scooters were allowed to post wanted adds but mine was deleted without a word as to why before it ever got published - so I didn’t argue as I have been here many times with this owner and his moderator, so I placed it with the new, unconnected group Recycle Milton Keynes Group and subsequently when the item was received, I posted a received add also - likewise then posted a received add on Freecycle also saying it was no longer needed as another group had now provided the item and as my post was omitted I was feeling discriminated against, I mean at the time I was in the dark as to why it had not been published by him as he often says he’s too busy and I must wait, though I had a pretty good idea he was not going to publish it as per normal with a lot of my posts, well guess what, it too was deleted by the owner who wrote back to me saying he deleted this because I may not post on two sites within 48 hours implying to me that the two sites were connected in some way - which they are not, I checked with the Recycle MK site. He also offered me the opportunity to leave if I wished to, and gave me the link to so do?
So I wrote back saying I failed to see why he was discriminating against me and asking me not to post to another group that is not connected with Freecycle, since I had first posted to his group and he had contradicted himself anyway, by publishing one post for the cat box but not the one for the mobility scooter - because both had also been placed on the Recycle site anyway and what’s more his members did this all the time but he had no problems with them since he said I was the ONLY member he had stupid comments from? I also asked why he was asking me again if I would like to leave the group.
He wrote back saying; I was stupid for making stupid comments and he and his moderators were giving me an ultimatum to read their etiquette file, and write back within the next few hours agreeing to uphold the rules or I would be removed as a member in the morning?
So I told him again I have read the file he spoke of and that I had not broken any rules but that it seemed clear he liked to bully me for reasons that are still not clear and that he should grow up in no uncertain terms, as the only stupid comments seemed to be coming from him.
No prizes for guessing what came next before the next morning; he was sorry that I had removed myself from the group? Actually I had not he did that all by himself, poor old man, no life huh. LOL
Oh and by the way I forgot to mention he insists that he has been discriminated against; wait for it, he says: “I could not get past the front door of “YOUR” group.”
So it seems, not only have I been wronged and harassed all along since I joined but now I was being harassed for either reason that he thought I owned the new Recycle group and would not let him in or because I lived in a more suburban part of the town - I’m not altogether sure which if not both.
There are many types of troll in the world are there not maybe one day they will actually get a life.
*******
By the way Dorothy you failed to answer my question to you earlier about us all starting a group of our own called “Freecycle”? Guess the answer must be in that case that there is no reason why we can’t all do that then.
Comment by Raggie — 6/22/2009 @ 11:34 am