It turns it’s a lot easier to give stuff away than to get things through this. The whole notion of responding through email makes it seem like a game show (I have the buzzer with the intermittently faulty button, apparently). And it seems there are some attitudes I didn’t expect to find in something that seems to be rooted in generosity and conservation. I got some weird pushback from some folks who didn’t feel I was enthusiastic enough about picking stuff up: driving to West Seattle/Alki at rush hour to pick up some kids project materials doesn’t make a lot of sense. If this is rooted in some kind of conservation ethic, dropping everything to collect this stuff seems to defeat the purpose. I have tried to be accommodating about this stuff I gave away, to the point where I almost regret giving it away at all. I’ve essentially been told, I’m putting this outside NOW and the first person to come get it wins.
Yesterday, someone posted a WANTED: cash email, with the additional information that they were expecting a baby in a few weeks and were broke. Last I checked, the normal gestation period was 9 months, so the arrival should be no surprise: I don’t want to seem uncharitable, but that seems like the “internet as wishing well” writ large.
So I just posted my last OFFERED listing and have dropped off the mailing list. I may get back on but I think it will just be to get rid of stuff. It’s not worth the hassle to take anything. I did stay on long enough to see a car go up on the list: a 1976 BMW 530i, trashed interior and dubious drivetrain, but free.