Why have neighborhood listservs turned into perpetual handout forums?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A great many people are just classless with this stuff. I think it's pathetic for those not in need to ask for things they could easily afford. Items that could go to people who really do need them. Have some pride for God's sake. It is most definitely grabby.

I was in a thrift store in a low-income neighborhood in PG near where I live (Landover Hills). Being a nosy person, I watched with interest as a very well dressed man hunted through the kids clothes with his wife hollering at him on the cell phone and a harried hispanic employee helping him look. It appeared that they had mistakenly donated a little girls coat. I'm quite sure this guy drove from Bethesda or somewhere like that. The kids' sports/school shirts are often from the swankier suburbs. I thought this was pathetic. Buy another coat -- you losers. Someone probably could've used that.

It must suck to always think the worst of people.

[Anonymous]

Another poster here. I don't think PP is thinking the worst of people at all. I think that the guy she posted about has been outed and is p*ssed. Greedy people hate being called on their behavior!

[Anonymous]

Ugh-- just read another one of these posts on my listserv. Just basically lists all the stuff she "needs" and says she'd be willing to take it for free or a "small charge."

[Anonymous]

Kind of agree. It's fine to ask for something, but you should offer to buy it. It's still going to save you plenty over new and re-use rather than throw away but doesn't make you look like a skeevy cheapskate.

There don't seem to be too many beggars on MOTH, but there are a lot of people selling stuff that should be free, like used kids' shoes and socks, opened packs of diapers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A great many people are just classless with this stuff. I think it's pathetic for those not in need to ask for things they could easily afford. Items that could go to people who really do need them. Have some pride for God's sake. It is most definitely grabby.

I was in a thrift store in a low-income neighborhood in PG near where I live (Landover Hills). Being a nosy person, I watched with interest as a very well dressed man hunted through the kids clothes with his wife hollering at him on the cell phone and a harried hispanic employee helping him look. It appeared that they had mistakenly donated a little girls coat. I'm quite sure this guy drove from Bethesda or somewhere like that. The kids' sports/school shirts are often from the swankier suburbs. I thought this was pathetic. Buy another coat -- you losers. Someone probably could've used that.

Maybe her mother (or the bosses' wife) bought it and expected to see the little girl in it at an upcoming event. Maybe it had sentimental value. Never assume you know the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I offer all my good, unwanted stuff to my nanny and housekeeper. They do whatever they want with it and I get it out of my house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This OP, and in the really, really bizarre case: my friend just moved to a neighborhood that is over the top "rah, rah" isn't this "the best neighborhood ever" (sic).......

Needless to say, she is extremely suspicious that she has instead moved to the worst neighborhood ever. Who has to say its "the best" if it really is?

Do they say this is the best neighborhood ever or this "listserve" is the best?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kind of agree. It's fine to ask for something, but you should offer to buy it. It's still going to save you plenty over new and re-use rather than throw away but doesn't make you look like a skeevy cheapskate.

There don't seem to be too many beggars on MOTH, but there are a lot of people selling stuff that should be free, like used kids' shoes and socks, opened packs of diapers, etc.

Look... if people don't like it, they don't have to respond. What do you care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kind of agree. It's fine to ask for something, but you should offer to buy it. It's still going to save you plenty over new and re-use rather than throw away but doesn't make you look like a skeevy cheapskate.

There don't seem to be too many beggars on MOTH, but there are a lot of people selling stuff that should be free, like used kids' shoes and socks, opened packs of diapers, etc.

Look... if people don't like it, they don't have to respond. What do you care?

Because a great neighborhood listserv is great because people find value in the postings. When people are all contributing, whether it's advice, information, or goods and services, it's a great resource. When it starts to devolve into Craigslist or worse, people get turned off and then they don't participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kind of agree. It's fine to ask for something, but you should offer to buy it. It's still going to save you plenty over new and re-use rather than throw away but doesn't make you look like a skeevy cheapskate.

There don't seem to be too many beggars on MOTH, but there are a lot of people selling stuff that should be free, like used kids' shoes and socks, opened packs of diapers, etc.

Look... if people don't like it, they don't have to respond. What do you care?

Because a great neighborhood listserv is great because people find value in the postings. When people are all contributing, whether it's advice, information, or goods and services, it's a great resource. When it starts to devolve into Craigslist or worse, people get turned off and then they don't participate.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind most charities can't accept used carseats, since they can't be sure they haven't been in a crash and carseats needs to be disposed of then. So your option is to give it directly to a person (i.e. on your listserv) or trashcan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I offer all my good, unwanted stuff to my nanny and housekeeper. They do whatever they want with it and I get it out of my house.

That's nice that you're so kind to the poors.

truly generous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I offer all my good, unwanted stuff to my nanny and housekeeper. They do whatever they want with it and I get it out of my house.

That's nice that you're so kind to the poors.

truly generous

They are not poor and they appreciate it. Get the chip off your shoulder.

[Anonymous]

To me neighborhood listservs exist only for the entertainment value. Recently on our listserv a neighbor was having a birthday party for someone who had moved from the neighborhood. She asked neighbors to contribute flowers to the party for the neighbor so that she would have the number of flowers to equal her age. Mind you, no one was invited to the party (ye gods, who would want to go!), but we were to contribute the gift. The examples are endless of people giving away junk and wanting more junk

I wonder if NSA or the hackers in Nigeria or the Ukraine monitor neighborhood listservs on their coffee breaks.

[Anonymous]

I'd rather a list of requests for items than what we get on our listserv - lots of all caps rants about trees and speeding and the HOA board.