Why have neighborhood listservs turned into perpetual handout forums?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me when people list things for $5 and under to sell on the list serve I'm on. Is it worth the hassle to sell something for $5 or less?

Seriously! This happens on the Silver Spring mom's listserv all the time. I once saw somebody selling an opened bottle of nail polish. C'mon. Not to mention that some of these areas are fairly spread out, you have to synch two schedules. I don't get this at all. YOur time has to be worth something.

[Anonymous]

My neighborhood listserv is the opposite. Weird offers to give away shit that nobody wants. Like a pie with a couple of slices out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

Or maybe some favorite token of the little girl's was in the pocket. Yes, they were looking for a coat, but you have no idea why.

NP on this thread and no investment, I just agree that it's possible to not think the worst of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on 3 listservs and every single day there is someone posting a "give me" message. "Looking for a bicycle, wagon, carseat, couch, bed, coat, vacuum, you name it" if someone has one to give. Kinda sick of it. Offer to pay people for their hard earned material goods or go to a thrift shop.

I hate this too!! Particularly since I live in an affluent neighborhood. It's like, if I had one to give away I would donate it to kids in need.
And it's always the same people! And they are looking for expensive stuff usually too.

This is how I feel too, especially because I often personally know of the (serial) people with their hand out and I know enough about them to know they could damn well afford a $50 booster seat for the brand new Subaru outback they just purhased, sitting on our block in Chevy Chase DC. conversely, same households could afford to give away the high chair / umbrella/ "well used glider with stains" to Martha's Table. But no -- there they are on the listserv month after month, trying to get that last $25 for it.

Which is how much they earn in 7 minutes of work as an economist.

And before someone says it, it's because they're grabby, not "being green." At least the people I have in mind.

Hmm, I wish I knew them I have a car seat for them. It is for a girl though. Something tells me they would want gender specific car seats.

[Anonymous]

Could be worse, OP. Could be Pinecone Mom's long rant!

[Anonymous]

For some things it makes sense. For others, if someone had one and didn't want it, they would obviously be selling it, and to ask for it for free is ridiculous. I have seen "ISO free elliptical machine."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me when people list things for $5 and under to sell on the list serve I'm on. Is it worth the hassle to sell something for $5 or less?

Seriously! This happens on the Silver Spring mom's listserv all the time. I once saw somebody selling an opened bottle of nail polish. C'mon. Not to mention that some of these areas are fairly spread out, you have to synch two schedules. I don't get this at all. YOur time has to be worth something.

I am on that listserv, had the same reaction to the bottle of nail polish. LOL