I'm not interested in making friends...

but I'm one of those weird people who believes "please" and/OR (not even both) "thank you" are required in all cases.

I would rather drive to Goodwill with my stuff than be ordered about by uncouth slobs.  (The conversation I quoted was a synopsis, you understand; the real thing just frosted me!)

Having said that, I have had many a "hick" and many a "slob" and many a scary-type I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley come to my porch to fetch stuff I put on Freecycle, and they have never failed to show just basic common courtesy in their initial request and/OR (one or the other) their follow-up emails to arrange pick-up.

That's all I ask... basic common courtesy.

I may have been feeling testy because the last three things I offered -- that were snatched up in a flash -- never got picked up, and the fools strung me out for days -- three weeks in one case -- while the stuff sat on my front porch looking dumpsterish.  Then I had to start all over with the other responses.

I confess, I wasn't in the mood for people who didn't have time to be even moderately polite.

I learned my lesson, though.  Now I tell people (politely), if they don't pick it up as promised, it goes to the next person in line.

We've gotten free lumber from Freecycle several times -- enough to build a deck of sorts in our "bottom yard."  Yes, it's stuff they would have to pay to haul away, no question about it -- but I am very grateful, and I would do no less than say thank you.

I would also like to add that some people literally *do* offer GARBAGE (and make it sound usable in their offer). 

Maybe I'm wrong, but if it isn't in halfway decent shape, I don't offer it.  I, ummmmmmmmm, put it in the garbage (what a novel idea!).  I don't expect people to haul it away for me.

Case in point:

I asked for "broken dishes" so I could play around with mosaics without investing much money in my non-talent.  One lady said she had a big box of "great stuff."  Off I went.  It was my first "free pickup," and I was embarrassed, so I just grabbed the box from the doorstep and left, hoping the neighbors didn't see me.

When I got home, I found mold throughout, dirty old food, and some kind of disgusting liquid former food item in one of the bowls.  I nearly tossed my cookies.

After throwing the stuff away because I couldn't deal with it, even with rubber gloves, I took a shower and took stock (multi-tasking:-) -- 'twas there I realized people really DO give away their garbage.

BLECCHHH!!

Luv,