A question about freecycle

[angrykittie25]

Okay, there is a bit of a back story to this, but I will try to keep it short. Awhile back I posted on freecycle that I was interested in finding the Scene it DVD game for my mom for her birthday. I cannot affort $50 on a game so I thought someone might have one they didn't want and if anyone responded I planned on offering then $20, but no one did. So just recently I posted that I would be interested in rodeo tickets in the town I used to live in, my mom was planning on visiting for her birthday. I know that a lot of people get free tickets and never use them so I though if anyone had some, that I could give them to my mom for a birthday present. I never asked or implied for someone to buy them and give them away. I specifically asked for complimentary tickets someone had and didn't want. So then earlier today I get this message:

<angrykittie25@h...> begged:
> I am looking for tickets to the redding rodeo. My mom really wants
> to go for her birthday and we cannot afford the tickets to go.

So... You want the tickets given to you, for your Mom's B-Day
present? That's kinda cheatin', ain't it? Besides, I thought you
wanted someone to give you a DVD game, "Scene it", so you could use
it for your Mom's present? (another board)

And, how about that donated ticket for Burning Man? You wanta trade
that for some $6 rodeo tickets? Maybe spend some of that money you've
saved for Burning Man for your Mom's present? (still another board)

I'm suspecting that "Mom" may REALLY be that on-again-off-again
boyfriend. Since you referred to your mother in the past tense, I
thought she was deceased! And, you had NOBODY to babysit for you,
except your father 700 miles away. Doesn't make sense! (other board)

You better get your stories straight, girl!

Now to straighten my "story" No one responded to the inquery about the game, so I came up with an alternate idea for a gift. I DO NOT have a donated ticket to burning man, I have a scholarship ticket which IS lower priced but not free. Rodeo tickets are $20 bucks each (if they were six, I could scrape that together) I have no money saved for burning man. I planned on using supplies I or my family already had, and a small amount of money. My "Mom" is my mom, the woman who gave birth to me. She is very much alive. He thought she was dead because of my post that said:

I may not have lots of money, but I do not think that money equals a happy and prosperous life. It does make life easier, but my mother didn't have a lot of money and I did just fine.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. My mother didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and...

And my mother cannot work full time and take care of my "boundary testing" daughter for a week or more, and I don't know anyone else in this town.

Okay, that took longer than I expected. But my question is, Am I in the wrong by posting inqueries about things I am interested in if someone plans on giving them away anyway? And do I really come off as some leech of society trying to get anything I can for free? Or is this guy really just a clueless asshole?
He obviously reads this board as well as others I frequent, but had never tried to confront me in private about what he thinks my indescretions are. Am I just clueless on how I come off to people or should I just disreguard this persons public acusations? Also, does this seem to be a personal attack? I guess I pissed off someone.
anything you have to say would be welcome.

[Last Real Burner]

No, you did not make yourself clear when you were posting, and no, questioning you're motives does not make him an asshole. You are assuming too much, calm down. It's only the internet.


"Use the force AK."

you're bestest friend,
mr smith

[Last Real Burner]

No edit button......AAAArrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggg.....

I said:
You are assuming too much, calm down. It's only the internet.

it should have said:
You are assuming too much, and so has he. Calm down, it's only the internet.

That is all. now back to you're regularly schedulaed programming, which is already in progress.


Remember: the one consistent factor in all your dissatisfying relationships is YOU.

decidedly,
mr smith

[theCryptofishist]

For whatever it's worth, Kittie, I didn't take the "my mother didn't" as meaning she was dead. It was quite apparent to me that it was while you were growing up and I drew no conclusions about the current state of your mother. I don't think that our culture or our subculture does real well in confronting the actual meaning of differences in class, and disability can be a hot button issue as well. If you go back and read earlier posts there are some airy (I find) talk about how anybody who really wants to can make it, almost side by side with discussions of it costing $1000 or more, and I've sat here and wondered "What planet are you people from--there are good people who simply do not have $1000 disposable income annually." You may be able to scrip and save and starve yourself from $750 or maybe even $500, but there is a limit to the blood you can get from a turnip. There is diffinately hostility towards those who are percieved as "leeches" which actually makes sence in a gifting community--it's tearing apart the social contract at its base. I think you've become a flashpoint for those particular resentments. You are, I gather, young, and in a small town there may not be a whole lot of people for a budding burner to relate to or turn to. YOu've turned to us and been very open on this board, and that's been brave of you. It's made you vulnerable and that can be difficult. Some of it may just be the razing that we give give people on this board, and god knows that I've been hard on the Grinch, catching him out on little inconsistencies in order to hammer him. I have no idea how much of an actual threat he is to the community but since I don't like him, I won't pull my punches. It may just be that. I wish I had better insight, but I wouldn't worry about it. People are people wherever you go, and there is a lot of liscence for rudeness on-line. It's too bad that this particular person is cropping up elsewhere, but "he's" just another axe-grinder. Enjoy what you've got.

[Ranger Genius]

John Gabriel of Penny Arcade refers to it as his Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory, expressed thus:


In pedantic circles, though, they call it The Impact of Anonymity on Disinhibitive Behavior Through Computer-Mediated Communication. You say "Po-Tah-To", I say "Fuck you."

[Rob the Wop]

There is another side of the coin re: class differences. I have been in the same boat she is in. Ramen noodles and potatoes for food. Can't turn the heat on as it costs too much. But at that time I wouldn't have gone to Burning Man. A lot of people think Burning Man is a necessity- it is most definately not. Water, food, and shelter are necessities.

Burning Man is a luxury. If you can make it, fine. But I hold little sympathy for people that skirt starvation to go to a party, then complain about how broke they are afterwards. I see nothing wrong with asking if folks have free rodeo tickets, getting a scholarship for your tickets, or asking if anyone has a game they aren't using anymore. Leeching is showing up at a house/party whatever and trying to get everyone else to pay for your stuff. They way you did it was very non-intrusive. If Sparky can't handle it, well he's not giving you rodeo tickets, now is he? Fuck him. As long as you pay for your food and tranportation, and it doesn't bankrupt you- have fun at BM. Otherwise, you might want to prioritize things a little better.

[DVD Burner]

speaking of games, unreal is pretty cool. I dont play video games though.

[Captain Goddammit]

I won't say anything about people that go through with unwanted pregnancies especially when they're in no position to raise a kid... I won't I won't I won't I won't I won't

I WILL say that looking for good deals or things people want to get rid of is just being resourceful. It isn't stealing anything or burdening anyone. It's how I put together my Bman truck, camper, trailer, and mutant vehicles.
Hell, it's even a form of recycling... who could be against that?

Angrykittie, I'm sometimes harsh on people who are in bad positions when I think they put themselves there, but have much respect when those same people do whatever it takes to pick themselves up. It looks to me like that's what you're doing, so keep looking for those bargains and using your wits to get the most from your available cash.

[diane o'thirst]

Why are you talking about it here?

Did you contact the moderator about this?

Maybe that list's mod is different but the Eugene community's mod takes issues of abusive private replies very seriously.

[Bob]

This is about a computer game? Shit, get an old Mac out of a junkyard and d/l Loderunner. Kept me going for a few months. Last game I ever used.

Re: reposting personal email, I've done it myself as a drastic measure, but it's generally not recommended.

[angrykittie25]

This started with a new dvd player game, but I suspect whoever this was had some kind of problem with me from this board.

Re: reposting personal email, I've done it myself as a drastic measure, but it's generally not recommended.

were you talking about my email?
I am checking to see if there is a moderator for the freecycle where I posted, however it gets very few posts so I doubt that it is moderated.