Lesson Learned and a Pie in the Face!

Many moons ago I joined a group called Freecycle. The idea behind this online community is that "one man's trash is another's treasure" and so on and so forth. If you have something you probably want or need to throw away, list it and see if anyone in your freecycle community can come pick it up and use it. That way things like old furniture, computer monitors, vacuum cleaners, dining chairs, etc... don't wind up in landfills. Great concept right? So, I joined and have always secretly hoped for a fantastic set of book ends. But that's neither here nor there.

A few months ago the emails sent out through the freecycling group in my community got to be a bit extravagant in regard to requests for luxury items. Instead of people offering things, aside from the occasional kitten (because apparently the world needs more cats) people started begging for all sorts of things. One woman asked for a GPS, a window unit A/C, a laptop and some living room furniture. Not long after that another lady wanted a laptop and a car. Being the "set 'em straight and tell it like it is" bandit that I fancy myself to be, I decided to put a stop to it by sending a snarky email to the group telling them where they might find a map, access to a computer and a Goodwill. This of course prompted several other members of the group to jump on my bandwagon and send their own "hell yeah", "that's telling 'em" emails. Then... there were a couple of members (mainly the ones who asked for all the free shit) that didn't really like my approach. They thought I should quit being so judgemental because "you never know why someone is asking for the things they do or what kind of things go on in their life that make them ask for stuff". Several weeks passed and the "gimme" emails decreased significanly. YES!!! Errp... Not so fast... Before long we had more requests or rather, demands for things like bedroom furniture and a DSI with games and a charger and carrying case, "that are in good condition & not messed up". So! I sent another snipey email prompting yet another uproar from the group. And of course a few snippety reactions from the beggars. A few days later the moderator says enough, and life goes back to normal and the beggars return to begging and sure enough, another email goes out, only this time the woman wants living room furniture and toys for her daughter. I decided to get off my hump and go through my daughter's toys. I contacted the beggar the next day letting her know that I had several unopened dolls, Barbie doll houses and other toys in excellent condition and that I'd be happy to meet her to give them to her. She says ok and from that point on it was like wrestling an alligator to get her to confirm a time and place to meet. The next day I loaded up the back seat of my car with all of the toys I'd gathered and prepared to meet the woman we'll dub as "Carol". Carol called me 10 minutes before we were supposed to meet and says she's still at her doctor's appointment and can't make it. I suggested we meet at another time and again, we stall... I finally tell her that I can meet her at our designated spot the following day at 1:00 pm sharp. I arrive the next day a few minutes early. After waiting for twenty minutes I finally sent her a text asking if she still wanted the toys. She responded and said she was on her way. I waited an additional 25 minutes before giving up and telling her I couldn't wait any longer. I had many errands to run that day and had waited for over 45 minutes. A while later she started bombarding me with texts saying that her daughter was crying because she wanted the toys and that I needed to come back. I told her I was sorry but that I couldn't return because I had other obligations that day. She continued to try and lay the blame at my feet without a single apology for being late. Carol was ungrateful but still I considered setting another time to meet with her... But I thought better of it and just cancelled my freecylce membership. 

I suppose in the end, I got what I deserved. I decided to be the gun wielding sheriff of freecycle and wound up with a pie in my face. Sometimes it's better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and tell everyone you're a giant shit eating dumbass. I thought I could reason with and talk sense to people who have no sense. I thought I knew best and could set them straight. But my arrogance just got my blood pressure elavated and my Blackberry dinging! I didn't need the hassle or the drama of what I created and I sure as hell didn't need the guilt trip to Giver's World where Carol was a no-show!

My daddy always said "You can't REhabilitate someone who's never been habilitated to begin with." Wise words Don. Maybe next time before I open my big mouth (or email) I'll remember that.

But don't forget to Recycle!