h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi,

I'm finishing up an entry on The Compact (A24712238) but I have no idea how freecycle actually works, and I don't have an account. Do you? And if so, how does the swapping actually occur?

Hello Leo, what an interesting article....I was imagining the conversation that led up to the setting up of the Compact, the beautiful Californian party people sitting talking by the pool, sipping various chilled cocktails, looking around at their large houses, deciding they have waaaaay too much and they will go without for a year...I wonder if once the year is up, they will have changed their ways and decided to adopt a more Compact way of life for good.

I have never used freecycle myself but my friend (who has just had a baby) has - she managed to get various second hand baby items like a pram and a cot from freecyle. I think she said what happened was if you were interested in something on the site, you messaged the person who was offering it. If you were the only person interested, you then arranged how the item was going to be delivered (I think she collected most of it as she used the local freecycle to her so it wasn't that far a drive) If more than one person was interested, the person giving the stuff away then had to decide who got it - my friend said this was sometimes via a 'free draw' (ie names in a hat) or asking questions, and deciding who was the most worthy recipient.

Gumtree.com is another site similar to freecycle - another one of my friends who was moving to the Caymen Islands for work (lucky girl!) gave away quite a bit of stuff. However, that one isn't always free - there is a 'freebie' section, but most people charge for their items on that one.

Good luck with your article,

Thanks!

The Compact is on its second year, so I guess they enjoyed the experience. Of course, they cheat occasionally, but hey, kudos to them, and welcome to my lifestyle.

I think anything that makes people think about what they buy, consume and waste has to be a *good thing*, am very pleased to hear they're on their second year! Of course you have to be flexible though - am just thinking of the example in your article where the man had the blocked shower for weeks because he couldn't find a 'second hand plumber's snake' (am assuming that's some kind of plumbing implement - what I know about DIY I could write on a pin head!)

yeah, I thought that was overdoing it just a drop - and why he couldn't call a plumber to bail him out I'm not sure.

While I'm not a big shopper, decry waste, and don't mind getting things used, I'm not sure I could go totally without buying new forever. I would never buy a used computer, for example. Heaven alone knows what sort of hidden 'bots or unwarranted defects might be in it. But I would certainly recycle mine when I'm done.

But you've got a point. Even if some of it is over the top, the idea is sound and the thought it provokes can only be good. Well - excepting the rabidly antagonistic thought. That makes me worry.