Be nice

Be Nice

We've found that the vast majority of members are very nice folk, who are naturally courteous and polite, so this probably won't apply to most of you, as you'll do it anyway, thank you (but please read it anyway). However, there are a minority of members who don't seem to have grasped the message that you get a much better reaction from other members if you're nice to them.

For those to whom being nice doesn't come naturally, here are some guidelines:

1) Don't demand, beg, or exaggerate the situation in your posts or replies. Keep it simple, polite and factual.

2) Reply ONCE to posts. Many items are very popular, and it's totally unreasonable to expect personal replies to every message, especially if the original post was an offer. This isn't the offerer being rude, but practical. If you've had 20-30 replies, it just takes too much time to send individual emails. It's actually a group recommendation that the taken message be used to thank all those who responded, rather than attempt individual emails.

3) Communicate effectively. If you're collecting or delivering, make sure that you have enough information to actually find the address. Make sure that you can contact the other person if some problem arises - there's nothing more frustrating than a 'no-show'. A call to say you'll be a bit late or would like to rearrange is the minimum courtesy you should be extending.

4) Don't ask for something on the off chance you might get it. If you can use it, good, but one of the annoyances of Freegle is members asking needlessly for items they don't really want (as they often change their minds, and, rudely, then don't collect).

5) Use the fair offer policy. This gives members with limited web access time to reply. It's sad when somebody with a real need doesn't even see an offer before it's been taken, precisely because they don't have the same access to the web as more fortunate members.

6) Most of all (and it shouldn't need to be said) don't be rude, abusive, annoying or demanding towards other members. Anything which would be considered flaming in a discussion forum is definitely out, and should be reported to the moderators at the owner address.

Thanks for reading this, and for keeping the group such a nice place.

[MODERATOR NAMES]

[GROUP NAME] Mod Team

Please send any responses to: [GROUP_NAME]-owner@yahoogroups.com

2: Admin It costs nowt t be nice!

All items on this group are gifts - donated for free and without strings. In return, we feel that the members who offer these things are entitled to at least one thing - a little common courtesy.

Please give the following some thought, (it may also improve your chances of success).

1. Be polite, show some manners, and don't forget to SAY PLEASE!

2. String a coherent sentence together – Don't just say 'I need it', 'I'll take it off your hands' or 'I'll have it' etc.

3. Don't use 'txt spk' because it just annoys our more mature members, which means that you have NO CHANCE of success!

4. It's very annoying to be bombarded with emails, ONE is enough. After a day or so (If no 'Taken' has been posted) send another. If you still get no reply – Let It Go !

5. When you arrange a collection, BE PROMPT.

6. KEEP APPOINTMENTS - `No Shows' are not acceptable.

7. You MUST declare your intention of re-selling any item(s) that you receive from our members.

And finally, when you receive an item please consider sending a THANK YOU email directly to the member who gave it.

Thank You.

Xxx Group Moderators.

3: ADMIN: keep it nice folks

In response to a recent complaint, I would like to remind you to BE NICE to each other.

We are all collectively doing something pretty good here, and I like to think of Freegle as sort of removed from the general dog eat dog frenzy that goes down on the rest of this planet most of the time (rather optimistic and deluded of me i know).

Freegle is about saving stuff from landfill, whilst infecting the community at large with a general sense of altruism...

So please, leave any emotional baggage at the door, and if your not actually a very nice person, just humour me, and pretend.

I am now going to clamber down from the moral higher ground and get down to the nitty gritty, if you have any issues or complaints please report them to us -the mods team and *please* refrain from sending abusive or rude emails to other members.

We can be reached at: yourgroupname-owner@yahoogroups.com

If you would like to enter into a dialogue with everybody about this, do not respond on this list -join our cafe group which can be found here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yourcafegroup

thanks everyone

xxx on behalf of the xxx moderating team

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this is here for useful content, not to be uploaded to OSS in present format

Admin positive behavior

Dear members,

The moderating team are dismayed to learn of any member who has left feeling that they have had bad experiences as a result of being an active member of Wellingborough Freecycle. We would like to share with you an email sent to the Wellingborough Freecycle Moderating Team yesterday by a now ex-member of this group. We felt that their words summed up very well some of the reasons that good and active members of this group decide to leave.

Sadly, we are aware that although there are many excellent and courteous members of the group, many active members have had similar, or worse experiences, at times. There is nothing dramatic in the contents of the email, but it is a sadly familiar tale…

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With permission from the author, and identifying content removed:

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Dear Moderators,

I am leaving the Freecycle groups, as I have had really bad experiences, and don't want to know how selfish, lazy and bad-mannered people can be.

I thoroughly applaud the concept of re-using items to save them from landfill sites, and have made great efforts to use the service. But out of five replies to my last offer, only one let me know they were already suited, one exchanged phone numbers by email, but never answered my phone calls nor called me for collection details. The other three ignored my emails to make contact. After a week or so trying to get interest, I was finally forced to smash up and dump an elegant and comfortable [item of furniture] in perfectly usable condition.

My previous offer a few months ago for a [top quality kitchen appliance] in perfect condition had two collection arrangements ignored without explanation, but was successful on the third attempt.

[section removed to maintain anonymity]

I must thank you all for the hard work you all put in to this excellent scheme.

Yours sincerely,

[name provided]

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Please may we urge everyone to consider the consequences of such thoughtlessness to those generously giving away their items. Mud sticks, and uncalled for behaviour by even a tiny minority on here will reduce the opportunities and effectiveness throughout our Freecycle community.

We are aware that there are a huge number of successful transactions every day via this group alone. These cannot happen without the good will of the vast majority of our members, and we do appreciate this. However, we respectfully request that ALL members treat others in the way that they would like to be treated. Maintaining polite communication with each other is free and easy way for Freecycle to be a positive experience for us all. Not only will even more items be diverted from landfill as a result, but we will be strengthening our community in the process. Please help us.

Discussion is welcome on the café group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthantsFreecycleCafe), but not on this list please. Private responses are welcome by replying to this message.

With warmest wishes,

woking ADMIN: please read

Dear members,

Sorry to invade your inbox but we have had a couple of reports about members not following the "be nice" rule on RecycleWoking

Please only respond to WANTEDs if you have the item that is being sought and to OFFERS if you genuinely would like to have the item and can collect it.

Please do not respond with comments or critical remarks.

If anyone believes that there is a post that is inappropriate, please advise the moderators rather than sending anything critical to the member concerned.

Thanks very much

your moderators