(no subject)

[serene]

I was gonna do The Compact, but:

1) I already don't buy much new stuff, because I'm always broke
2) Most of what I own was given to me or found (on the road, on Freecycle...)
3) I don't need any more steenkin' rules in my life right now, y'know?

But anyway, all my best to those of you who are doing it this year, and if you're in the East Bay (of the San Francisco Bay Area), I recommend the Berkeley Freecycle list as a good place to get rid of your extra clutter. (I *don't* recommend the Oakland list.)

Comments

[catrinaz.livejournal.com]

:( i was sorry to read this in the compact:

Recreational services (massage, etc.) & local artisanal items - Good sources for gifts, but should not be over-indulged in for personal gratification

i just wish massage weren't viewed as a luxury item for the rich and spoiled.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

There is discussion of that nature on the lists, and most people seem to have decided that bodywork is a necessary health item.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Amen to #3!

I'm always suspicious of all the decluttering talk I see all over the place these days -- some of it sets off my "yet more trying to tell women they shouldn't be taking up space" buttons, some of it sets off my "yeah, I'm sure all the corporations love it when people treat everything in sight as disposable instead of keeping it around for reuse" buttons, and so on. Whatever works for people, but yeah, for me it does not appeal ...

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Yes to that, and also yes to people who have fostered a gift economy in a world that wants everything to be new and shiny. I *love* that I can give something I'm genuinely not using to someone who will, and I love that someone can share their castoffs with me in a similar fashion.

This is, however, how I grew up, and not a new concept to me. My mother always bought most of our stuff at yard sales or discount stores, including groceries. Her philosophy was that if she spent less on stuff, she could buy more stuff, but what it really ended up meaning was that she had not only plenty for her own needs and ours, but she had enough to share with anyone who was in need. She passed that tendency on to me, and I'm grateful for it.

[charlottezweb.livejournal.com]

That was really interesting. I will be thinking about some ways I can include more used things in our lives and reduce buying new things. Two separate issues for us--we already buy many things from the consignment and thrift store, but also tend to buy things DVDs from costco and new sheets from target, etc. I don't think I could do the official compact though--no ornamental socks or undies?

[redandfiery.livejournal.com]

I came across The Compact recently, and thought what a great idea it was, and how I should totally do it in 2008. And then I sat down and looked at what I buy - and I realized that, apart from about £100 on new clothes and an equal value of new books, I pretty much did it already in 2007... *wry smile*

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

how come you don't recommend the Oakland freecycle list?

[bastette-joyce.livejournal.com]

Ditto! I use it all the time, never had any problems with it.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

The Oakland mods strike me as very unreasonable. Here's the path my encounters with them took, but I've heard offlist and on the Berkeley list that lots of people have had this problem.

1) I post to both Oakland and Berkeley lists something I want to get rid of. A mod writes and says "don't crosspost". I say sorry and never crosspost again.

2) I post three posts for three different bags of things I want to get rid of. A mod writes thanks me for giving away so much stuff, and says either send one post with everything in it, or send each post on a different day. I say okay and start doing it that way.

3) I go to post something on the list and it bounces, saying I'm forbidden to post. I'm *receiving* posts, so I write to a mod and ask what's up. She says I can read the list, but not post, because I have a history of breaking the rules and of making sale posts (I *never*!!). I write back to explain that she may have me confused with someone else, but no one ever answers. I unsubscribe.

[bastette-joyce.livejournal.com]

Yikes! That is totally unreasonable. I'm surprised - my impression of the Oakland list is that they're very laissez-faire. (Oddly, my spellchecker didn't like the word "faire", but had no problem with "laissez" - go figure.) I'm sorry you had such a bad experience.

I've had lots of problems with the East Bay Freecycle list. Did I ever tell you the story of when I was a co-moderator of that list, trying to deal with the other moderator, who is utterly insane? :)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Eek, no! Tell. :-)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

The Oakland mods strike me as very unreasonable. Here's the path my encounters with them took, but I've heard offlist and on the Berkeley list that lots of people have had this problem.

1) I post to both Oakland and Berkeley lists something I want to get rid of. A mod writes and says "don't crosspost". I say sorry and never crosspost again.

2) I post three posts for three different bags of things I want to get rid of. A mod writes thanks me for giving away so much stuff, and says either send one post with everything in it, or send each post on a different day. I say okay and start doing it that way.

3) I go to post something on the list and it bounces, saying I'm forbidden to post. I'm *receiving* posts, so I write to a mod and ask what's up. She says I can read the list, but not post, because I have a history of breaking the rules and of making sale posts (I *never*!!). I write back to explain that she may have me confused with someone else, but no one ever answers. I unsubscribe.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

you know, I've noticed similar snarkiness from the mods there. they gave me shit about something I listed and it was uncalled for and just made things more complicated.

I also notice that nearly 1/2 the posts are for things that are wanted. I wonder if people get what they want that way. I like it better when people are giving things away. so I signed up for the Berkeley list. 98% of the time I don't even want what is being offered, but I enjoy the idea of it.

[bastette-joyce.livejournal.com]

I'm not a man, nor do I have male lovers, but I think it's sex-negative to consider Viagra a luxury or a frivolous item. If your parts don't work so that you can't have sex, this is a medical problem! When will people stop thinking of sex as "fun, but not really neccesary"? It's one of our most powerful drives. Sheesh.

And what's with the "no decorative socks"? Was this list compiled by the Drabness Police or something? I thought the idea was to refrain from consuming. If you need new socks or undies, who cares whether they're "plain and utilitarian" or decorative and/or sexy, etc.?

I wonder why they don't talk about making things for yourself? I realize not everyone can make everything, but, barring disabilities that prevent one from making things, most of us can probably make some things.