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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dared to be silly on Freecycle, and shot down in flames for it

78 replies

shyoutgoingtype · 31/07/2020 09:29

I was in a very silly mood the other evening, and this amazing car was parked outside our house - an Aston Martin - I was joking with my partner how I might get one and said oh shall I see if I can get one on Freecycle? Very daft, of course not. But I was feeling mischievous and went ahead and posted an advert asking for an Aston Martin! I only expected jokey responses 9f course, that was the whole point, but I only had one reply, basically saying that I should "save up like the rest of us and buy a Ford" and that I had "cheek", then later I got a message from same person saying that I'm not funny and hope I've learned my lesson!! Blimey!! We've actually got a 15-year-old Nissan Micra and we live in a rented flat, I wasn't taking the Mickey out of anyone... Crikey! I felt like a criminal! My question is, is it now against the law to have a bit of a joke and a lark, when it's not at anyone's expense? Have I now got to censor everything in case I will insult anyone?
I feel like I've been chastised for just making a harmless joke.
What does anyone else think? xx

OP posts:
VanGoghsDog · 31/07/2020 10:06

Freecycle is moderated, posts don't go up automatically, a moderator has to confirm them to go up. It seems pretty unlikely they would have agreed to this going up.

WhatCFeryIsThis · 31/07/2020 10:07

It’s not an issue to have a laugh when it’s not at somebody’s expense, but this was at people’s expense, so maybe you need to understand that. You’re wasting time and space on the site, and making it harder for genuine people to be taken seriously, every time you or somebody else creates a fake request.

felixowl · 31/07/2020 10:16

Congratulations for getting a bollocking on two separate websites for the same issue.

Abitouting · 31/07/2020 10:16

YABU but they too are U

Itsjustabitofbanter · 31/07/2020 10:17

There’s a couple different ways people could have taken offence to a post like that on what’s basically a charity site. I don’t really get offended by anything, plus I do have a childish sense of humour, so I may have found it funny depending on how it was written. You’ve obviously done it in a way that’s got people’s backs up. What exactly did you write?

LittleMissRedHat · 31/07/2020 10:20

I think I would just have rolled my eyes, assumed the poster was drunk and trying to be funny and scrolled on by...

WorraLiberty · 31/07/2020 10:20

Crikey! I felt like a criminal! My question is, is it now against the law to have a bit of a joke and a lark, when it's not at anyone's expense? Have I now got to censor everything in case I will insult anyone?
I feel like I've been chastised for just making a harmless joke.

Are you always that ^^ dramatic?

Move on. I'm surprised you managed more than an eye-roll about this.

KarenKarendson · 31/07/2020 10:24

Well if you're going to post / speak publicly then you can expect all sorts of responses. That's the beauty of freedom to speak. Was the man a twat? Most probably. Was your joke funny? Not to me, (but it hardly matters either way.) Should you waste time worrying about it? Absolutely not. Move on and forget it.

Durgasarrow · 31/07/2020 10:27

Your joke was unkind.

BlatheringOn · 31/07/2020 10:35

Have I now got to censor everything in case I will insult anyone?

You didn't insult anyone, you just made yourself look like an idiot. It's been done before. So many times.

nowlook · 31/07/2020 10:35

It's a bit Catherine Tate- what are we like!

Dared to be silly on Freecycle, and shot down in flames for it
Pamalarrrr · 31/07/2020 10:36

Considering what our freecycle has in the Offers- "plastic tub - with lid" and Wanted - "Working tumble drier" I think a lot of people chance it!

Like people think it is a modern day weird form of Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (showing my age there)

AlessandroVasectomi · 31/07/2020 10:37

I would have laughed at your post. I’m on a local neighbourhood website and my jaw drops at some of the things people ask for, for free, so your post would have come across as a parody of the other scroungers. “My son has an appointment at our hospital at a time that doesn’t work well with the bus timetable. Would anybody who is driving over at around xx o’clock be willing to give us a lift please?” or “I’m doing a woodwork project and need some cramps for part of the exercise. Does anybody have some cramps that I could borrow for about a week?”

Maybe it was my upbringing. I was taught to be self-reliant by my parents, at school and all through Scouts. I was also taught co-operation and teamwork so I’ll help anybody, but not those who sit and wail in the hope that somebody comes to take over.

GoshHashana · 31/07/2020 10:38

Forced zaniness. Tedious.

Viviennemary · 31/07/2020 10:40

It isn't even something that is remotely amusing that people could say oh that's funny even if it was against the rules. . Just pointless. But just forget about it,

Nosenseofhumour · 31/07/2020 10:40

Also irritating for the people who volunteer (ie not paid!) to moderate the posts on freecycle. They have to deal with genuine questionable listings so ideally not filling up their workload with silly ones

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 31/07/2020 10:51

Frankly, I feel irritated at people asking for stuff for free, then asking for photos of it, then start behaving as if they are negotiating the price down on an object that is already free, then asking for the stuff to be delivered to them so they can see it in person as if it was no trouble (whether it is a CD sleeve or a 4 sitter sofa)...

I would have laughed at your post though, probably because it sounds like taking the mickey out of all those losers that cannot get off the sofa even for free stuff they claim to need.

Flowers009 · 31/07/2020 10:54

Wasn't funny but the response was weird. The guy is probably has no life

WitchQueenofDarkness · 31/07/2020 10:59

There are too many greedy grabby people on Freecycle - they want a TV but only the latest 55" smart one will do. They want the latest playstation, the latest Kitchenchef etc.

Oh and they can't collect so could you deliver too?

I ran the local group for many years and saw a distinct change over time. I'm no longer even a member now. If I have something to get rid of I put it at the end of my drive with a note on it!

I'm not surprised you got the reaction you did. You'd have had the request deleted in the group around here and a strike against your name.

suggestionsplease1 · 31/07/2020 11:02

I'd have laughed OP.

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2020 11:05

I think if you find it funny op that’s all that matters.

Doggybiccys · 31/07/2020 11:09

[quote SparkyBlue]@NovemberRain2 that's exactly what I am thinking. OP in the nicest possible way I know you meant no harm but what you thought was great fun is irritating as anything to most people. [/quote]
My first thought was "were you on the shandies" as that is often when things seem funnier than they really are!

There are a lot of CFs on freecycle - one more won't make a difference.
And you never know, there might have been a pissed up billionaire looking to off load one! Put it down to the terminally offended and move on.

Bananalanacake · 31/07/2020 11:10

Can I ask a quick, freecycle related question? I have a bag of Bumgenius used by 2 DC washable nappies to get rid of, do you think someone would like them or should I not bother.

Clangerschick · 31/07/2020 11:12

Nope not funny or original in the slightest and yes irritating to those actually wanting to use the site for it’s true purpose. Seen the ‘joke’ been done before so many times. Not just freecycle but stuff like a half eaten sandwich on fb marketplace. Would just think you were an unoriginal idiot though and scroll past.

VainAbigail · 31/07/2020 11:13

This is the kind of completely un hilarious thing my 14yr old kid would do 🙄