FtWayneFreecycle
Freecycle refused to allow me to list for a free loan of an electric wheel chai

Here is my listing on the ftwaynefreecycle group:
I am in need of an electric wheel chair, I should only need it for 1-2 months, I have a manual one, but with my husband having diabetes it is really hard on him to push me around in the heat. We ride the bus and have close to a half mile walk to our bus stop. I have an enlarged thymus gland and hardened salivary glands, I get weak and breathless and cannot exert much at all, they are worried I may have MS or MD.

As soon as they have enough tests I can get a chair through Medicare, but it takes time. I am more than willing to provide proof of my illness, my husbands illness, and to have my husband walk to the bus stop with you, so you know I am not blowing this out of proportion.
Thanks for taking time to read my post.

Here is the email I received that explained why they were deleting my post:
I am sorry to hear that you and your husband are having a difficult time. I can understand how Medicare may not be responding to your needs as quickly as you'd hope.

However, I have to let you know that the Freecycle network does not allow borrowing, renting, buying, or selling of any kind. It has to be free, no strings attached. I realize that your need is temporary, until the Medicaid kicks in, and you are welcome to post a "WANTED" for the wheel chair. If you are lucky, and do get a chair to fill your needs, you could always repost it as an "OFFER" later.

Here are the rules they have posted on their home page:

The worldwide Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org) is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by local volunteer moderators (them's good people!). Membership is free. If this sounds good to you and you live in Fort Wayne, join us and "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure! Have fun and keep on using the Freecycle Network!

One rule: everything posted must be free. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door to be given away, it can be posted on the network (NO ANIMALS can be posted to the list, however). Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself? Respond to the posting directly and you just might get it. After that it is up to the giver to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

(Much more information available in the rules letter [updated as needed], sent to all new members upon subscribing and to all members every two weeks.)
Firestorm552@aol.com
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I see nothing in there that says you can't ask to borrow something free, and I guess that no strings attached meant that I couldn't offer money. If anyone joins this group, please go through all the rules and see how they are on a power trip over this potentionally freesite, I all so went to www.freecycle.org and saw nothing that says you can't ask to borrow something for free, I didn't need someone to give me a chair, I will get a free one if I need one for more than 2 months, so to me just asking for a free chair would of been close to stealing.

To be fair I will include the email I sent back to Firestorm552@aol.com and here it is, it wasn't very nice.

Well there will be no more problems for you to email me Ms. Or Mr. Gestapo, My post was for a free loan of a wheel chair and your nazi rules that you keep adding suck and so do you. I removed myself from your group and will never return, I think you must be a worthless schmuck and this must be a real power trip for you. As far as I am concerned, you spit on a handicapped person. Your rules says it has to be free, I was asking for something free, all be it a loan, I still wanted it free. Your rules are over the top and inconsiderate, I went to the freecycle.org and saw absolutely nothing that said you couldn't ask for something to be loaned to you free. If you can find it feel free to send me the quote and the link you found it, otherwise bugger off.

Here is a link you can go to if you aren't sure what a schmuck is: http://www.schmucku.com/definition.html
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As of now I have not received a quote from the www.freecycle.org, hmmmmmmmmm, seems like a place like that would want to help out a handicapped person.
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Here is one other thing that happened to me because of this group, I offered up some free fresh cut oregano back on 7/11/05, I got a lot of replies, I gave the item to the first person who emailed and emailed all the other people and told them I would keep their email addresses and as soon as it grew back (which is pretty fast) I would give it away in the order the emails came. I followed through on my offer and the first person declined because of gas prices, the second said yes, and told me they would be here at 12p the other day.
As I was sitting in a counsiling meeting trying to help me deal with my feelings of malaise and my chest pain, the person I offered it to called me, I was crying and trying to listen to her and apologize to my counciler, for the phone call, but I have to keep my phone on because I never know when one of the 4 doctors that are trying to diagnose me will call. All I remember hearing is 3-4p and something about her daughter, I got out of the conversation that she would pick it up at 3-4p, when I got home around 6p, the cooler was still full of oregano. I didn't want it to go to waste so I put it back on freecycle and had it given away within almost seconds. Well the other person that I misunderstood, sent me an email and carbon copied it to the freecycle group even though it wasn't a deal made through freecycle, and it ended up me getting an email that said:
Hi Robin,

Based on the information I received, this does sound like a no-show, albeit an accidental misunderstanding. Since you offered her more oregano to make up for the misunderstanding, I'll go ahead and let it slide and keep you off the no-show list. Just don't let it get out to Michelle. ;)

Do you see how organized this group is, they are calling me a no-show and I was the one with the item that wasn't picked up.

The woman who was a no show, sent this first, instead of asking me if there was a misunderstanding:
Robin -

I called you and told you it would be tomorrow afternoon and you said no
problem! I can't believe you did this!

This was my response:
I misunderstood you, I thought you meant you were coming this afternoon around 3-4, I don't hardly even remember the call, I was in a Doctors office in the middle of an appointment, I only had my phone on incase one of my other doctors called. So if your mad I am very sorry, there is enough for me to pick another big bag of it, if that would help.

I am very sick, I see a surgeon tomorrow, have been to the ER Twice in 3 weeks. I have an enlarged thymus gland and something in a ct scan the lung dr. Doesn't like. I have to have my husband push me a half mile to the bus, because I will pass out if I walk that far. I was in the therapist office through 3 Kleenex's because I am in so much pain and freaking outbecause I might have to stay at a nursing home for a while and I am only 42. I did nothing malicious and am so sorry that I miss understood you, but Iguess I wasn't listening right. I feel very bad I messed up your message.
Please forgive me.
Robin

I can't find a copy of the one she cc'd to the owner/moderater of the group, but it was as if a child was tattle telling on me.

Company: FtWayneFreecycle
Country: USA
State: Indiana
City: Fort Wayne

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