Freecycle groups disbanding? UK?

Question

Freecycle groups are disbanding due to the amount of rules being put upon group owners and moderators of the groups.

many groups have already changed their group names from freecycle because the rules are to much and restricting for both group owners and members.

the comertial value of freecycle seems to out way the true meaning of why it was set up and many groups are now becoming rather cheesed off with it all and changing their names

how many so far in the uk have already disbanded from freecycle?

and are you a member of these groups that have already done so?

if so what do you think?

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Baby_Things_UK_london/

Answer 1

Don't really know, but there are an awful lot of politics/arguing going on with my group.

Its made me not want to open up the emails to be honest.

Maybe a centralised set of rules/guidelines ought to be established?

Even better, a more "professional" website than can do the job better, and I feel the current setup is rather disjoined, with messages in one place, pic in another. It could even be similar to Ebay, but with no bidding. You just see something, and click to say you want it :) Simple :)

Answer 2

I have been using freecycle for about a year and apart from a couple of unpleasant people (which is nothing to do with the site just the fact that some people are not nice!) I have nothing but praise and would hate for it to be disbanded.  

The rules that come down from the regulators appear to be reasonable requests - i.e. dont try to give away your partner or kids and be courteous to other members

The whole concept is sound and long may it continue!

Answer 3

Wild conjecture.  I'm not sure what rules could be so restricting; I mean, there are only eight required rules, and headquarters doesn't interfere beyond that and making sure trademark rules are followed (which basically just means including the copyright notice, and not abusing the trademark - all trademark holders have to do this.)

There's always a group around that's annoyed that someone doesn't do things the way they want to. The basic rules of Freecycle haven't really changed all that much, and they're all publically available in the moderator's manual on Freecycle.org.

I don't understand what you mean by "commercial value", either... they're a non-profit organization world-wide.

I mean, unless "keep it free, legal, and appropriate for all ages is THAT restrictive.

The group you linked is a baby item trading group... the only restriction I could see on that is that Freecycle doesn't allow specialty or niche groups... because they want Freecycle to be as inclusive of ALL recyclers as possible!

Answer 4

I'm not a member of the UK but I'm a member here in Australia, and I really hope it doesn't stop here because where I live we have been and still are saving a lot of things from going to landfill so I really hope it doesn't happen here, I really think it is a great project to be involved with. but I do know one of the moderators here and there are a lot of rules and regulations for them to follow which I think is ridiculous.

Answer 5

No problems with the one in my city, but I understand some in America have had flame wars over how strictly it’s moderated and how rules are interpreted. Hardly surprising given how many people are involved that some fall out with each other. Example below:

http://liveasweknowit.blogspot.com/2006/...

The other thing that may be happening is that Freecycle proved the demand for recycling and people are now exploring either niche recycling networks (baby clothes etc) or setting up other groups with different rulebooks or operating models. (Freecycle was set up by one individual who trademarked the name, worked out how it could operate, wrote the rulebook etc)

This may just be signs that the recycling movement is becoming more sophisticated. Some alternatives to Freecycle below.

http://www.reuseitnetwork.org

http://www.myskip.com

http://www.vSkips.co.uk

http://www.vdumpsters.com

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/search?query=...

Answer 6

Free cycle in our area  is a great group it is good because you can sometimes get things that you need and recycle your own waste this save all those  land fill sites being full People object to rules but you must have one or two so that everyone knows the score.

Answer 7

i have been useing freecycle for about a year,FANTASTIC.

The people that run it drive me insane,forever posting a new set of rules and even letting people use it as a place to have a dig about other freecyclers through their posts.

Anyway apart from that its been a joy to use.

Got me thinking,i got both my cats through freecycle,now im wondering if i saved them from lanfill(err thats a bit worrying),something that didnt cross my mind untill just now.

Answer 8

Wild rumors.  I'm a Freecycle moderator, we're not going anywhere.

Answer 9

That's a bummer, but shows the problems of a top down structure. Will there be any way of locating a group that has changed its name?

Answer 10

I know Freecycle spams you when you join up..