Why I Love Craigslist
I love cruising webpage after webpage of Craigslist classified ads in categories that range from farm and garden, to arts and crafts. I love the unexpected treasures I have found there. The hutch made from reclaimed railway ties that holds my sewing and knitting supplies with such grace. The palki from india, once a bridal carriage, now a reading nook for me and the boys. The beautiful solid wood bunk beds that unexpectedly also included organic mattresses, all for only $100. And of course the housemates we found in the rental section who became dear friends.
The Stuff
I love getting rid of stuff just as much as I love finding fabulous new stuff. In preparation for a recent move we went through wave after wave of cleansing. Each time we walked through our home there were new things that we were now ready to let go of. In the process we discovered that things can mean something to us at one stage in our life, and then maybe are better off having the opportunity to be special for someone else. Craigslist was a constant companion in those months of cleansing, and I had to discipline myself not to cruise the “for sale” section.
The People
Most of all, I love the people. The two very stoned and very sweet twenty-something guys that showed up late one night to take away our ancient and quite warped ping pong table. The bride-to-be who came to buy our purple sofa which had come to us from a widow who lived in a tiny co-op apartment – walls covered with her paintings and, everything else covered with cat hair. She bought the sofa, but also fell in love with the palki, which we parted with as sadly as the woman who sold it to us-to help finance her trip around the world with her young family.
Buy Previously Cherished
In today’s changing economy the importance of community “exchange” forums such as Craigslist seem to not only be serving as a way to keep stuff out of landfills, but also as an important way to have glimpses into one another’s lives. Within the freecycle community I once received a backpack from a man who weaves his social fabric through the exchange of items. He obtains things being freecycled by others, and then re-freecycles them only days later in order to ensure a second round of human interaction. Strange, yes, but for him, a valuable source of connection.
Now it is your turn. What treasures have you found? What treasures have you passed on reluctantly or with great glee? Who have you discovered along the way?
Photo by chika.
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November 26th, 2008 at 2:53 am
I too love browsing craigslist Sarah – tho i tend to look at the missed connections page, and not because im looking to see if there is any 'missed connection' from my day either. See i love to look at the New York City missed connections [i live in Northeast England] as i love the idea of all these little love stories taking place on the streets of Manhatten – and the best part is when you see a responce to an earlier post and you realise that a connection has just been made.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:23 am
there's actually a documentary, “24 Hours On Craiglist” about all of the whacky and wild connections, purchases, experiences that happen because of it. CL is a social phenomenon and I love what's it's done. On the whole, newspaper advertising/classifieds are down 30% in North America – that's a very big deal, and it's attributed to CL. Power to the people.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
and it has remained remarkably free from advertising, spamming ,etc – truly a community-owned venture even though it is a for-profit. Their facts sheet says:
Q: How does craigslist support its operations?
A: By charging below-market fees for job ads in 10 cities, and for brokered apartment listings in NYC.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I don't know about anyone else but there is always something happening with Craigslist.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Great Post! Keep up the good work. I have bookmarked your site for future reference.
January 31st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I think you can find some great stuff almost every week about Craigslist online.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Always a good read or something cool with Craigslist in the headlines.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I love what's it's done. On the whole, newspaper advertising/classifieds are down 30% in North America – that's a very big deal, and it's attributed to CL. Power to the people.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:20 am
Craigslist is a huge site and always something new happening.
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 am
Craigslist in the headlines again…
April 9th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Anyone else think the same? Got me thinking after reading this, thx man.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Unfortunately, I addicted to craigslist as well. It use to be Ebay, but I've found a whole new world in craigslist. I live in a fairly small city (as far a cities go), and it still amazes me when I respond to a CL ad, only to find I actually already knew the seller or buyer. I haven't used newspaper classifieds in years, preferring to sell most of my stuff on CL.