Freecycle.org
Members FAQ
Moderators Manual
Freecycle - UK Faq
UK Manual - Updates
- 1) Introduction
- 2) Admin
- 3) Membership
- 4) Message Format
- 5) Publicity
- 6) Resources for members
- 7) Resources for moderators
- 8) Rules
- 9) Trouble
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Contents
4. MESSAGE FORMAT
4.1 Can a message be edited once it has been posted?
Only if the message is to be moderated.
A moderator can edit a message where a member is still on moderation. Otherwise you have to delete it and the member submit a new message BUT If it has got to the list the message will still get sent to those who receive a Daily Digest or individual messages. It can only be deleted from the archives.
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4.2 Editing a post - what is acceptable and necessary?
Subject lines can be edited to include any of the missing items, e.g. OFFERED, the item or the LOCATION.
It might be necessary to edit out a `sob story' as Freecycle is not about `need' but keeping stuff out of landfill!
It might also be suitable to remove telephone numbers or other personal details. However, there are occasions when it might be necessary to include one e.g. moving house and computer being disconnected.
Some moderators may prefer to reject the message to ask the member to amend their post instead.
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4.3 Location on wanted posts - why is that necessary?
Having a location on a Wanted post does help people to see if they are local, also for a small item it might not be worth the fuel to travel too far to collect it, though it is possible to use the postal system. Members make their own arrangements about this.
Having a location also assists in spotting 'Cross posting' and any potential traders/resellers. It also serves to enable mods to inform members about their most local group, as appropriate. If all posts require a location, members seem to remember to do it!
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4.4 Multiple items - how are these best managed?
When offering multiple items PLEASE encourage members to include them in one email. However, WANTED and OFFERED items should be in separate emails.
It can be helpful to state in the SUBJECT line: Various electrical or various garden items so that people reading it have an idea of what is on OFFER/WANTED.
Hopefully the latter will not be long lists. Freecycle groups are not places to do Magic Catalogue shopping but if e.g. setting up a new garden then tools can be listed.
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4.5 Recipient naming (taken by "So n So") - is this advised?
It might be pleasant to say thanks to "first name" only or Yahoo! ID, but no more details than that. Some reasons include:
- a watch can be kept for those people who seem to vacuum up everything in sight, but rarely offer anything. Are they reselling and not stating that fact?
- It is nice to say thanks to someone for taking an item out of your cluttered space. :-)
- There may be a member who does not OFFER too much BUT constantly answers WANTED requests which is nice to know too as they are still being an important part of the organisation.
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