I Wasn't a Craigslist Killer...I Swear

Life is Austin has been slow at times; sitting in coffee shop after coffee shop (really just the same shop) applying for jobs one after another; taking some time off from job hunting to look on craigslist for free furniture. And having found an amazing leather couch sectional just to have it go to the Jones'; who, word have it, are still living better than me.

While this life is pretty exhilarating I had to take some time off from job and furniture hunting to have a little fun. Mind you that the fun I'm talking about having is 26 year-old I'm-looking-for-a-job-in-a-coffee-shop kind of fun and not the I'm-18-going-to-get-a-little-crazy fun. So I decided to do a little social experiment. I posted on craigslist this ad on the 20th of Janurary at 12:08pm:

Free $1 (Epoch Coffee)

Date: 2012-01-20, 12:08PM CST
Reply to: your anonymous craigslist address will appear here

I have one crisp new dollar bill free for whoever wants it...no kidding. I'm at Epoch Coffee House on North Point. My name is Page. 512.663.7513. Just call when you get here and I'll give you a nice new dollar bill. It's 12:06 on the 20th and I'll probably be here another 2 hours.

The funny thing I thought was I was being pretty genuine. (You can call me if you need to talk...about anything) I had a nice, new crisp dollar bill and I wanted to see if someone wanted to come pick it up. I received two texts, one goes as follows:

Dollar Enthusiast: Can you send a pic of new dollar?
Me: crisp and new. (actual picture I sent him)
Dollar Enthusiast: An wut maked it new...u can iron it an look just alike


At this point I have no idea what this dude is talking about...ironing money...?

Me: Nah man...no iron...just new. No tricks.
Dollar Enthusiast: Where u get it
Me: It came out of the machine
Dollar Enthusiast: Lol...no thanks...thought it was a new print
Me: Where do you get a new print from. And who doesn't want a dollar even if its not new?
Dollar Enthusiast: Loose 5x that drivin to get it


Having felt bad about not being clear who would be losing here he sent another text clarifying.

Dollar Enthusiast: Ill loose 5x that jus drivin to get it.

He does have a good point here but I go on to explain why'd it be worth it for him

Me: Do you collect coins and money? you aren't thinking what you would gain by coming...think of the big picture.
Dollar Enthusiast: An wuts da big pik
Me: You'll have a contact in Austin with endless possibilities
Me: Who can teach you how to spell
Me: Among a whole host of other things.
Me: No?

And although I never heard from him again, during my conversation with said dollar enthusiast, I received an email from Craigslist saying my post was flagged and removed. I was annoyed by this because there wasn't anything illegal or wrong with my post, that I could tell. So I saw there was a way I could ask a community of Craigslist users why my post could have possibly been removed. Within seconds I received back a host of very keen observers all with unbelievable insight into the world of Craigslist.

For people that don't have craigslist to go in and read the posts I've copied and pasted the threads so you can at least get a picture of what's going on here. If you do have an account it's worth logging in.

I am Yonks7...hear my roar.

https://forums.craigslist.org/?ID=205395505

post 205395505 is located in thread 279434 of cl - flag help 

aus I tried to give away a dollar for free < yonks7 > 01/20 10:47  
      : . . Huh? < MizBozMaam > 01/20 10:48  
      : . . Scams as well as lame attempts as "best of" < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:48  
      : . . Humm? Any reason you ignored this? < LDMF > 01/20 10:48  
      : . . Just for giggles, please post your ad < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 10:48  
      : . . let's see < buzz_word > 01/20 10:49  
      : . . : . . not at my house < yonks7 > 01/20 10:50  
      : . . : . . : . . You want to lure strangers to a coffee shop? < MizBozMaam > 01/20 10:51  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . it's packed < yonks7 > 01/20 10:52  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . ^ Obvious troll - I'm out. § < MizBozMaam > 01/20 10:53  +3
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . What's a troll < yonks7 > 01/20 11:11  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . The opinions of other users on why < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:54  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . that makes sense < yonks7 > 01/20 10:56  -5
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . re-read all the rest of the replies, < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:58  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . Says the loser who can't find a friend when < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 10:55  +1
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . I have plenty of friends < yonks7 > 01/20 10:57  -5
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . give someone a dollar at the coffe shop § < jdreaper > 01/20 11:20  
      : . . : . . : . . your house/coffee shop same thing < buzz_word > 01/20 10:52  
      : . . Ya'lls responses haven't helped me understand < yonks7 > 01/20 10:51  
      : . . : . . Okay, I'll play. < MizBozMaam > 01/20 10:53  
      : . . : . . Because you still haven't followed directions < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 10:53  
      : . . : . . readers may flag ads for any reason they want < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:53  
      : . . : . . Your post is illegal because it < LDMF > 01/20 10:53  
      : . . Free $1 (Epoch Coffee) ...this was the post < yonks7 > 01/20 10:54  
      : . . : . . You sound desperate and pathetic. < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 10:56  
      : . . : . . : . . I'm not but that doesn't matter < yonks7 > 01/20 10:58  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . You are too stupid for CL. Please log off now. § < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 10:58  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . it's a simple question < yonks7 > 01/20 11:02  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . The stupid one is the one that doesn't grasp < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 11:04  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . People < yonks7 > 01/20 11:10  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . Whatever helps you sleep at night § < EyesOfBluestSkies > 01/20 11:12  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . Yes, they do < TheWorldOver > 01/20 11:05  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . I understand < yonks7 > 01/20 11:07  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . And most people we see coming in here < MizBozMaam > 01/20 11:10  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . What were the instructions < yonks7 > 01/20 11:12  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . People flagged your ad, < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:59  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . lots of people do it < yonks7 > 01/20 11:01  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . If it offends your sensibilities- flag it! § < dirtbag > 01/20 11:03  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . That's for most things. < yonks7 > 01/20 11:05  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . You may flag any ad you feel should be removed < TheWorldOver > 01/20 11:06    link
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . that's pretty awesome < yonks7 > 01/20 11:09  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . coupons/promotional items are prohibited < TheWorldOver > 01/20 11:04    link
      : . . : . . Even if people didnt think your ad was a complet < TheWorldOver > 01/20 10:57  
      : . . : . . : . . I didn't know that < yonks7 > 01/20 10:59  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . Far more people likely thought < TheWorldOver > 01/20 11:02  
      : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . I guess that makes sense < yonks7 > 01/20 11:03  
      : . . So anyone in Austin want a dollar? § < yonks7 > 01/20 11:14  


That was all for me. :)} No one on Craigslist understood. So what I've concluded is that I'm a freak and have no friends. Will you be my friend? love. war.

"Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Things to think about:
-How long can you do nothing in politics.
-Is milk really bad for our bodies.
-Are you getting wisdom from people that are wiser than you.
-Are dishwashers really easier.
-leaving a comment

Things to watch.
Gotye
Kramer

Things to give your money to:
Shaping Destiny