Be nice

Below is a selection of admin messages used by different Freegle communities that all make broadly the same point. Use them whole, or mix and match.

Be nice

We've found that the vast majority of members are naturally courteous and polite, so this probably won't apply to most of you - you'll do this anyway (but please read it anyway). However, a minority of members haven't grasped that you get a much better reaction from other members if you're nice to them.

For anyone to whom being nice doesn't come naturally, here are some guidelines:

1. Don't demand, beg or exaggerate your situation in posts or replies. Keep it simple, polite and factual.

2. Reply once to posts. Many items are popular, and it's unreasonable to expect a personal reply to every message, especially on an offer. That's not the offerer being rude, just practical - after 20-30 replies, there isn't time to answer everyone individually. It's best to mark the item Taken and let that stand as the thank-you to everyone who responded.

3. Communicate clearly. If you're collecting or delivering, make sure you have enough information to find the address, and a way to contact the other person if something goes wrong. There's nothing more frustrating than a no-show. A call or message to say you'll be late, or to rearrange, is the minimum courtesy.

4. Don't ask for something on the off-chance you might want it. If you can genuinely use it, good - but one of the most annoying things on Freegle is members asking for items they don't really want, changing their minds, and then not collecting.

5. Give people time to reply. It's sad when someone with a real need misses an offer because they don't check the app or their email as often as other members.

6. Above all, don't be rude, abusive or demanding towards other members. Anything that would count as flaming on a discussion forum is out, and should be reported to the moderators at the owner address.

Thanks for reading, and for keeping our community a nice place to be.

[MODERATOR NAMES]
$groupname volunteers

Please send any responses to $owneremail

It costs nowt to be nice!

All items on this community are gifts - donated for free and without strings. In return, we feel that members offering things are entitled to at least one thing: a little common courtesy.

Please give the following some thought (it may also improve your chances of success):

1. Be polite, and don't forget to say please.

2. A coherent sentence helps - don't just say "I need it" or "I'll take it off your hands".

3. Please don't use text-speak - it puts some members off, so it may reduce your chances of success.

4. It's annoying to be bombarded with messages - one is enough. If you've had no reply after a day or so and no "Taken" has been posted, send another. If you still hear nothing, let it go.

5. When you arrange a collection, be prompt.

6. Keep appointments - no-shows aren't acceptable.

7. Declare your intention to resell any item(s) you receive from our members.

And finally, when you receive an item, please consider sending a thank-you message directly to the member who gave it.

Thank you.

$groupname Volunteer Team

Keep it nice, folks

In response to a recent complaint, we'd like to remind everyone to be nice to each other.

We're all collectively doing something pretty good here, and Freegle can feel refreshingly removed from the usual dog-eat-dog frenzy of the rest of the internet (a bit optimistic of us, perhaps).

Freegle is about saving stuff from landfill, while spreading a bit of general goodwill through the community.

So please leave any emotional baggage at the door - and if being nice doesn't come naturally, humour us and give it a go anyway.

If you have any issues or complaints, please report them to the moderator team, and please don't send abusive or rude messages to other members.

You can reach us at $owneremail

If you'd like to raise this with everyone, please don't reply on the main board - post on ChitChat instead.

Thanks, everyone.

$myname
on behalf of the $groupname volunteer team

Please read

Dear members,

Sorry to land in your inbox, but we've had a couple of reports of members not following the "be nice" rule on $groupname.

Please only respond to Wanteds if you have the item being sought, and to Offers if you genuinely want the item and can collect it.

Please don't respond with comments or critical remarks.

If you think a post is inappropriate, please tell the moderators rather than messaging the member directly.

Thanks very much,

$groupname volunteers

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