Do you get a creepy vibe from this?

[winterwoman]

I responded to a wanted post on Freecycle. Like I always do, I told him I would leave it in my mailbox. He responded with this:

Uh, no I rather not be seen taking something from a mailbox, I need it
handed to me in person by you...I am not getting some enterprising
neighbour of your's calling the cops thinking I am stealing.

So, I sent back this, thinking that gave him two outs, and that would be that:

I'm sorry you're uncomfortable with that, but that is how I always Freecycle stuff. If you're more comfortable with a plastic bag with your name on it, I could do that. If you don't want it, no worries!


He sends back this:

I need it, however I prefer to meet the person giving me something so
I can thank them to their face and not through email...it's just to
impersonal that way.

It's a non-working digital camera, nothing major. I freecycle a lot of stuff, and don't want to feel creeped out, but I don't like the vibe I'm getting. Does it sound off to you? He's got my address, unfortunately.

[~PQ]

Its actually a federal crime to take something from someones mailbox so I don't blame him.

That said the fact he won't pick up a bag off your porch, that wouldn't b okay for me and I'd find that a little creepy and say sorry, no. At this point I would not give him the address even if he DID agree to pick up a bag off the porch.

[aleutsi]

Its actually a federal crime to take something from someones mailbox so I don't blame him.



It's also a federal crime to put something into a mailbox that isn't mail.

And it would creep me out that a bag on the porch is not personal enough for him. I'd be tempted to say: So sorry, but I don't want to be personal with you.

[elizabeth]

Its actually a federal crime to take something from someones mailbox so I don't blame him.

That said the fact he won't pick up a bag off your porch, that wouldn't b okay for me and I'd find that a little creepy and say sorry, no. At this point I would not give him the address even if he DID agree to pick up a bag off the porch.

I don't blame him for not wanting to take it out of the mailbox, that's pretty serious stuff, but it is strange/creepy that he really wants to meet you.

[aleutsi]

It's also a federal crime to put something into a mailbox that isn't mail.

And it would creep me out that a bag on the porch is not personal enough for him. I'd be tempted to say: So sorry, but I don't want to be personal with you.

Oh forgot to say that the WAY he stated his unwillingness to take from the mailbox is creepy! He sounds really pushy for getting something free.

[winterwoman]

Well, you learn something every day. I didn't know that about mailboxes, interesting. Sort of makes sense - there must be exceptions though, like taking your neighbour's mail in, or something that the owner said you could take! Anyway, I'll stick to the bag on the porch from now on. He wasn't cool with that either, though! I sure wish he didn't have my address, even though chances are he's on the level.

[Artemis]

I think you should listen to your gut. To me, it sounds very creepy and I would NOT agree to meet him in person.

[Hawthorne]

I don't necessarily think it's creepy, but I would go with your instinct on that. I know that a lot of people dislike the way that the internet has taken away personal interactions with people. Also, I leave things on my side porch and have always hoped that the people next door wouldn't think someone was stealing from me, so I understand that from the perspective of the receiver it feels awkward to go grab something off your porch or out of your mailbox.

However, he should be understanding of you not wanting that. Is it possible for you to meet in a public place? I would reply that it isn't considered safe for a woman to open her door to someone she doesn't know and offer a public place as an alternative or that you can pass it along to someone else.

[winterwoman]

Like the lobby of the local police department. :p

I think it's creepy, personally.

:rofl: Sounds like a good plan. He just emailed me again, asking for my phone number and a time he can come.

[Debra]

I responded to a wanted post on Freecycle. Like I always do, I told him I would leave it in my mailbox. He responded with this:

Uh, no I rather not be seen taking something from a mailbox, I need it
handed to me in person by you...I am not getting some enterprising
neighbour of your's calling the cops thinking I am stealing.

So, I sent back this, thinking that gave him two outs, and that would be that:

I'm sorry you're uncomfortable with that, but that is how I always Freecycle stuff. If you're more comfortable with a plastic bag with your name on it, I could do that. If you don't want it, no worries!


He sends back this:

I need it, however I prefer to meet the person giving me something so
I can thank them to their face and not through email...it's just to
impersonal that way.

It's a non-working digital camera, nothing major. I freecycle a lot of stuff, and don't want to feel creeped out, but I don't like the vibe I'm getting. Does it sound off to you? He's got my address, unfortunately.

I personally don't see anything creepy about it all, but go with your gut instinct. nt