Wow I can finally give away all my extra 5.25" floppy disk and extra copies of visicalc.
Maybe this should be under events, but here's the info!
The Really Really Free Market is coming! (W. Ferry & Oxford [Main St.])
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Buffalo Really Really Free Market is coming!
Mark your calendars: Saturday, May 2nd 12 noon -- 4pm (or later)
where: empty lot on W. Ferry & Oxford, just west of Main St.
Imagine a free flea market--better yet, a giant potluck with more than just food. Everyone brings what they can and takes what they need.
The idea behind the event is to build community through a gift economy. Many people have unwanted yet usable or desirable items that they no longer want or need, and many people have skills or services that they can provide to members of the community for free. People often spend time, energy and money trying to get what they need and just as often friends, neighbors and members of the community have what they're looking for.
Really Really Free Markets have been wildly successful, starting at the FTAA protests in Miami in 2003--as a practical alternative to the supposed "Free Market" of capitalism and international trade (which is anything but free)--and spreading across the globe ever since. There are dozens in the U.S., ranging from experimental one-time events to regular monthly Free Markets.
Some ideas for things for you to bring:
food, clothing, seeds/bulbs/plants, sports equipment, materials such as
lumber, aluminum or steel, appliances, board games, books,
haircuts, bicycle repair, auto repair, tools, tapes/CDs/DVDs,
tarot card/palm/astrological/I-Ching readings,
paintings, drawings, art supplies, jewelry, crafts, toys,
dance or music lessons, musical or theatrical performances
or anything you can think of to give for free!
Saturday, May 2nd 12 noon -- 4pm @ empty lot on W. Ferry & Oxford, just west of Main St.
There will be a meeting afterward to give the community a chance to discuss the future of the Buffalo Free Market.
here is a link to a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,0.077248&z=14
Email BuffaloFreeMarket@gmail.com for any questions or to help organize. Thanks!
Wow I can finally give away all my extra 5.25" floppy disk and extra copies of visicalc.
Buffalo Web Hosting and Graphic Design
www.onlinemedia.net - www.vinyl-graphics.com
Web hosting / Web Design - Signs, Banners, Vehicle Graphics
can I just drop stuff off? I was going to take out an ad on free cycle but I'd rather do it in one fell swoop. I'm not looking for anything, I just have stuff that I can sell at a garage sale or be a blessing with. I'd rather be a blessing.
First Amendment rights are like muscles, if you don't exercise them they will atrophy.
This sounds like a great idea in theory. Problem is, it's only a matter of time before someone and his/her family and associates will show up and make multiple trips to grab everything they can get their hands on. Then they'll put it on ebay and make money on your "free" stuff. Soon all of the participants will be all angry about the "greedy" people profiteering off this utopian free market.
A capitalistic free market is preferable because it goes a long way to preventing that. The trade of cash/goods/services for other goods/services is really an exchange of value. It rations goods in a far more equitable way than a give-away does, in that few will allocate precious resources to acquire something they don't need or want on the off chance of making a few bucks on it.
When the stuff is free, people are guaranteed a profit when they sell it and will therefore amass and hoard as much as possible, creating a shortage of goods for the rest.
"I won't live by rules that make no sense to me." - Evan Tanner 1971-2008
Transfixus sed non Mortuus
Cool idea!
Even though you have a very poor view of people, I have a couple of thoughts. Some people will benefit by these types of events. Some people will be able to have something that they otherwise might not be able to aquire. Not all people are greedy. Even the greedy will get their due.
**free is a trademark of the current U.S. government.
This sounds like a great opportunity to witness a great socialism experiment. I will be there with a video camera to cath the action. Sounds like this could be a perfect model for the Obama/Clinton health care reform act!
See Surfin' - Thats what makes you a poor criminal. The event is going to be free! That means no one is going to have any cash in their pockets! Unless you're just freaky and like putting your hands in other peoples pockets!
(I'll be the one with the video camera and deep pockets!)
I will be happy to see this work. My cynical side, though, has me thinking, "How many people will just leave their crap behind?"
And who will be responsible for cleanup?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)