Comments on: Portland's first Free Store works its magic by bike http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 29 May 2012 00:12:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris_ALLIance http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1443478 Chris_ALLIance Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:50:48 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1443478 It seems problematic that some people are posting solely to oppose Mr. Aubin's business model solely because he is trying to support himself and the business. So Mr. Aubin is some sort of greedy money hungry capitalist because he is trying to deliver free items to people while businesses pay for advertisement? We are supposed to believe that he is no different from Wal Mart, right? Of course the anti-capitalist choice is to BUY things from the local infoshop. Isn't that, by your logic, capitalist? Where am I supposed to get money to buy things from my local infoshop? What the hell is the point of bashing the free store when there are strip malls going up and chain stores driving down the wages of the working poor? Why try to destroy a project that is creating jobs in a relatively alternate economy? This is why anarchists are laughed at. These purity tests aren't going to accomplish anything. Playing gotcha games might be cool for cred points, but it sure as hell isn't going to stop oppression. This anarchist applauds Mr. Aubin for doing something constructive and visible. It seems problematic that some people are posting solely to oppose Mr. Aubin's business model solely because he is trying to support himself and the business. So Mr. Aubin is some sort of greedy money hungry capitalist because he is trying to deliver free items to people while businesses pay for advertisement?

We are supposed to believe that he is no different from Wal Mart, right?

Of course the anti-capitalist choice is to BUY things from the local infoshop. Isn't that, by your logic, capitalist? Where am I supposed to get money to buy things from my local infoshop?

What the hell is the point of bashing the free store when there are strip malls going up and chain stores driving down the wages of the working poor? Why try to destroy a project that is creating jobs in a relatively alternate economy?

This is why anarchists are laughed at. These purity tests aren't going to accomplish anything. Playing gotcha games might be cool for cred points, but it sure as hell isn't going to stop oppression.

This anarchist applauds Mr. Aubin for doing something constructive and visible.

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]]> By: Blue Falcon http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1439119 Blue Falcon Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:03 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1439119 So what is to keep people from taking 'free stuff' that has been donated and turning around to sell it on EBay? So what is to keep people from taking 'free stuff' that has been donated and turning around to sell it on EBay?

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]]> By: Rainmakers Club & Grand Opening | The Portland Free Store http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1435654 Rainmakers Club & Grand Opening | The Portland Free Store Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:12:10 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1435654 [...] Every step forward is a victory. We’ve caught the attention of two local media sources: BikePortland, and a live interview on Channel 8, KGW–both of which are available in our Press section. The [...] [...] Every step forward is a victory. We’ve caught the attention of two local media sources: BikePortland, and a live interview on Channel 8, KGW–both of which are available in our Press section. The [...]

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]]> By: Rebecca http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1434904 Rebecca Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:51:15 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1434904 This is a really cool idea. I use a website that's just like this, only isn't only for Portland. Kashless.org is all free listings. And if you sign up you also get ReycycleBank points for the things you donate (and other stuff you can do on the site) so that you can redeem your points for prizes. Check it out at: www.kashless.org This is a really cool idea. I use a website that's just like this, only isn't only for Portland.

Kashless.org is all free listings. And if you sign up you also get ReycycleBank points for the things you donate (and other stuff you can do on the site) so that you can redeem your points for prizes.

Check it out at: http://www.kashless.org

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]]> By: organic brian http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1433208 organic brian Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:07 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1433208 People's Co-op used to have a big wooden cabinet for free stuff. It was discontinued because of disregard for the big sign asking that things not be left which cannot fit in the cabinet. The store personnel spent too much time taking excess stuff away. Without some kind of staff, free stores really won't work until humanity evolves a good bit more. I think Ben's free store is very well executed and I'm excited to go check it out. People's Co-op used to have a big wooden cabinet for free stuff. It was discontinued because of disregard for the big sign asking that things not be left which cannot fit in the cabinet. The store personnel spent too much time taking excess stuff away.

Without some kind of staff, free stores really won't work until humanity evolves a good bit more. I think Ben's free store is very well executed and I'm excited to go check it out.

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]]> By: Q. Allen http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1433115 Q. Allen Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:49:21 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1433115 Ben...I'm really proud of you. I remember back when we lived in Raleigh this is all we wanted to do, and you came to Portland and set it up in a month!! That's super rad. Congradulations and i wish you tons iof success! Ben...I'm really proud of you. I remember back when we lived in Raleigh this is all we wanted to do, and you came to Portland and set it up in a month!! That's super rad. Congradulations and i wish you tons iof success!

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]]> By: are http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1432911 are Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:35:30 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1432911 hey, I actually do not disagree with the idea that someone could take a step in the right direction without getting all the way there the first or second time out. but you have to keep the goal in mind, and one way to keep the goal in mind is to repeatedly mention it. I am not personally acquainted with either you or the person you are calling out. I am simply saying his agenda is not on display in the message you decry more than a small amount. so you are importing a discussion that happened offlist that many of us have not participated in. just sayin. hey, I actually do not disagree with the idea that someone could take a step in the right direction without getting all the way there the first or second time out. but you have to keep the goal in mind, and one way to keep the goal in mind is to repeatedly mention it. I am not personally acquainted with either you or the person you are calling out. I am simply saying his agenda is not on display in the message you decry more than a small amount. so you are importing a discussion that happened offlist that many of us have not participated in. just sayin.

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]]> By: Tom Daly http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1432893 Tom Daly Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:57:00 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1432893 Support the Black Rose with money. Beacuse they sell things. How is that any different, yo? Portland Free Store gives away every item that passes through it's door for free. Advertising is only advertising in a loose sense of the word. Think of it as partnerships with people who respect it's ideal and wish to see the idea propogate. I pay for ad space with the free store, mostly because i like the idea of a free store and would donate even without recompense. The Black Rose Infoshop is an awesome store with a free area, and the portland free store gives away all of it's goods for free. Citybikes has a free bin outside but it's not a free bike shop. Open question: Why are there so many haters on the free store? This a good idea which could spread the awareness of a WHOLLY free entity outside internet postings. Support the Black Rose with money. Beacuse they sell things. How is that any different, yo?

Portland Free Store gives away every item that passes through it's door for free. Advertising is only advertising in a loose sense of the word. Think of it as partnerships with people who respect it's ideal and wish to see the idea propogate. I pay for ad space with the free store, mostly because i like the idea of a free store and would donate even without recompense.

The Black Rose Infoshop is an awesome store with a free area, and the portland free store gives away all of it's goods for free. Citybikes has a free bin outside but it's not a free bike shop.

Open question: Why are there so many haters on the free store? This a good idea which could spread the awareness of a WHOLLY free entity outside internet postings.

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]]> By: meowmeow http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1432360 meowmeow Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:08:26 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1432360 portland has had a store based freecycle for a while, its called Black Rose Infoshop, located on Mississippi and Shaver. which is an entire volunteer run freecycle, library, community space, and bookstore collective(they sell books, zines and music to pay their utilities and rent). if you have a problem with the psuedocapitalist nature of the pdx freestore, support black rose instead. portland has had a store based freecycle for a while, its called Black Rose Infoshop, located on Mississippi and Shaver. which is an entire volunteer run freecycle, library, community space, and bookstore collective(they sell books, zines and music to pay their utilities and rent). if you have a problem with the psuedocapitalist nature of the pdx freestore, support black rose instead.

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]]> By: are http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/02/portlands-first-free-store-works-its-magic-by-bike-24179#comment-1432346 are Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:27:23 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=24179#comment-1432346 yike, comment 8. you may have an axe to grind with the source, but the content was factual. hell, he even told people where to go to apply for a job. there are fundamental differences between this local project and the broader "really really free market" movement, which is -- to use your word -- anarchist in its nature. if this fellow Aubin wants to make the comparison, he ought to be open to people, um, making the comparison. yike, comment 8. you may have an axe to grind with the source, but the content was factual. hell, he even told people where to go to apply for a job. there are fundamental differences between this local project and the broader "really really free market" movement, which is -- to use your word -- anarchist in its nature. if this fellow Aubin wants to make the comparison, he ought to be open to people, um, making the comparison.

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