Need a new toilet? Looking for a new, second-hand husband? Turns out you can find postings for both on Craigslist in Burnaby/New Westminster (the site does not categorize the cities separately).
For those who have been living on another planet, or at least off the Internet since 1995, Craigslist is the uber-popular, San Francisco-based classified advertisements website, named after its founder, Craig Newmark, 61.
Newmark started the website, the story goes, so there would be a free marketplace for the exchange of goods and services as opposed to paid advertisements in newspapers (much to the chagrin of newspaper publishers everywhere, evermore).
Watching the postings on the Burnaby/New Westminster and surrounding area Craigslist for 24-hours, it is both amazing and puzzling what can be found.
Of course there are the usual mundane postings for cars, and clothes and books. And there are the somewhat sadly typical postings that make one want to know the personal, juicy details. Engagement ring sales are one such type of posting.
One post says, “all new, never used, never worn, the price sticker is still on ring.” Many engagement ring postings say something similar. So, did she say no? Did he/she chicken out? Was the ring so unattractive she wanted a different one? The mind wanders.
Then there are the head-scratcher postings, like the used toilets.
Now, perhaps this isn’t so strange; It is hard to dispose of such things and it is good to reduce, reuse and recycle. But still, it is often a used and/or broken toilet.
One used, white loo (there is a blue one available too, for those so inclined), comes with this information: “Free toilet. Needs new set of inner workings. ... Round bowl, not elongated.” The circular shape of the bowl, perhaps, is more pleasing to some than the elongated bowl? Who knew?
Another head-scratcher: “McDonalds Monopoly 2014 – board with all the common pieces – $10.” The fact someone has collected almost all the pieces shows some level of determination, so why give up now? And can you even legally transfer these things? The post ends with this prompting, “If you got lucky enough to get a rare piece, and don't want to spend $20, $30, $40… on McDonalds to get the matching pieces to claim your prize, this is for you.”
Hmmm.
With Halloween fast approaching the postings for costumes are to be expected, as are Halloween decorations, such as plastic skulls, but one posting is about a different kind of skull. “Anatomy Tools Female Skull – $45. Ten dollars off, price reduction for quick sell. This is the best and most detailed miniature skull in (sic) the market.”
Now, two questions come to mind regarding this posting: Why is a quick sell needed? And, there is a “miniature skull market”?
OK, back to the available husband. Granted this post was from last month, not within the 24 hours, but still worth review.
“New Wife Wanted (New Westminster) I lost my wife in the divorce and so I would like to find a replacement. I would like her to be in lightly used, but working condition with all parts and accessories. Date of manufacture relatively unimportant, but lightweight models preferred.”
Beyond the obvious insulting nature of requesting a human – to spend the rest of one’s life with – on Craigslist, and mentioning size, and a host of other ethical issues, the post does insight curiosity. The Record contacted the poster via email to find out if anyone had taken him up on his offer. He replied that he hadn’t had any serious offers, but added,
“The ad was meant to be in fun, but you never know, right?”
Indeed.
