Craigslist Germany websites

Hello,

in San Francisco, craigslist.org is a great community site in the manner of the old BBS sites.

For those of you that don't remember - before the Internet, computer users in the 70's (called hobbyists then because there was no such thing as a personal computer) used their 300 baud Hayes modems to connect to each other via a server that simply linked everyone together much like a bulletin board in a grocery store. This is where the BBS or Bulleting Board Service name came from.

Toytown and other sites are the modern-day version of this. The internet has commercialized the real spirit of the BBS world with Ebay, Match.com, etc, however, Craigslist allows people to connect to each other for jobs, housing, cars, and whatever for FREE. It also provides chat forums, discussion platforms and the blog-style environment. The most important aspect of it is that it brings this communications medium BACK to the COMMUNITY where it belongs, not in the boardroom.

There is a Craigslist in Berlin (berlin.craigslist.org ), but not in Munich. I would like to bring it here to Munich.

Check it out and let me know what 'yall think!

Levon

I think it's a good idea, but will it support English and German or only one of those languages? If it's only English, there's plenty here on Toytown already. But if you get a lot of Germans involved, I think it's a good idea.

Craigslist doesn't stand a chance to Toytown. I frequent the SF craigslist, but personally I think Toytown's format is waaaaay better - especially better than craigslist's forum section.

@showem - craigslist is in English, even the international sites.

Just went there. Not imprressed. Bye bye Craigslist.

That is kind of funny since the first public BBS came out in 1979. Just a toe in the 70's and not many were using it outside of ARPnet (restricted use) users that wanted to post things on communications and computers.

Why does this sound like a "sales pitch"?

oh yes i remember when i visited editor bob to present the logo, i was picked up in a stetch limo, and then lead to a top floor penthouse office when bob sat in his handmade italian suit surronded by hot shot finance and mba types all constantly talking into their bluetooth headsets...

this guy realy knows whats going on in Toytown.

I like craigslist ok, but it would be far cooler if an ascii starship enterprise whizzed by at 300 baud like in the old days. I especially like that Google Maps + Craiglist housing interface - if you could adopt it, for say, ingredients in Germany - I'll visit your site every weekend.

Yes - This says a lot about the site

WHAT says a lot about the site?

I used craig's list a ton when I lived north of SF, but it's a totally different kind of format. TT is WAY better.

just looked at craigslist myself. not impressed. It won't catch on here.

@Levon

Don't take all these comments personally. They just reflect the fact that people here love their TT and aren't likely to switch over. Toytown already has the English speaking market here, and unless craigslist is ready to make some HUGE changes, they couldn't even get a toe in. Craigslist might make it, though, in a German language version.

Meaning?

I guess it means he was upset when he came to a very successful, free and busy site asking for people to join and supply content for *his* new site and we said, "sorry, no, quite happy here thanks"

the guy only joined today, so his idea of the relevance of the word "community" within the context of Toytown cant be that great.

Wow!

There are some pretty judgemental folks on TT. I'll respond to some of the more testy comments:

By "says a lot about the site" I meant the limo, etc comments spoke a lot about craigslist - which is what I wanted to hear from readers - not judgements about lavish lifestyles. In terms of TT, I've been following it for a while.

"his site" - I have nothing at all to do with craigslist. I just happen to get two jobs thru the ads, bought and sold a ton of things, met some really interesting people, and NEVER had this much grief from any of my postings.

"Only joined today" - This, too, means what? That I know nothing, can express nothing and cannot have an opinion since I just joined? I have, as I mentioned, come to TT for a while. And by the way, you MUST join TT to post...

My general comments:

IPjanet - Thanks! I was beginning to wonder about folks...
Others - Comments duly noted - this is what I needed to hear. Thanks for being level-headed and real.

I wanted to get opinions about craigslist in Germany and Munich in general. Not as a replacement for TT, not as a source of income, and not to promote, sell, or present anything other than a great online experience. Something that, today, I did not entirely have on TT.

Levon

the craiglist seems ok if there is no alternative but it isn't as easy to understand the format as TT. Craiglist seems a bit 'clunky' for navigation. And I don't see where you get the impression TT costs money (i.e. is commercial) or doesn't provide community or is based in the boardroom

but having joined, he must know that TT is also free? And does all those things that Craigslist does?

Edit: and, having been on online forums before, Levon must know that you are judged by your first post.

And having lurked TT for "a while", Levon must know what the conversations are like.

I'm surprised by your surprise, Levon.

just to clarify

i said "limo" because you said boardroom. and implyed that Toytown is an evil commercial enterprise whose sole purpose is to make us pay big bucks. i can only read what you write.

i also mentioned your joining date as you seemed pretty keen on the idea of everybody joining the other forum as its in the hands of the community. community IMHO, is a proactive organism, and lurking aint exactly 100% proactive. my experience here is that its very much in the hands of the users, EB is the patron, but all from my own personal experience, meet each other in meatspace, socialise outside of the web, and more essential for a "community" aid and console each other in times of trouble.

just my humble reactions...

Never had this much grief on craigslist? You sure you follow craigslist forums? You'll find grief on any web forum, including craigslist. I've certainly seen it there, though I've never experienced it (I generally "lurk" on that site).

blimey, you call the replies on this thread 'grief'? You obviously haven't been lurking well enough, esp. on the Misc forum.

Out of interest, when you ask for honest opinions and some people say they don't like it much - in what way is that 'grief'?

Being from the SF Bay Area, I really like craigslist - but I don't really know if Germany needs it since it already has TT (props).

Boomtown, you can't lurk on Misc. The category doesn't show up if you aren't logged in.

Levon's a bit defensive, but yeah, people could have responded slightly more politely. Either way, he got the feedback needed. I'd still be interested in checking it out if you get it up and running - especially if you include German.

I am from SF and I have used Craigslist a ton!! For a whole lot of things. I think it is much more versatile than TT. That is not to say that TT is worse, but I think that, in general it has to do with the nature of the SF/bay area community and the differences between Munich people ,lifestyles and mentality. (God, am I just asking for it now or what??) As well as website purposes. Craigslist is great, where else are you going to find a job, rent a room, sell a fake Dior wallet, hire midgets for a party or perv out on horny people posting their nasty thoughts in "casual encounters"? Although TT has helped me figure out Deutsch courses and certain daily questions, the format seems to be focused more on chat..Craigslist i think is staright to the point in its categories which TT would greatly benefit from.

But at the end it is comparing apples and oranges since the Craigslist is a medium for sharing community information in a native language which naturally embraces more people, while TT is focused mainly on experiences of expats, and thus targets a narrow segment of a community. And to reply to the original posting - don't worry, these TT folks tend to feel like a highschool clique sometimes. Just read more and you'll see the same people posting a lot, sometimes it is very useful info, sometimes, it's like ok, does anyone have a life? ...Obviously sometimes i don't either since i actually read all of it!!

May be if all of germany was involved, craigslist would have a chance..ahh, sometimes i miss SF.

I totally disagree. I'm from the SF bay area too, and I also frequent craigslist, and I think it pales in comparison. It's good for finding a job or apartment, but as far as the "community" that Levon was referring to, since craigslist doesn't have the forum style for the jobs posts, ads and whatnot, it doesn't really have much of a sense of "community."


Er, Toytown Germany? Have you missed the ads section? As for the casual encounters, have you noticed our resident "anonymous coward?" Do a search, and you'll see all the nasty thoughts and casual encounters you care to.

I can see what you mean about craigslist's format in a practical sense. The ads are totally separate from the forum, so there's no chance anyone will be berated for what they say in their ad. That said, their forums suck, and I particularly think it's stupid that people can post anonymously. It means you get a lot more trash talk.

As for the "clique" thing, remember that TTM is specific to Munich (whereas craigslist's forums are international), and most of the regulars here know each other. Of course it will appear a bit cliquey.

Having lived in the San Francisco area for almost 5 years I too was a avid user of Craigslist. I love its simple layout. I would go to a Craiglist Munich site. Lets judge it after it is operational. As for TT. I am happy that TT will allow a thread like this too stay up, I am not so sure Craigslists would allow a thread about TT

Well, preference also probably has to do with what you used first. Craigslist barely existed when I left California.

As mentioned above, craigslist is English language only.

The most widely read German equivalent is "Opus Forum".

See: http://muenchen.opusforum.org/

The look and feel of opus is almost identical to craigslist, but slightly better in my opinion.

craigslist finally offers service for munich and other german cities!
check it out at http://munich.craigslist.org/

(for those of you not familiar with this service, it's a free classifieds website. I've been using it all the time in San Francisco).

Topics merged by admin

just 3 quick questions:

a ) who is craig? the first guy to set up the site? is he really rich now or did some gits take over and push him out of the door with a wheelbarrow of drugs?
b ) didn't someone already post this and wasn't that post lost in a torrent of abuse?
c ) how come your last post was over a year ago and about german garden decorations? i consider myself a fairly selective poster but this is extreme

a ) Craig is a fat cat -> http://www.craigslist.org/about/management.html
apparently he's doing okay while still offering a non-commercial service

b ) i wouldn't know, a search for craigslist in this forum didn't find anything

c ) i'm not a regular on TT, especially since i only live part-time in this beautiful city. I'll check in every now and then and if i think i can contribute something, well... that's just what happened. see you next year.

Nah, craigslist is shit

please elaborate on how you come to the insightful conclusion, that "craigslist is shit".

somebody is offering a free service, based on proven technology and all you can say is it "is shit"?

some people are just too much.

How about to start off with... I dont like the font?

Nice that it's setup. Hope it gets some postings.

My husband and I used Craigslist in LA before our move here to sell everything. We found it extremely helpful. Also, used it to find office space, buy a guitar, cruisers...etc. It will probably take time to take off here, because it requires people using it. Toytown is so effective that the need may not be as great here. I think someone had mentioned before if it included german postings it would be more useful. I think its great, its free and easy to use.

I vaguely remember somewhere that part of craigslist was sold for large amount so they must be doing something right

I'm glad to see Craigslist Germany up and running too.

Seems more to the point, less chat and offers more anonymity, which is what some people want. I'd go there to sell a dishwasher and will definitely check out info about housing swaps (thanks perdido for mentioning craigslist for that in another thread). But for fun chat and the latest news about what's happening in Germany, TT still takes the cake.

I agree with Red. My ex and I sold many many things in just a span of two weeks before moving to Germany, it's great for that. But yeah, can't imagine much of a community feel on craigslist, though I could be wrong. Then again, I think there is quite a large personals on craigslist (with some infamously bizarre offerings).

On a completely random note, and in total San Fran / Silicon Valley geek style, you can now beam your ad into space as well on craigslist.

You can see more of the team who developed and contributed to it here:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/teambios.html

These two look like characters from Rocky Horror!



Not really impressed by craigslist either... Befriended an asian guy from US in Munich once about 1 year ago who raved about it and recommended it to me...

<YAWN>

Maybe it's the same bloke!

I used craig list all the time when I lived in Portland. When I came to Germany I checked craigs list Berlin and found it quite lacking. I found that it was more of a place that stateside americans threatened germans for not joining the war. It sickened me so I never hopped on again. I was on another expat site and it gave more advertisments than info. Then nine months later I found TT and I am satisfied. I will still check craigs list munich but TT will be first.

Craigslist is great for practical stuff, but there is absolutely no sense of community on that board. The forums suck.

*switches tabs to craigslist to look at housing ads*

Yeah, I don't like the forums either, too difficult to follow.

Sometimes the rant and rave section is fun to read, but on the ones I've read (mainly NYC and Miami), there's a fair share of crap too. Lots of people just spewing out whatever comes to mind. Sometimes clever, sometimes entertaining, sometimes really offensive, sometimes just plain stupid.

Its not a board if it is not Toytown. It is not TV if it is not FOX.

@Red - I used to read the rants and raves section, but there are far too many racists of all races on there. It's always the Asians bitching about the whites, the whites bitching about the Mexicans, the Mexicans bitching about the blacks, the blacks bitching about the Asians, etc., etc., etc. There's just too much hatred in that section.

Each month I normally check in to read the "best of craigslist," and even that is half lame. I'll stick to the classified ads.

@IPJ, yeah, that really annoys me too. It's interesting to see what people write on a public forum when they are guaranteed anonymity... pretty crass stuff. I bet half those people wouldn't dare say the things they write out loud.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - then you also have the perpetual democrats vs. republicans "here's why you don't know shit and are a victim of the right-wing/left-wing media" crap.

Well - It is good to see that TT has not changed...Since my original post I've spent some time on TT and actually gotten some great use out of the interaction and the information.

CL **is** very different from TT and that's a good thing. There is some real value to informing the expat community in Munich about Munich issues and life here in general. And, as I mentioned (and others support) there is a place for CL here - not everyone can or will use it, and that's why you can go to other sites. In SF it is great, here it is ok. Just as I thought it might be.

As for the judgemental stuff, Inflatablewoman, you are entiltled to your opinion, which you so wonderfully epxressed.

Levon

Interesting... just checked out craigslist germany's rants and raves section and there are actually some posts. Also one provocative one about Americans bombing Dresden. I guess it's a craigslist tradition to try to bait people for a nice irrational online argument.

@Red - that right there displays exactly what I dislike about craigslist's forums. When there is 100% anonymity in a forum, anything goes and the trolls crawl out of the woodwork...