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capitalist economic theory: no one gives anything away without asking for something in return, and anything offered for free will be exploited by selfish people trying to profit from it
the anarchist free store in my town: please, come take more of our free stuff, we have too much. we're running out of space from all of these donations and don't know what to do
Literally, no exaggeration, we're posting on social media asking for more "shoppers." We've started saying "please look around while you're here!" when people drop stuff off. It's getting absurd and actually becoming a logistical problem
@socalledunitedstates
I worked at a place that managed charity donations for a while and like 90-95% of these people didn't even want a receipt they just threw their box at you out the window and left
@socalledunitedstates we *take donations from* goodwill, because we've got the infrastructure to repair recycle give away or sell bikes in large numbers and they don't.
Specialize!
Sounds very much as if America already started practising a generalized idea of Commons. Funny to name this "anarchic", since this indicates subliminal acceptance of capitalism being The Law, which is not true.
As a matter of fact, capitalism is anarchic, since it neglects the existence of commons thus keeping law firms busy on cases about property of any kind.
@socalledunitedstates a problem that is good to have
@socalledunitedstates I didn't know this was a thing and now I wonder if it's a thing here as well
@blackcorvo Maybe not specifically this (yet), but I'm sure there's an anarchist scene in your area!
If you DM me what city you're in I can look around online for you? I've been doing this for people for a while and now what to look for
@socalledunitedstates I live in Brazil, that's why I'm unsure if that kind of store exists over here.
@socalledunitedstates hey, I just heard on the radio of something that reminded me of the anarchist store idea. It's called "Varal Solidário" ("solidary clothesline"), and it's this clothesline people put out so the homeless and other people in need can take clothes from to keep warm, and people who can donate can hang clothes they're not using.
It's an initiative from a local non profit.
@socalledunitedstates wait. where r u??? i wanna learn more about this. this sounds like a good concept.
@rachel0964 Birmingham, Alabama
https://www.instagram.com/bhamfreestore/
The way we usually describe it is "like a thrift store, except we don't charge for the stuff." People bring donations, volunteers sort them, people pick them up. Rent is covered through patreon and venmo donations
There's also a community edible garden being built in the back, plus community events and concerts. It's a really awesome little setup
@socalledunitedstates @rachel0964 this is great. thanks for sharing it
@interneteh @rachel0964 Here I am genuinely shocked that I apparently haven't been gushing about the free store enough
Because I feel like I gush about it a lot
@socalledunitedstates @rachel0964 Last weekend we (our DSA) did child watch at the anarchist share fair. it's kinda like a pop up free store for all kinds of goods and services. this time it was outside. really nice
@socalledunitedstates l @rachel0964 oh fuck that's like an hour away from me
@socalledunitedstates hmmmmmm how did y'all start it? it's gonna be years until I can actually do smth like that but I REALLY want to do that
@rachel0964 I didn't start it, I just hang out there sometimes :b
They did monthly "popups" for a while, collecting donations and setting up tables in a park to give them away. I suppose during that time they were collecting the funds to rent out a location. Then I guess they just, did it
It's in a pretty poor neighborhood, which is part of the point, so I imagine rent isn't too high. And I think the building was in a pretty bad state at first too
Honestly, I say emulate the idea on whatever scale and in whatever way is available to you now. I've come to realize that people really want to share their stuff, and literally the only thing holding them back is that there isn't a physical space to put it. Put up a community library, free pantry, tool share, sharing table, whatever, and it's likely to fill up pretty quick. Honestly, it's so effective that I'm surprised it's not already a massive fundamental part of anticapitalist praxis
@socalledunitedstates oh yeah!!!! there are little free libraries all around my town 
We’ve been using our little free library for this as well, adding a few toys, non-perishable good items, etc.
We’ve been noodling on scaling it out, like imagine if everyone on your block/street/etc. had a box out front where they put their extra stuff, and when you needed something, you took a nice walk and went “shopping”