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It allows personal contact to still be a currency which matters, so that people don't only have to relate to each other through a buffer of background checks and credit rating agencies.

There is a thriving job market on Craigslist, of course, with all the standard categories as well as some unique ones: Look down to the category below "Jobs", and you will find "Gigs". This has a wide array of one-time-only events where help is needed, and unique ways to earn a few dollars. Perhaps a clown is needed for a party, or a minister is needed for a wedding; the offerings there are never dull. In some metropolitan areas, there is a small flat fee for employers to list job openings, but every other interaction through Craigslist is absolutely free.

Many small businesses have had their start on Craigslist, since it costs nothing to post your services there. If you want to babysit, or walk dogs, or clean houses, or write people's resumes, Craigslist is where you'll advertise.

You can buy or sell pretty much anything imaginable on Craigslist, and it functions as a 24-hour fleamarket, art gallery, used-car lot, and all around virtual person-to-person shopping center. Since it is rooted in a particular geographic area, there is more heart to it than you find in the anonymity of EBay; when you go to the person's house to pick up the cellphone or the bicycle, you hear why they're selling it and you get a chance to meet a real person.

Also, if you're interested in buying or selling, but are feeling cautious about giving out your contact information to strangers, it's good to know that Craigslist will provide you with an anonymous email address for people to contact you. That way, you don't have to make your real email address public, and you don't have to use the telephone at all.

If you've never used Craigslist before, it's worth taking a look around just for the sake of learning what's happening in your city. Just Google the name of the large city nearest to you with the word "Craigslist" and click on the first search page result. Once you're in your city's Craigslist, an interesting category to check out is "Community", up at the top left. "Groups" and "Activities" will lead you into a treasure trove of possibilities that you probably never knew existed: from people looking for fencing partners to day trader's groups to parrot-owners' clubs.

When Craig Newmark first began Craigslist, he envisioned it representing a "culture of trust". With few exceptions, that truly does define the atmosphere on Craigslist. A few of the job ads are obviously sketchy, offering high pay in vague locations for undefined work; but to a great extent, the people who come together on Craigslist to conduct the daily business of the city are offering something genuine. If you bring just a smidgen of urban worldliness to Craigslist, it will entertain you with unexpected creative possibilities, and will increase your faith in the infinite resourcefulness of your real-life neighbors.

Learn more about this author, Iris Forester.
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