Free bass rod/reel

[dwh4784]

Gone to a super nice 73 year old lifelong fisherman who thought it would be fun to try out a baitcaster. Couldn't have worked out any better, AND he is a Shriner which is great as if it weren't for the Shriner's yours truly likely would be one leg short of a pair.

Mods can delete the post if necessary.

[AJ's Dad]

Just a note for you:
A couple of years ago I contacted a young man from this website that had posted, asking for some bass gear that was inexpensive or if someone wanted to give anything away that he could have at no charge. He was mowing lawns and saving money to buy some bait casting gear. I was willing to help a kid that was willing to save his money to buy his own gear. I live in the Spokane area and he was over in the Seattle area. I had a couple of nice rod and reel setups that were in great shape. We had a few emails and I was headed that direction to visit my brother. He had given me his address and we were close to setting up a time to meet. I never really gave it a thought. Then I got an email from his mother. She was NOT HAPPY with her 12 or 13 year old son. She was upset that he had been emailing with someone he didn't know, and making arrangements with someone that might not be "On the level" and giving out his address. Once she contacted me I totally understood. Still, She could not believe that someone would be nice enough to just give away good fishing equipment, and she was sure I was some kind of weirdo, trying to get my hands on her son. Once again, I assured her that I was just trying to help a young fisherman get started with bait casting. I told her I would be happy to meet her son with his father or herself just to help the boy out. I also told her that we could just forget I even tried to help her son out. At first she was reluctant but then agreed for the boy to meet me with his father at a public place, rather than at their home. I met them, gave the kid the gear, and apologized to the father for not getting the parents involved. A short time later the kid posted a link to a video he and his friend had made, instructing people on how to fish with bait casting gear. Man, did he become an expert overnight. LOL
The point is, if a young person contacts you and wants your free fishing rod. Make sure their parents are OK with the deal, and even with you having emails with their child. Then make arrangements to meet up with them and their parents. That was one unhappy mom, and rightfully so I guess. I suppose it's just the day and age we live in that makes us have to be overly careful. Good luck with your give away. It's nice to see someone that is willing to help others out that might not otherwise have the means to get something they want .

[Bay wolf]

Kudos to you to make the extra effort to agree to meet the parents and follow through with the young man. And it's good news that the youngster is making good use of the gear. Funny, I wonder how many kids are still willing to "work" for fishing gear? I suspect that with most, the closest they want to get to fishing is maybe a video game. If I was the kids parents, I would be embarrassed that I wasn't busting my butt to get him some gear!

[MotoBoat]

Edited below.

[MotoBoat]

I totally get your point! But, is it your fault, the kids fault or the parents fault? The kid contacted you first, shouldn't he know to talk to Mom and Pop's first? How are you to know the age of the fingers typing a response to your add? I do not make it a practice to ask a respondents age when emailing! Unless a age group was specified in the give away add, then that person could be of any age.

I do get that kids are kids, and there are some bad people to worry about. Parent's are the first defense.

[AJ's Dad]

Actually I take the blame for not thinking about the issue. The kid ran the post and I responded. I knew he was a kid, I just wasn't sure how old he was. I was pretty close with my guess because I had read his other posts and seen some videos he had posted. I have children myself. I just didn't think about it when I was trying to do a good deed. Now on the other hand, if one of my kids was emailing with someone they didn't know, back when they were his age, I think I would have thought about it. At first I was OK with the moms concerns, but when I had to work so hard to convince her that I was not some pedophile trying to gain access to her son, I nearly told her to fly a kite. I'm glad I didn't go that route. Just thought I would mention my experience so someone else didn't run in to the same issue. It all worked out in the end.

[MotoBoat]

Actually I take the blame for not thinking about the issue. The kid ran the post and I responded. I knew he was a kid, I just wasn't sure how old he was. I was pretty close with my guess because I had read his other posts and seen some videos he had posted. I have children myself. I just didn't think about it when I was trying to do a good deed. Now on the other hand, if one of my kids was emailing with someone they didn't know, back when they were his age, I think I would have thought about it. At first I was OK with the moms concerns, but when I had to work so hard to convince her that I was not some pedophile trying to gain access to her son, I nearly told her to fly a kite. I'm glad I didn't go that route. Just thought I would mention my experience so someone else didn't run in to the same issue. It all worked out in the end.

I missed the part where you said the kid had authored the request for gear. Certainly, in hindsight one could take what had transpired, reverse the chain of events, and analyze. Being the kids parents, I don't feel like it is responsible to "automatically" think the adult meant to harm. Again, where is the parents responsibility in this? Why were they not requesting on his behalf or at least have knowledge of what he was doing? So, the Parent's would have involvement in the correspondence, from beginning to end, no surprises. Sure you can take some responsibility, that is fair. But taking all of the responsibility is the kind of thing that could eat ate ones conscience. If the Parents of this kid were blind sided by there kids request and therefore your following responses, shame on them. My dad would have straightened me out, for those actions as a kid. As a kid, you need to know the dangers, not explore and find out for yourself! That is a parents responsibility to teach there children, not for parents to expect from the general public.

[dwh4784]

I wouldn't have even thought of that angle, and I appreciate the insight. Craigslist is just so strange sometimes, I deleted the ad and thought I would try here. I landed a new job so a couple of my baitcasters got upgraded. This one that I posted is my nemesis or something. I dislike using it, always rig it up with my third option, however seem to end up catching the first fish on it and then feel like I gotta keep using it all day.