So Craigslist has been accused of violating fair housing laws. If you’ve ever read CL (as Craigslist is often referred to), you’ve probably seen the ads they’re talking about. “3br/2ba to share in Linglestown for devout Baptist only. Must be white.” It’s not like every post is that bad, but they are fairly common. The problem with the lawsuit, as the article points out, is that online content providers (such as forum hosts like CL) are generally protected against such claims by years of precedent. The legal system has repeatedly held such providers harmless when it comes to these claims.

Craigslist. What a site.

CL is basically an online bulletin board. It’s a poorly-organized collection of anonymous contributions centered around a specific geographic area. People can seek escort services and porn sites in the personals, anonymously beg for that person they think they might have made eye contact with at Giant to contact them in “missed connections”, and get scammed by earn-$3500-a-week-tax-free-from-home opportunities in “gigs”. And in case you had trouble finding enough political rhetoric online, CL has several forums (all of them) pretty much devoted to the cause.

But above all else, the “missed connections” board is the best. It generates more comedy gold than SomethingAwful. A typical missed connection goes something like this:

WAL-MART OFF 322 THE OTHER DAY, M4W

Reply to: pers-74893229873489@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-02-11, 12:52PM EST

Ok - life is all about taking risks and making that big jump, so here goes my leap: Last night around 7:00, I was at Wal-Mart off 322 buying supplies for my World of Warcraft shrine. You were there and I think you had a coat of some sort. Anyway, I know we were meant to be together for all eterenity as one, so email me. I followed you home so I know where you live.

no — it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

GIRL FROM THAT PARTY OUTSIDE YORK A FEW DAYS AGO

Reply to: pers-20093489289384989302@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-02-09, 11:03AM EST

HEY YOU WERE AT THAT PARTY AND YOU GAVE ME UR NUMBER BUT IT WAS THE WRONG ONE SO EMAIL ME I WAS THE GUY WHO SAID HE WAS TOTALLY INTO RADIOHEAD

no — it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

GUY AT ECLIPSE, M4M

Reply to: pers-1@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-02-04, 03:15AM EST

Yeah I was at Eclipse for Pride Night and you were at the bar. I could tell you were hardcore because you ordered a Mojito and you were wearing a polo shirt with the collar popped. I’m there every night so just look for me, I always wear some ironic t-shirt with sunglasses.

no — it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests