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  Greg Collier 3:19 pm on September 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Easy Summertime Living 

  

  What did you do on your summer vacation?

  Remember when this was this first thing you discussed once you returned to school each September? Man, I miss those days. People do some amazing things over the summer months, and I for one would like to hear about it!

  As for what I did… I loved life. Seems simple enough, and maybe even a bit cliché, but it is true. This summer has been exceptional between work and family. For me, summer has the ability to slow down the work pace, but not the work load. I take advantage of the feeling that I can relax a bit and spend more time with family and catching up with long-time friends. I hope everyone does this. I would recommend it to anyone. Work (of any sort) will always be there waiting.

  Summer also seems to provide the best time to escape. I think it is the years of having summer vacation as a child that translates into a sense of vacation entitlement as an adult when June, July, and August set in. Heck, I am as guilty as the next person. I didn’t go anywhere crazy or exotic, but I got in enough to satisfy that urge to be elsewhere.

  Now the air has turned a bit brisk and college football has begun (Go Bears!). It is definitely not summer any more. My hope is that this summer’s warmth, both in temperature and in adventure, will sustain me through the pending months of snow and sleet. If nothing else, I will do my best to employ my summer state of mind. Life, and summer, are far too short to be stressful.

  Whether you went out of town or embraced the recession-friendly staycation, I hope you celebrated summer. And if you feel like sharing what you did on your summer vacation… please drop me a note at greg {at} geebo.com. I’d love to hear about it.

  Dang, I miss the beach already.

   

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  Greg Collier 5:14 pm on September 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  No Such Thing As Craigslist Censorship 

  In the last twenty-four hours Craigslist has “censored” their adult services section. When users go to access that facet of the site they will now be met with a black bar reading “censored.” I wish this post was a celebratory one, or at least a sigh of relief for a step in the right direction. It, however, is not.

  Last month, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark gave an interview to CNN where he attempted to dodge and disarm questions regarding whether the Craigslist site facilitates child prostitution. Craig’s shaky, tangential response was far from an answer and it wasn’t just the correspondent who noticed. In the wake of the interview, 17 attorney generals multiple states called for the removal of the adult services section. In typical Craigslist fashion, Newmark and Bucky (Jim Buckmaster) pointed the finger elsewhere and attempted to direct attention from the obvious…that their site facilitates child prostitution! AND THEY KNOW IT!

  Shockingly, Craigslist minimally acquiesced by censoring that part of their site. Removing it, however, is obviously out of the question. It is likely that once this bit of bad press dissipates, the adult services section will again be up and running. How do I know? Empirically, this tactic has been employed multiple timnes by Craigslist over the past few years. Even when a murder or rape has been attributed to the site, Craigslist has managed to do as little as possible during the headlines, and then revert back to their regular practices once a new tragedy occurs. It is a sick twisted cycle that is in full swing throughout media outlets today.

  The last thing people should be doing is applauding Craigslist’s “effort.” Their personal ads section is still fully functioning, providing the same prostitution promoting features as their adult services section. Such illegal activities are simply being posted under a different name. Instead of “adult services,” one can access “casual encounters.” Last time I checked, casual encounters were still very adult. They are also full of the same ads that adult services section contained…including those that facilitate the exploitation of children.

  The personal ads section also lacks any sort of regulatory features. Posting in this section does not subject a user to a more rigorous screening simply because the classification is more PG. Craigslist is able to operate per usual, while receiving an undeserved commendation for change. This is not right.

  It isn’t the existence of one section over another that makes a difference…it comes down to regulation and responsibility. Until Craigers and Bucky opt for accountability, no one should cheer on their manipulative tactics. A headline today does not ensure safety for their users tomorrow.

  Surrogate Mother %0A, Neon Light :, Greg Collier, and 2 others are discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    KathyT 2:24 pm on September 6, 2010 Permalink

    “Craiglist halts ads for adult services” is the quintessence of misleading. I should say that CM and JM are wannabe politicians. They have the rhetoric down to a science.

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    KathyT 2:26 pm on September 6, 2010 Permalink

    Also, there is a very popular saying, from the 20th century, which is this, “all I know is what I read in the papers” LET US NOT FALL VICTIM TO THAT IGNORANCE.

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    Rick James 12:09 pm on September 18, 2010 Permalink

    Craigslist has the same rights as you i.e. the right to post nonsense. Exactly how does Craigslist facilitate child prostitution?

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    Greg Collier 10:17 pm on September 20, 2010 Permalink

    We at Geebo are strong proponents of the freedom of speech and the freedom of press. However, we are also strong proponents of protection and responsibility. We do not contend that Craigslist lacks the right to post anything that they choose. Our offense comes as a result of their irresponsible, and reckless, choices.

    Craigslist’s facilitates child prostitution in their refusal to adequately regulate their classified postings. Instead of employing a process that reviews postings prior to online publication, such as the method Geebo utilizes, Craigslist relies on their users. Instead of doing the potentially life-saving work themselves, Craigslist places the responsibility in the hands of both people who care and people who don’t. It is the category of “people who don’t” that cause the problem. Unfortunately, the founders of Craigslist have classified themselves in the latter in their failure to implement a review process that is overseen by themselves or a well-trained staff. Security that hinges upon users flagging the inappropriate content is doomed to fail. And has. Multiple times.

    When it comes to protecting our users, we defer to the wise words of Thomas Jefferson. “With every freedom comes responsibility.” Craigslist’s decision to forego their responsibility facilitates child prostitution and human trafficking. Sometimes it is not best to let freedom ring.

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    Neon Light : 11:15 pm on October 31, 2010 Permalink

    i admire Craig Newark of craiglists because he became a milionaire in such a short time .

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    Surrogate Mother %0A 2:01 am on November 25, 2010 Permalink

    somtimes i also sell stuff on craigslist because there are many users on it.

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  Greg Collier 2:24 pm on August 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Yes, Everyone Else is Doing It 

  

  Have you ever given the old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” much thought? As of late, this has been on my mind. As a father, I recognize the little things communities do to unite and assist with the upbringing of my child. While I would never entrust my child to a stranger, I do appreciate my community’s dedication to providing identification drives, healthy eating seminars, and theater in the park. It may not seem like much, and though it can be easily overlooked, this type of mentality is the embodiment of the now cliché term, social responsibility.

  From major corporations to mom-and-pop stores, being socially responsible has become the newest “it” thing. But for the first time, in a long time, this mainstream ideal could accomplish something great.

  One of the most socially responsible companies is many people’s morning addiction…Starbucks. Since their inception, Starbucks has advocated and implemented sustainable harvesting practices and free trade. Were you aware that your grande skinny vanilla latte was helping preserve the environment and enhance the quality of life in Central and South American countries? Likely not…and yet, here you are being socially responsible!

  On the flip side, you have individuals who sneer and steer clear of franchises in favor of local restaurants and coffee shops. In most cases, this is equally as socially responsible…even if you didn’t realize it. There is a restaurant down the street from my home that regularly participates in fundraising efforts for the local school system. A few times a year, this restaurant donates between 10%-50% of that day or night’s revenue to fund marching band trips, forensic teams, and more. By doing nothing more than eating at that restaurant, on either a fundraising night or a regular night, one has been socially responsible.

  Though this may seem like a greater undertaking for a local business, as opposed to a multi-national corporation, it is all relative and all beneficial.

  The simplicity of it all is amazing. Care about your community? Your family? Your environment? Bring your business to those who feel the same way. Your support, regardless of how big or small, combined with the support of others is what makes the impact of socially responsible practices so great.

  We at Geebo are proud to support every community we are a part of in both monetary donations and participation. While it does take a village to raise a child…it also takes a coffee shop to preserve the environment and your favorite diner to create educational opportunities.

  Whether you decide to “Go Green” or “Buy Local,” I hope you are socially responsible for you, today.

   
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  Greg Collier 8:45 am on July 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  32 Billion Reasons to Read 

  Last Thursday, I attended one of those rare events that change your life, shape your perspective, and urge you to action. Alongside others at Richmond’s Byrd Theater I watched the documentary “Call + Response,” that chronicles modern day slavery. Men, women and children are enslaved for many purposes including sex, pornography, forced labor, and indentured servitude.

  At the conclusion of the screening a sex trade survivor shared her story with a small group of us. The courage and conviction of this individual was astounding. It never ceases to amaze me at what humans can survive and humanity can perpetuate.

  I was able to speak with Sara Pomeroy, the creator of the Richmond Justice Imitative, at the event’s close. Sara is amazing woman who devotes her time to rescuing and seeking justice for victims of human trafficking in Virginia. This is no small job. Virginia is one of only four states that does not have a comprehensive law in place against human trafficking. Events like the “Call + Response” screening give Sara the opportunity to raise awareness and generate conversation over this increasing domestic problem. She also works in conjunction with local outreach organizations and churches to get her message out.

  Currently, there are 27 million slaves worldwide…2 million of which are children! This isn’t purely a third-world country problem. For those of you who live under this assumption, you are sorely mistaken. In the United States alone, between 150,000 and 300,000 children are enslaved and sold for sex. Slavery, unfortunately, is in our very own back yard.

  One of the scariest statistics of the sex trade is how much money it generates. Each year, the global sex slavery market generates $32 billion in profits. I am sure it comes as no surprise that the money it generates does not trickle down to the creation of schools, clean water systems, or safe-sex education process. No, the sex slavery instead has become an increasingly important revenue source for organized crime because each young girl can earn between $150,000 and $200,000 each year for her pimp.

  This problem is real. And this problem is big.

  I encourage you to share these statistics and this short clip from the WTVR News with people you know, people you don’t, and people who will listen.

   
  This blog post is but a small contribution to the effort I hope to make in raising awareness on the issue of slavery. Every little thing we do is a part of our collective call to justice. Please join me.

  Laura is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    Laura 9:54 am on August 19, 2010 Permalink

    Greg, I’m so glad you had a chance to see C+R. It’s an EXCELLENT film.

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  Greg Collier 7:18 am on July 14, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  When Greatness Combines 

  Last Thursday, Geebo was a part of something special.

  On July 8, 2010, over 75 leading human rights and anti-trafficking organizations converged on the Craigslist headquarters in San Francisco, CA, to protest Craigslist’s blatant facilitation of the sex trade industry. We stood alongside prominent groups and individuals such as Equality Now, End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT-USA), Center for World Indigenous Studies, So optimists International of the Americas, Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence, Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Gloria Steinem, author Victor Malarek, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier. It was truly empowering.

  The mission and purpose of the protest hosted by the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) and Prostitution Research and Education (PRE), was to convince Craigslist to eliminate their pseudonym-friendly “Adult Services” section. In Craigslist’s own hometown of San Francisco, over 18,000 advertisements were posted in October 2008 on their Craigslist “Adult Services” section for prostitution. Of course, they were “cleverly” classified as “escort”, “massage”, “erotic”, and “adult” services. There were also a few for “adult entertainment”…to really throw people off. The scariest part of those 18,000 postings is that it is only one city. And only one month.

  “A majority of men buy sex online many of whom are trafficked or prostituted by third parties. By continuing to allow sex ads Craigslist is continuing to support prostitution and sex trafficking under their Adult Services Section,” states Dr. Melissa Farley, PRE Executive Director. This needs to stop.

  We may have made a significant step forward last Thursday… but we have a long way to go. Until Craigslist removes their “Adult Services” section and begins to monitoring submissions, we will continue to speak up. And until sex-trafficking ends, we will continue to fight. Victory will be found in perseverance.

  Guess who hasn’t caught on though? Craigslist. In true Craigslist form, no one has even been available to comment on last week’s protest. Bawk-bawk.

   
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  Greg Collier 9:57 am on July 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  You, Me, and Our Human Rights 

  

  Did you enjoy your 4th of July celebration? I am humbled in appreciation of the men and women who protect my freedom every day. For me, exercising my protected freedoms is the best way to give those brave soldiers the credit they are due. Agree with me? I thought you might!

  The spirit of the 4th of July has invigorated me and I will be joining other human rights activists in exercising our First Amendment rights in protesting Craigslist’s exceptional human rights violations. You should join me!

  On Thursday, July 8, 2010, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), Prostitution Resesarch and Education, and numerous other co-sponsors will protest Craigslist’s facilitation of sex trafficking at Craigslist’s office, 1381 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122.

  Nearly 100 different human rights organizations will be there, lending their spirit and expertise. Speakers will also be presenting from noon until 2pm about Craigslist’s reckless disregard for human rights and their perpetual contribution to the sex trade industry.

  Geebo was asked by the main rally organizers, Prostitution Research and Education, to be a guest speaker. We are honored accept the invitation! Being a part of such a collective efforts is powerful. This is the type of power to be celebrated.

  Busy Thursday afternoon? Postpone it. We are all victims when we stand idly by.

  Nowhere near San Francisco? No problem. Show your support for the human rights movement by exercising your First Amendment on your favorite social network. Facebook status updates and Twitter posts are a great way to get the message out. Be heard in any way you can.

  I look forward to your support on Thursday. Let freedom ring.

  To learn more about this Thursday’s protest in support of human rights

  To learn more about the PRE

   
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  Greg Collier 6:00 pm on June 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  “G-Rated” for Greatness 

  A classified postings site with a conscience? You bet!

  I recently did a phone interview with KMTR News Source 16 regarding the G-rated content on Geebo. I detailed Geebo’s review process to explain that, yes, a classified postings site can provide job listings, resumes, real estate and even personal ads without crossing the line into explicit material.

  This is a quick, yet powerful piece about the social responsibility and utility of Geebo. Take a moment, and take a look.

   
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  Greg Collier 1:02 pm on May 31, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  High Road Regular 

  When was the last time you asked someone how they were doing, and kept listening long enough to hear the answer? Not sure? Not surprising.

  Life moves pretty fast sometimes. Only you, however, have the ability to slow it down. Don’t worry I am not advocating a huge lifestyle change, just a reality check.

  We live amongst an incredibly diverse group of people, all of whom have different life experiences and expectations. While you may floor it through an intersection when the light turns green, the driver in front of you may not. It doesn’t mean that where you are going is any more important than where they are headed, but maybe that your life experience regarding driving is vastly different. Perhaps they were in an accident at this particular intersection, or were lectured by t heir parents about waiting a few extra seconds because of potential red-light runners. Tolerance is key; it will also save you a fender-bender.

  Air travel is championed as convenient, but who hasn’t been inconvenienced by the old couple or mother with a child in front of them in the security screening line? I  know I have. You check your watch, your cell phone, the giant clock hanging over the security center, to see how long this is really taking them. Whether you are two hours from take-off or twenty minutes, the annoyance level is the same. Instead of rolling your eyes, sighing loudly, or discussing the situation at an unusually high decibel with the equally annoyed passenger to your left, exercise tolerance. If you are lucky, someday you too will be part of the old couple holding up the line, or the parent trying to remove their ornery child’s shoes. 

  Tolerance is also in need of liberal application in social situations. Reasonable minds can differ…and unreasonable minds can differ even more. While it is never fun to have your beliefs, convictions, or self criticized, it is going to happen. While it may seem easiest to be rude, snide, or obnoxious in response, you are only perpetuating this person’s unreasonable view of you. Recognize that you are hurt by what has been said or done, but that it is not going to be what defines you. By being the “bigger person” you remind those around you of why you are so great. If the other person doesn’t pick up on this, it is their loss…both literally and when it comes to Karma points.

  I am working on being a high road regular. It isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. Give it a try…the worst thing that could happen is that you might actually improve someone’s day.

   
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  Greg Collier 8:58 pm on May 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  365 

  How do you measure a year?

  Rape? Murder? Child trafficking?

  No? Well, you aren’t Craigslist.

  Last year, a Massachusetts medical student was charged with murdering a masseuse he found via Craigslist and their “Erotic Services” section.  Craigers (Craig Newmark) and Bucky (Jim Buckmaster), the brains and braun behind Craigslist, re-named the category “Adult Services”, promised to monitor ALL postings, and considered this “PG” replacement satisfactory. 

  Satisfactory to whom? Not the children being trafficked online, facilitated by Craigslist’s “Adult Services” section. Ernie Allen, President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, stated that “workers at the center have been able to identify some missing children-mostly young girls-by matching their photos with images posted on the site.”

  Were the monitors on vacation? Did people ignore the warning screens and post illicit material anyways?

  Those who have been murdered, raped, and stolen from have not been Craigslist’s “problem.” Defenseless children are, unfortunately, no different to Craig and Jim. This “dangerous duo” believes that they have fulfilled their legal obligation. It is obvious that they have not. Beyond legalities though, Newmark and Buckmaster have ignored their moral obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves. This obligation transcends business…it is what makes people uniquely human.

  In the wake of their substantial “Adult Services” revenue, Craigers and Bucky have opted for their own happy ending at the expense of others.

  At Geebo, we measure a year in our growth, community outreach, and socially responsible imprint.

  To each, their own, I suppose.

  One year later | craigscrimelist is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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  Greg Collier 9:50 am on April 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Tip #3: Create a Stand-Out Resume 

  In today’s job market, you need every advantage you can get – and your resume is an important part of that equation. In most cases, this is your first opportunity to make a good impression on prospective employers so, in order to get an interview, you really need a resume that will stand out from the pool of applicants applying for the same positions.

  Here’s my advice for creating stand-out resumes:

  1.  Customize your resume and cover letter to each job advertisement you respond to. Emphasize the skills and past accomplishments that best match the skills and experience asked for in the job description: devote more space in your resume to these areas, and spell them out in greater detail.

  2.  Make sure your resume is both well written and visually appealing. If writing is not your strong suit, consider hiring a professional to help. For design assistance, Microsoft provides several resume templates built in to Word, and there are more on the Microsoft.com web site. In addition, RockportInstitute.com offers a great set of web pages on writing a masterpiece of a resume.

  3.  Consider posting your resume online. There are several ways to do this. You can use a site like VisualCV.com, share your resume via Google docs, or add it to your blog. You don’t have a blog? Blogger.com and WordPress.org provide free, easy systems for creating a new blog in minutes.

  4.  If you work in technology or new media, a video resume may be a great alternative for you. For examples, check out the many video resumes posted on YouTube.

  5.  If you work in a field that values creativity, consider creating a resume that shows off your skills in innovation. One jobseeker, Ed Hamilton, achieved near-celebrity status for creating his resume in Google Maps. And animator Shea Richardson posted an animated YouTube video to serve as his cover letter.
  

  I hope these ideas are helpful to you in creating your own stand-out resume. And I wish you all the best in finding that next great job!