Selling to Strangers

I recently sold three of my PS3 games as a bundle on Craigslist. I paid a lot for them, but I never play them anymore. Such is the nature of video games. I decided to sell them all for $60 and after posting an ad last night, I got four replies this morning. I didn't know what to expect, but it was interesting reading each e-mail. Deciding on who to sell the games to was kind of like an interview. For me it wasn't first-come first-served, but what he or she wanted to offer me, if there was a convenient location to meet at, and if it sounded like a person I could trust.

I think you can really get a feel for what the person might be like based on his or her writing skills and how much information they give in a response.

Here are the four replies I got to my ad.

Buyer #1: "Ill give you 60 dollars for those games and drive down to pick it up myself. All I want to see is that the games are in fine working condition."

Buyer #2: "Hi. Are the games still for sale? Let me know."

Buyer #3: "Hello. I am writing with interest in your games bundle. I am in Vancouver East End (Commercial Drive area), and am wondering if theres a possibility of meeting up in my neck of the woods. I would be available today to make this deal happen. Thanks for reading."

Buyer #4: "Hey. Would you part CoD4? How much would it be, and do you have a number i could call. Thanks."

Guess who I sold the games to?

Peace.

Me in Gastown

Photography by Justin Alm

To date or not to date

I've been contemplating on whether it mattered if I dated a Christian girl or a non-Christian. For the longest time, I figured as a Christian I should only naturally date Christian girls, but the question has become why. I know it makes sense that it would make things easier to date someone of the same faith, but lately it hasn't. Two of my Christian friends have gone through or is in process of divorce. One of my friend's wife left him after only a year of marriage as soon as her debts were paid off. They met each other at church. Another friend of mine is in the process of divorce where his wife cheated on him twice. They met at Bible college. Another guy I know went through a divorce a couple of years ago where his wife left him for his sister's husband whom she is now divorced from as well. The guy met his ex-wife in a college and career adults group from their church.

My buddy and I were having a discussion about dating and whether dating a girl of the same background made things any easier whether it be ethnic background, religion, interests, or others. We both agreed that just forming a relationship with a girl is no easy task in itself.

In a lot of cases, I seem to find it much easier to talk to a non-Christian girl I meet for the first time than a Christian girl. Some non-Christian girls I find are really good at small talk which can lead to great conversations. Maybe it's because they get out more socializing in bars and night clubs...I dunno. When I try to engage in a simple conversation with some Christian girls I've met for the first time I find they throw up a wall and wonder why is this guy talking to me. Is he interested in me? The conversation becomes awkward and very brief. In my mind, I'm like just relax, I just want to chat. I know I'm generalizing here, but this is what I've been experiencing as of late.

I think what I find difficult about dating Christian girls is that they have these very high expectations of what they're looking for in a guy. Not to say that non-Christian girls don't, but I find that some Christian girls need to relax and not think if this is the guy they are supposed to marry.

Whether I end up with a Christian girl or not, my buddy and I both agree that the most important aspect of any relationship is trust. Without 100% trust in the relationship, nothing can save it.

Peace.