Spy, if you were talking on your cell at the same time it would have looked like a drug deal going down. I've bought similar things off ebay and met the seller and it always looks that way. 
i know what you are saying john, but AFAIK there is no restrictions against giving away a live fish. would individuals be ok with it if i killed the fishes first and sold them as food? answer is yes, ads for fish for food do not get removed.... whats actually happenning is individuals who dislike the idea of people giving away living things repeatedly flag the ad, and it gets removed. ive spoken with CL reps, and they have reissued some of my ads after they realized i was not in violation of the TOS. but i don't have the time to argue with these idiots, and prove to them what i stated in my ad was fair, and not against the rules. CL is going down hill fast around here... and its just these kinds of issues that are expediting the certain downfall of the service.Maybe not a disaster or waste of time, but a violation of the "terms of use" that you agreed to when you joined/set up an account.
I know almost no one reads the TOU when they join something or buy software or whatever, but it is there for a reason. Just my opinion ...
here's the excerpt(emphasis added by me):
Partial list of items the sale of which is not permitted on craigslist:
* Obscene material or child pornography.
* Weapons and related items, including firearms, disguised, undetectable or switchblade knives, martial arts weapons, sniper scopes, silencers, ammunition, large capacity magazines, BB guns, tear gas or stun guns.
* Fireworks, including "safe and sane" fireworks or any destructive devices or explosives.
* Controlled substances or illegal drugs, substances and items used to manufacture controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
* Alcohol or tobacco products.
* Prescription drugs and medical devices, such as prescription or contact lenses, defibrillators, hypodermic needles or hearing aids.
* Nonprescription drugs that make false or misleading treatment claims or treatment claims that require FDA approval.
* Blood, bodily fluids or body parts.
* Animals and animal parts, including the retail sales of cats and dogs.
* Restricted or regulated plants and insects, such as noxious weeds, endangered plant species, or live insects or pests.
and the link to the actual list of prohibited items from the TOU
http://craigslist.org/about/prohibited.items.html
and the link to the TOU
http://www.craigslist.org/about/terms.of.use.html
Keep Smilin'
John :icon_smil
my point is, if all it takes to have an ad removed is someone else to flag it... then as soon as i see someone else selling something similar to mine i flag it... so the item is no longer there... this is a circular problem, and as of right now, they aren't doing much about it.I don't think craigslist is "going down" any faster then the rest of the internet is, now that thieves and wackos know how to use it as well as any regular person and unwary newbie.
My problem with freecycle is that it is constantly prowled by profiteers, not by people who are down on their luck and could actually use the charity.