Please note
The WANTA PLOT? and GOTTA PLOT? pages on this blog are really just for expressions of interest in the idea. We’re just dipping our toes in the water at the moment, and don’t have a proper site yet with registration, and privacy, and contracts and so on yet, but we do know that some of you are itching to get involved and wouldn’t want to hold you up, so please do bear in mind that as we’re on the freely-accessible and searchable public Internet you leave any personal information here at your own risk. We especially DON’T recommend that you give out any phone numbers or personal addresses in comments on this blog!
And do also please remember that any agreement you enter into with another swopaplotter is between you and them. We hope that swopaplotters will be decent people, but we would hate anybody to endanger their personal safety, so please look after yourselves!
Commercial advertising
The garden swopping facility on swopaplot.com is for exchanging favours only and not for the sale of goods or services. Anyone attempting to sell goods or services will be excluded from the network. If anyone tries to sell you goods or services, please let us know by leaving a comment or emailing chris AT swopaplot.com
If you would like to advertise relevant goods or services on swopaplot.com please do get in touch, as we will hope to be able to provide a full paid-for advertising service soon.
Guidelines on a fair exchange
Making the exchange fair for both parties
Whilst it is up to you as friends to decide on what is a fair exchange, below are some guidelines and important things to consider to help you.
What is a fair exchange?
It is difficult to equate the value of somebody’s use of their land with the value of somebody else’s time working on that land. Ultimately however, what is important is that you both feel and believe the exchange you are about to carry out is fair for both of you. Think about things like:
- At what times will it be acceptable to access the garden?
- How is access to be granted?
- What part of the garden is available to be worked with?
- Who decides what is planted, and how the space is used?
- Who gets any produce grown in the garden?
- Who provides the tools and materials?
- Where are they stored and who is responsible for their security and/or insurance?
- Will there be access to water, electricity and/or toilet facilities – and how and when?
- Who will provide tools and materials?
This isn’t an exclusive list, but just a starting point. It’s very important that you both discuss what you want, and ideally write down and both sign what you agree. It sounds very formal, but it could help you in the long run.
At Swopaplot we’ll be developing more detailed guidelines on agreements between garden owners and garden users, so please do let us know what aspects are important to you so we can try to include them.
Helping each other to build trust
One way in which you can build the trust between each other whilst you are doing each other a favour is to review your progress as you go along. Get together over a cuppa and have a chat. This helps to develop your friendship as well as reassuring each other that you’re both sticking to what you’ve agreed. It also helps you to agree whether any adjustments need to be made along the way so that you are both happy with the final outcome.
What is expected of me when I enter into an exchange agreement?
Becoming a swopaplotter means you are signing up to being honest and trustworthy at all times. If you have agreed to swop space or time and do each other a favour, you must both honour your agreement unless you jointly decide otherwise. This site wishes to promote friendship, fairness and goodwill. Anyone accepting a favour who has promised to do one in return and doesn’t carry it out, will be (unless there are, in our view, exceptional circumstances) excluded from the site. If you experience another member behaving in a dishonest and untrustworthy manner, please make a complaint to us by leaving a comment or emailing chris AT swopaplot.com
Your safety
In order to exchange favours it is likely you will need to meet other members. In any community there is an element of risk when meeting new people. Whilst we continuously endeavour to make this community a safe and trusting environment, your personal safety is your own responsibility. To help you, below are guidelines that you should follow to minimise any risk.
Safety guidelines
Be vigilant
Look for odd behavior or inconsistencies both online and offline. The person at the other end may not be who or what he or she says. Trust your instincts. If anything at all makes you uncomfortable, don’t agree to meet the person or if you are with them walk away for your own safety and protection. If instinctively you are unsure about the person in any way or suspect they are being dishonest about their skills or capabilities, or whatever else they have to offer, cease contact with them.
Talk on the phone first
A phone call can reveal much about a person’s communication and social skills. Consider your security and do not reveal your personal phone number to a stranger. Try a mobile phone number instead or use local telephone blocking techniques to prevent your phone number from appearing in Caller ID. Only furnish your phone number when you feel completely comfortable.
Only meet when you feel comfortable
The beauty of meeting and relating online is that you can collect information gradually, later choosing whether to pursue the friendship and exchange favours in the offline world. You never are obligated to meet anyone, regardless of your level on online intimacy. And even if you decide to arrange a meeting, you always have the right to change your mind. Trust yourself. Go with your instincts.
Watch out for warning signs
Pay attention to displays of anger, intense frustration or attempts to pressure or control you. Acting in a passive-aggressive manner, making demeaning or disrespectful comments or any physically inappropriate behavior are all warning signs. You should be concerned if the other person exhibits any of the following behavior without providing an acceptable explanation
- Provides inconsistent information about age, interests, appearance, marital status, profession, employment, etc.
- Refuses to speak to you on the phone after establishing an ongoing, online friendship.
- Fails to provide direct answers to direct questions.
- Appears significantly different in person from his or her online persona.
- Refuses or tries to avoid producing examples of their work or relevant references if asked.
Meet safely
When you choose to meet offline, always tell a friend where you are going and when you will return. Leave the the name and telephone number of the person you are meeting with your friend or family member. Never arrange to be picked up at your home. Provide your own transportation, meet in a public place at a time with many people around (a familiar restaurant or coffee shop is often a good choice), and when the date is over, leave on your own as well. Refrain from drinking excessively, as it could impair your ability to make good decisions.
Getting out of a difficult situation
Never do anything you feel unsure about. If you are in any way afraid of the person you are meeting, use your best judgment to diffuse the situation and get out of there. Excuse yourself long enough to call a friend for advice, ask someone else on the scene for help or slip out the back door and drive away. If you feel you are in danger, call the police; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Never worry or feel embarrassed about your behavior; your safety is much more important than one person’s opinion of you.
Remember
While liars, cheaters and imposters certainly ply their craft on the Web, you’ll also find them on the streets, in nightclubs, cocktail parties or even sitting across from you at your local cafe. Regardless of where you meet someone, meeting new people is never a risk-free activity, but a little caution will reduce your risk. Be vigilant wherever you are!
Phew! Still with us? Hope so. I was tempted to hide under the table at one point. But safety’s a very serious thing, so we want you to look after yourself please! 🙂
We’ll be improving these guidelines as we go along, so any feedback you have would be very much appreciated.
And huge thanks to swapaskill.co.uk (with an A) for their help in developing these guidelines!
swopaplot 