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Craig Newmark
Answers Phil’s questions
Feb 4 | archive | subscribe
Craig Alexander Newmark is an Internet entrepreneur best known for being the founder of the San Francisco-based website Craigslist. Newmark is a vocal advocate of keeping the Internet free. He resides in San Francisco's Cole Valley and is active at Craigslist in customer service, mostly dealing with spammers and scammers.
You
What is your name?
Craig Newmark
What work do you do?
Mostly customer service. Which involves fighting spammers and scammers, moderating discussion boards, and some media work.
How does it relate to green, good or giving?
Working with our community, we've all created a genuine culture of trust, in a pro-social manner. That's caused others to consider the social effects of their own businesses. We've effectively contributed well over half a billion classifieds free, which would normally cost tens of dollars. Our "free" and "barter" categories have contributed significantly to reuse. Our "ride sharing" and related categories have has similar effects.
What are you working on at the moment? Any major projects?
For craigslist: customer service. On my own, not CL:
-- Support for mideast peace via OneVoice, and microfinance for business in Palestine, via kiva.org and CHF International
-- Real support for veterans via IAVA.org
-- Support for consumers via Consumers Union
-- Accountability regarding Congress via Sunlight Foundation
-- Support for Latino voting rights, via votolatino.org
How do you get to work?
Either N Judah train, or the 6 or 43 bus
What long and winding road led you to your current position?
Long, long story, told elsewhere; mostly growing up as a nerd, and following through with basic values, like "treat others like you want to be treated."
Where were you born? Where do you live now?
Morristown NJ, San Francisco CA
What has been the worst moment in your professional life to date?
Dealing with the after effects of two really bad business decisions.
What's been the best?
Just general sense that we're helping millions of people.
Green
What environmental offense has infuriated you the most?
The institution of the automobile.
Who is your environmental hero?
Probably Al Gore, for effectively delivering a message.
What's your environmental vice?
Procrastinating getting an energy audit.
Which stereotype about environmentalists most fits you?
The nerd stereotype is the only one that fits.
What's your favorite place or ecosystem?
Don't have one.
If you could institute by fiat one environmental reform, what would it be?
Massive public transportation.
Good
What is the best idea you¹ve heard lately?
Effective job finding where there's a big digital divide; see: cnewmark.com
What is your motto?
“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh; otherwise, they'll kill you.” -Oscar Wilde
What is your favorite virtue?
Comedy
How do you spend your free time?
"Free time?"
What's your favorite meal?
Korean or Thai
Giving
What is your philosophy of giving?
Over the last few years I've started tithing.
What is your first memory of volunteering or making a donation?
Buying trees for Israel
Who is your role model for giving?
None in particular
What inspires your impulse to give or volunteer?
I believe in giving people a break
Finally
Who was your favorite musical artist when you were 18? How about now?
None then; now, Leonard Cohen
What's your favorite movie?
Blade Runner
Which actor would play you in the story of your life?
Jason Alexander, one handsome devil
Famous Quote?
“My exit strategy? Death.”
If you could have every Phil reader do one thing, what would it be?
Vote.