Woman sells self/kids on ebay.

buttmunch · March 17th, 2006, 03:44 AM

Quote:

March 16, 2006 -- People buy and sell just about everything on eBay — sometimes offering up something as valuable as themselves.

The latest bizarre episode in the eBay universe is potentially one of the saddest. A Cleveland, Ohio, woman posted an ad asking someone to provide a home for her and her children so that they could escape what the woman described as an abusive husband.

"This relationship can be what you want it to be," the ad read. "It can be casual or friendlier which could lead into marriage if we see fit whatever would benefit my children and of course you and me."

In response to a barrage of angry e-mails, the woman tried to explain herself in another posting.

"I am strictly looking for a decent, loving and kind man who can give us love and a nice home and take us away from all this turmoil," the woman said. "I am a wonderful person and mom, I know this seems unusual to post an ad like this but it is better then the bar scene."

The auction Web site pulled the posting, saying it went against their policy.

"It is a violation of our prohibited services policy … which includes no virtual relationships," said Catherine England, a company spokeswoman. "We have the policy in place to protect our community members. EBay strives to have a clean and transparent marketplace."

abcnews.com

If she's for real, this is incredibly sad.

SammysMom · March 17th, 2006, 03:48 AM

Yeah it is sad

**Tati** · March 17th, 2006, 03:52 AM

Seriously... just leave. You don't need a man to "take you away" from a bad situation. It's 2006.

A*O · March 17th, 2006, 03:59 AM

I agree Tati - she is swapping one abusive situation for another. What IS it with these women who cannot possibly imagine an independent, happy life without a man to 'validate' (and pay for) it.

Tiara · March 17th, 2006, 04:38 AM

I don't see the problem, when I imagine a man that would buy a woman and her children off ebay I think of a very decent, self respecting man, a doctor maybe!

MrsMarsters · March 17th, 2006, 04:42 AM

^^ oh yeah..someone rich and decent and kind

Tiara · March 17th, 2006, 04:56 AM

^^ Of course! No paedophiles, rapists or serial killers would dream of bidding!

GawsipRawksz · March 17th, 2006, 09:44 AM

oh ebay, is there anything you can't do?

IceQueen · March 18th, 2006, 10:11 AM

So, the woman wants to prostitute her kids and herself out? Way to teach your kids that they can be independent humans without relying on 'a maaaaan'.

milky*mcgee · March 18th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Tati, A*O, IceQueen, totally agree.

Love how she is looking to get away from "the turmoil" by putting not only herself, but her kids up for auction to the highest bidder. Who would be a complete fucking stranger.

I'm glad they pulled the auction. Moron.

buttmunch · March 19th, 2006, 12:35 PM

Then again, pretty much everything we've learned about batterered women is that they DON'T feel any sense of empowerment or self-value. Perhaps the abusive hubby's been on her since day one and now, many years later, her self-esteem is so far down the toilet that it's in China. I hope this is a joke but if it's not, I wouldn't want to be the judge and jury on this one, and wouldn't want to blame the victim. People do crazy shit when they can't see a way out and all I can say is thank god I've never been in a situation like this.

milky*mcgee · March 19th, 2006, 06:25 PM

^I don't want to be judge or jury, either, but DAMN it, I will be.

There are kids involved here!

I don't know if she is abused, if this is a joke, or whatever, but I have a hard time seeing her as a victim if she is staying with someone who is abusing her, and more than likely, her children.

pacific breeze · March 19th, 2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milky*mcgee

^I don't want to be judge or jury, either, but DAMN it, I will be.

There are kids involved here!

I don't know if she is abused, if this is a joke, or whatever, but I have a hard time seeing her as a victim if she is staying with someone who is abusing her, and more than likely, her children.

Many, many abused women stay with their batterer because a) they do not have the economic resources to leave, b) do not have any kind of support system -- these men usually isolate women from the family and friends as a means of control, and c) the complete lack of self-esteem and empowerment that Buttmunch mentioned is entirely real. Most literally cannot see themselves as worthy human beings they have been beaten down so long.

I say she is most definitely a victim, and so are her children. If leaving were that simple, she probably would have done it by now. Society doesn't exactly bend over backwards to help people like her. I wish her well.

suede · March 19th, 2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttmunch

Then again, pretty much everything we've learned about batterered women is that they DON'T feel any sense of empowerment or self-value. Perhaps the abusive hubby's been on her since day one and now, many years later, her self-esteem is so far down the toilet that it's in China. I hope this is a joke but if it's not, I wouldn't want to be the judge and jury on this one, and wouldn't want to blame the victim. People do crazy shit when they can't see a way out and all I can say is thank god I've never been in a situation like this.

Agreed.

milky*mcgee · March 19th, 2006, 07:41 PM

(PB) ^I totally know the a's, b's, and c's, and I definately don't disagree with what you are saying. (And what you said very well.) My opinion is definately biased because a.) I've been around addiction/alcoholism/abuse. Because of this, I would NEVER let my children be exposed to it. And b.) of what Ebay IS, an online market! And to put not only yourself, but your children up for auction?

If this woman has access to the Internet and to Ebay, she has to have access to finding some type of support system, no? Message boards about EVERYTHING are EVERYWHERE! Or maybe other alternatives/ideas/ANYTHING?

Obviously I am not this woman, very easy for me to sit here and type. It just really bothers me about her children.