CEO Jim Buckmaster recently reiterated his assertion that Craigslist won’t allow advertising on his site because, “no users are suggesting we run text ads.”

Buckmaster’s supposed commitment to its users is invoked only when convenient.

Just ask people in the several markets where Craigslist is now charging: San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. I don’t remember any huge demand from users there that Craigslist let them pay.

Users: "Let me pay! Take my money!"

Craigslist: "Oh, OK. If you insist."

That’s the story line Buckmaster implies with his sanctimonious users-first mantra. Buckmaster will tell you that users did complain about all the spam ads being posted. He’d say the only way to answer their complaints and prevent spam was to charge users. Well, I’d say that was just one way.

The other way was to accept text ads and then use that new money to invest in anti-spamming technology. So what’s the real reason Craigslist won’t accept text or banner ads?

They just don’t want to.

Perhaps it offends their anti-business political beliefs? I don't know, really. What I do know is blaming users is a disingenuous way to avoid saying what you really think.