I founded KindActsBlog.org today to help people across the web communicate simple acts of kindness that they have committed in hopes that it will inspire others to participate. The concept is simple, just email me your stories at support@kindactsblog.org. I’m also looking for contributing bloggers to help communicate the message of the others through this blog. Cheers!
I came upon this site thanks to Tim O’Reilly, who mentioned it on Twitter. Although the idea behind this blog seems harmless, even good, insofar as it will encourage people to do more to help others, some unreflective part of myself was instantly sent reeling. I feel disgusted, presumably by the bourgeois pretentiousness here embodied. For people to be encouraged to do kind things in order to enable themselves to post about it here and reap the accolades of this community, they have to either be completely incomprehensible (from my perspective), or they must void our shared Puritan heritage (see Albion’s Seed, by David Hackett Fischer). The stumbling old left-leaning humanist in me rebels as well: little acts of charity may satisfy your personal guilt, but they will not contribute to solving the problem of which rising poverty, hunger, and homelessness and increasingly scarce preventative health care are but symptoms in this, the largest economy and one of the richest countries in the world. That said, proceed, and pet each other, and feel very good, and have excellent taste in wine, if you please.
Comment by cinayakoshka |
December 23, 2008
| Reply
What nonsense. Acts of Random Kindness ought not to be trumpeted by narcissistic cretins. Why not turn this around and post ARKs from those who have benefitted, the givers should button it, and let the takers spread the word. http://www.okathleen.wordpress.com
If humans didn’t get a warm fuzzy feeling when they help others who would go out of their way to help? By the way, one little act of kindness might not help the whole world but what would a thousand do? A million?
This is such a wonderful & timely message for all of us who would like to do so much more in this so dark and troubled world. I read the comments and it occurred to me that perhaps the getting of the “warm & fuzzy feeling” thereafter was not necessarily a good thing as a motive; an ego thing and not especially a Spirit thing. We are all in need to be validated and your blog will grow into the “givers” AND the “takers” You are doing very good work.
Comment by Wanda Manhart |
January 3, 2009
| Reply
It is great that you want to help people out. What is not so great is wanting to video them accepting your gifts or telling the whole world about it, because of that, you have placed the focus upon yourself and not on the act of giving to another person. The thought was lovely until you did this.
Everyone knows they should give of themselves, you will maybe inspire some other people who want a spotlight on themselves. However, the people who truly want and do help people on a constant basis usually keep their mouths shut and their egos small.
I hope you will continue to give to others because you just want to help and not because your egos need boosting.
Heidi,
The idea is not to put the spotlight on yourself but to inspire others by providing them with creative ideas on how to give. A lot of people don’t realize that small acts can make a difference and sometimes they just need a little direction. Best, Adam
If the point is indeed to help more people figure out how to make a difference, there should be no question of videotaping beneficiaries or photographing gifts or of congratulations. A blog about ideas—now that is a good idea. Why not?
Ideas are general, though. The idea that seems so far to be represented here is in very poor taste.
I would be happy to post a description of my latest idea for helping, say, elderly women abandoned into nasty public facilities for their final years, but I would not be willing to describe how I have personally improved the life of Mrs. X. That creates a sickening self-congratulatory presentation, and suggests pity. Pity is spiritual cancer.
Adam,
What a positively fantastic idea.
I already liked the concept of random acts of kindness, but I have always thought that they meant more if you did not tell anyone about them, so the intent was pure. I think your site works with my personal concept in that it may make people stop and look up and outside of themselves and notice things that needs to be done. So many of us have become so internal I’m afraid we have stopped seeing. I know I still suffer from this myself.
But I am trying to be more aware and notice things – like the woman who needs help reaching an item in the store, or offer my arm to an older person with a cane as they approach the curb or even something as simple as allowing a car or two get in front of me in traffic. These are small things I have done that have made me happy about myself.
If your site/blog succeeds in making people notice more of what needs to be done then it cannot be in poor taste. These stories are submitted anonymously and thus are not self-serving. Rather, I find them hopeful and encouraging.
The Kind Acts Blog is just a simple experiment created to encourage people around the world to share random acts of kindness they’ve seen or done. The blog was created in just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon with the premise that too many organizations spend unnecessary amounts of money on marketing and charitable events. The world can be a better place by performing simple random acts of kindness.
Participating is easy, just email your stories, pictures or videos(youtube) to support@kindactsblog.org. We don’t want your money and we’re not affiliated with any organization. We’re also looking for contributing bloggers to help write about these experiences around the world.
Twitter – #kindacts
Cool site. I like the layout . Can’t wait to see more stories posted.
I came upon this site thanks to Tim O’Reilly, who mentioned it on Twitter. Although the idea behind this blog seems harmless, even good, insofar as it will encourage people to do more to help others, some unreflective part of myself was instantly sent reeling. I feel disgusted, presumably by the bourgeois pretentiousness here embodied. For people to be encouraged to do kind things in order to enable themselves to post about it here and reap the accolades of this community, they have to either be completely incomprehensible (from my perspective), or they must void our shared Puritan heritage (see Albion’s Seed, by David Hackett Fischer). The stumbling old left-leaning humanist in me rebels as well: little acts of charity may satisfy your personal guilt, but they will not contribute to solving the problem of which rising poverty, hunger, and homelessness and increasingly scarce preventative health care are but symptoms in this, the largest economy and one of the richest countries in the world. That said, proceed, and pet each other, and feel very good, and have excellent taste in wine, if you please.
What nonsense. Acts of Random Kindness ought not to be trumpeted by narcissistic cretins. Why not turn this around and post ARKs from those who have benefitted, the givers should button it, and let the takers spread the word.
http://www.okathleen.wordpress.com
If humans didn’t get a warm fuzzy feeling when they help others who would go out of their way to help? By the way, one little act of kindness might not help the whole world but what would a thousand do? A million?
This is such a wonderful & timely message for all of us who would like to do so much more in this so dark and troubled world. I read the comments and it occurred to me that perhaps the getting of the “warm & fuzzy feeling” thereafter was not necessarily a good thing as a motive; an ego thing and not especially a Spirit thing. We are all in need to be validated and your blog will grow into the “givers” AND the “takers” You are doing very good work.
It is great that you want to help people out. What is not so great is wanting to video them accepting your gifts or telling the whole world about it, because of that, you have placed the focus upon yourself and not on the act of giving to another person. The thought was lovely until you did this.
Everyone knows they should give of themselves, you will maybe inspire some other people who want a spotlight on themselves. However, the people who truly want and do help people on a constant basis usually keep their mouths shut and their egos small.
I hope you will continue to give to others because you just want to help and not because your egos need boosting.
Heidi,
The idea is not to put the spotlight on yourself but to inspire others by providing them with creative ideas on how to give. A lot of people don’t realize that small acts can make a difference and sometimes they just need a little direction. Best, Adam
Adam,
If the point is indeed to help more people figure out how to make a difference, there should be no question of videotaping beneficiaries or photographing gifts or of congratulations. A blog about ideas—now that is a good idea. Why not?
Ideas are general, though. The idea that seems so far to be represented here is in very poor taste.
I would be happy to post a description of my latest idea for helping, say, elderly women abandoned into nasty public facilities for their final years, but I would not be willing to describe how I have personally improved the life of Mrs. X. That creates a sickening self-congratulatory presentation, and suggests pity. Pity is spiritual cancer.
Adam,
What a positively fantastic idea.
I already liked the concept of random acts of kindness, but I have always thought that they meant more if you did not tell anyone about them, so the intent was pure. I think your site works with my personal concept in that it may make people stop and look up and outside of themselves and notice things that needs to be done. So many of us have become so internal I’m afraid we have stopped seeing. I know I still suffer from this myself.
But I am trying to be more aware and notice things – like the woman who needs help reaching an item in the store, or offer my arm to an older person with a cane as they approach the curb or even something as simple as allowing a car or two get in front of me in traffic. These are small things I have done that have made me happy about myself.
If your site/blog succeeds in making people notice more of what needs to be done then it cannot be in poor taste. These stories are submitted anonymously and thus are not self-serving. Rather, I find them hopeful and encouraging.
Thanks so much.