Random Act of Kindness, 2009 Holiday Season.

Sure Qie, I'll talk about it a bit after the fact. Even if it backfires

Some of it is situational, for instance we don't want to find an agoraphobic and say: CONGRATS YOU WON!!!! JOIN THE CROWD!!!!111 ...and port in 50 or 60 Caledonians marching and playing bagpipes. Whoops, someone hide the body while the rest of us think up plausible alibi's...



1) Anyone in the Caledon group, anybody ~ there will be some coordination group notices in a day or two. But any citizen wanting to find a deserving person, well, it's already started Just grab an alt and talk to people. Listen a lot, whatever... just don't say what you are up to though.

2) Nobody needs to know who anybody's alt is, unless you want them to. Think you found the right person? Just tell the person coordinating with your main. We'll prolly compare notes and sorta pick by consensus as time goes on.

When I spot a new person I try and give them some huds, hair and clothes. Answer a few questions if they have any.

I do this every time I am on SL, not a special day or a week.

I can confirm this.

Pep (Well, the bit about the "not so nice ones" anyway.)

Haven't you been reading the forums, Des? You're a bit after the fact with that one.

Not inworld; my efforts are firmly directed on encouraging participants in the forums to present their views logically and coherently.

Pep (It's a thankless job, but someone has to do it.)

/me wants to be there to watch as crowds of n00bs run screaming from Jig's path.

Pep ("I'm going to make you an offer you can't understand."

More likely a tormentor.

This is just asking for everyone to create an Alt and go round the infohubs searching for Jig!

We could hold a competition with this as the first prize.

Pep (Second prize would be *two* days.)

Just a quick update...


Caledon tuned in to reports of the search tonight; alts reporting live from the wild mainland.

They have encountered many dangers, including biting vampires and one attack with a freenis (we didn't press for details).

Needless to say, we haven't found that special deserving person yet. But, we shall

Look no further ... :

I would be the perfect candidate coz I am here to stay and I'm really good wih kids. I could be the governess, Mr Rochester! I could really!
Or maybe I'm more like Adele...

Grab your "Jane Eyre"s everyone.

Make matters easy on yourself and send me the money.

Thanks for clearing up my questions, Desmond.

I just wanna say...thank you, Qie!!!!

Yeah yeah I bumped your thread Des, cause it shouldn't be on p3.

Love the idea, do it often myself too, and your idea to organize it, makes people think.
Curious what will come of it.

I'm inspired by this. I've never been a joiner-inerer but I hereby pledge to spend time with 5 newbies and guide them in whatever they want to do, between now and christmas. It will do me good. I don't care whether they are "deserving" or not. Who can tell?

Giving money is a difficult one. The one time I gave money and felt really good about it, a guy wanted to start a group and I said if he could raise L$50 I would match it. I'd do that again.

I just gave someone a random act of kindness and he wanted to give me $300 Lindens. (I grudginly didnt accept them)

Linked to this thread in my latest blog post: http://bit.ly/3URo3v

(and bumping it to where it deserves to be)

That just about summarises the difference between true love and prostitution, I suppose.

Pep (Didn't you have change?)

Desmond, I got the group notice and said, "what a sterling idea!"

Now I'll go one better. Pick a runner up, along with your winner. I'll give them an equivalent gift.

o wow, sounds like some good ideas and major noob love going on there with you guys.
I quip in at help island public when I get the chance or if the volunteers are stuck. I listen and have learnt a lot. I had some good teachers, but money is short so I can't help that way with funds. Due to being male I am not so quick with giving of inventory stuff, by the time I've found something for them, they've usually wandered off. So due to lack of funds and my own inadequacies, a friendly ear and a dance or two, is really all I can offer newbies....

Mmmm... I'm not accepting offers like that (it may get problematic; I haven't told anyone precisely what's going to be given). But of course feel free to offer what you think is cool! You will prolly know who is deserving before I do if you are part of our hunt.

We aren't necessarily looking for someone new to the grid, either, for those mentioning new residents.

It's been harder than expected to find candidates. Our anonymous wanderers have been treated rather badly here and there, the potential candidates having *no* idea. Likewise we are gently trying not to be intrusive or invite problems.

Fox, if you like you can join in with us (it would require Caledon group membership at least for a few weeks but other than that, zero obligation whatsoever). Drop a notecard to me inworld if you like, or just continue doing the cool stuff like you always have ~ our actual effort is minor compared to the general atmosphere it's intended to promote.

I'm not entirely clear what Desmond is up to but I know I'll be excited to hear how it all turned out. Make sure to report back when you are free to do so!

We are getting live reports from the field almost nightly now. People have been adding their alt to the Caledon group and hiding the group affiliation, and sort of reporting along in group chat as they go.

Everyone's been good about it though, and not said who offered to vampire bite them (or worse).

I'm going to join the search myself as an alt too, some point soon here. Just have to figure out what sort of persona (fursona?) to use.

On a somewhat related note, it appears LL is getting into the spirit of the season as well:

https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/commerce/blog/2009/11/17/a-helpful-hand-makes-a-world-of-difference

Now we have news from our reporter on teh streets of Zindra ... Jig are you there?

"Yes, Des. I can hear you faintly above the raucous music from the whorehomes and bars of Sodomn'Goromy. I spent a night offering random acts of kindness and can happily say that I was random twice last night and was very kind. I'll be back out there again tonight. Your plan is setting off fireworks on this end of teh slneighbourhood."

Oh, cool! I didn't know there was a Second Life presence on KIVA.org. I saw the message when I logged in this morning and thought it was a great idea, but I didn't know about the SL group until now.

I make all my Kiva loans through the group I joined Kiva with (which is the group that led me to SL, but that's another story... ) but I'll consider joining the SL group to follow their loans and their progress.

Thanks for the heads-up, Joshooah!

(And Des, I'll be following this thread and Caledon's progress as well. Great idea! And happy holidays to one and all.)

I think Kiva has been around in-world for a while now. I've been interested in the concept of microfinancing for some time and I found them in-world quite some time ago. If my memory serves me correctly, they are located on an island with a few other non-profit organizations. Found it: http://world.secondlife.com/place/ed56d3c3-e2ce-7a78-2fb8-5c93bb4154a8

However, there are some misconceptions about exactly how Kiva works and the relationships they have with borrowers. The NYT had a good article on it a few weeks ago: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/business/global/09kiva.html?_r=1

As part of the article states, which I agree with, "It’s highly imperfect, but it’s like a 3 1/2-year-old child: it has a lot of potential.”