Random Act of Kindness, 2009 Holiday Season.

Oooh the Kiva thing sounds worthwhile!


We've had our first generous act, possibly, and thus our first candidate (maybe).

One of our agents has been given some sion chicken eggs by a chicken farmer. That's good, isn't it?

There may be other reports I'm not yet aware of, though.

I've been poking around on Kiva for a few months now, and I've been very impressed with what they've done. Some glitches along the way, sure, but I think microlending and microfinance have a lot going for them.

I checked out the link in the blog - it seems to be set up as an account, rather than a group that can be joined. Three unrelated groups showed up when I did a search, two of which were associated with SL, one of which is open-enrollment and seems to be the one you're talking about in-world. I decided against joining after all (keeping my RL and SL presences separate), but I may go visit the in-world location.

And thanks again for the article link - I'll go check it out. ETA: Ah, just read the article and I understand the concerns that are being raised. I still think Kiva has a viable process, and I'll still be lending as before.

Des I've gone to some lengths to find someone who *wants* help, in the past. Thing is, such like seems more and more scarce. Usually they prefer to explore alone.

I've even begun an av simply to try to help people on the newbie island and to test the newbie experience. Most 'newbies' I run into prefer to know about money or sex, but not much else. (On the 2nd topic they are on their own. Lol.)

What I do want is a way to find such folk as actually need and want some help, (and who do not go away from keyboard twenty minutes without warning in the middle of it, more than once, or begin hitting on me.) Lol. I don't need/want any recognition for it which is why I do most of it as 'not me.' ;p Last time I dropped in on a 'hub' there was another person there trying to do the same thing. No takers. Lots of people gesturing/dancing, no one wanting help.

(But) best luck in this venture, it's a good one.

Christmas 2009? Linden Lab destroyed that. I was lucky to make tier to keep the public photo garden open but now I see the error of my ways and will delete it and put that land up for rent. Linden Lab wants nothing but profit centers.

I would like to know what LL feels about the following sites of interest:

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=76720

also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiva_%28organization%29

It is cited "Some people, including microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus, argue that the interest rates of many microcredit institutions are unreasonably high. In his latest book[16] he argues that microfinance institutions that charge more than 15% above their long-term operating costs should face penalties."

Also does LL intend to reinvest the money it originaly loaned to Kiva back into other projects as its repaid to LL? and will LL ensure that the moneys loaned to Kiva will not be loaned to those companies charging intrest rates of up to 50%

Just wondering of course

https://blogs.secondlife.com/message/48825#48825

Might want to look into kiva a tad more before lending your name to them Des....

Hmm... well, I don't know much about it, it seemed okay?

Incidentally, our search continues. It's been kinda hard, but we have a few candidates so far.

Dearest Uncle Desmond,
I dont think anyone could be more random than myself and when you add kindness into the mix you've definitely got a winner in me!
I'm very kind.
Forget about all this metaphysical poker-up-your-bum Kiva bizness. It'll never fly and you know it. Its too contrived and crystal gazing for what you have in mind.
You want the act of kindness equivalent to good old Scottish porridge with rib-sticking goodness on a foul morning.
That's me. Always ready to give that sad and broken avatar a hug and a kiss that lingers long. And I am a wealth of information that noobs and doormats need to know to survive in this harsh metaverse.
I'll donate 10% of your not-so-random act of kindness to me in a first-cum and served basis.
Your loving and obedient neice,
Jigster Chippewa.

Maybe it's the flu, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on the contest.

People tell you in advance they will make an alt and go see if anyone will help them. Then they report back on what happened? And if someone does a kind thing they might win something?

Thing is, it can be very hard to find someone who *wants* help...or who knows they are being helped, too. Real newbies often will say "okay that's enough, I want to explore now" and off they go...into the wilds of freenii and spampii everywhere.

This doesn't have to be about new residents; a lot of people seem to assume that, but... that's not really what this is about.

It's about a bunch of people going forth and quietly observing, not being pushy or anything, and if they catch someone being really nice or selfless or decent... we've got something nice prepared for them. No catch.

You could have been bumming around SL since 2003 or whatever, it doesn't matter. Be nice to the right person, and kinda stand out... and there you go.

Obviously we have to either a) interact with people a little or b) observe from a socially respectful distance without being stalker~freaky, which means perhaps participating in whatever's going on.

I'm out there looking, too, but I may not find the winner. There's also the very real chance that the winner doesn't log in much, or might not want to get what we have, or all sorts of issues like that.

In which case we'll do the best we can. I really want this to be decided before the winter holidays are over, but if it goes a little long due to various issues that's fine too.

* * * * *

Jig, in all seriousness ~ depending on the winner and what they are like, you might be a wonderful new social friend for them, maybe you can give a tour of 'your' SL and what it's like.

But there's a possibility we'll find an oldbie whose idea of bleeding edge fun is 72 hour bridge marathons or something. We'll just have to see!

So, can I nominate some people? What are the criteria? Is it anything specific or just good deeds?

& thanks, Desmond.

Glad to help

The idea is to catch someone in the act, so to speak, of being nice. Rather than just nominating nice people we know ~ we all know someone nice already, and I don't want a popularity contest.

If it came down to just 'nice as popularity' I could probably get Jumpy to pick someone far more easily than all the work we are doing to find the right candidate

Ms Autopilotpatty Poppy is overseeing the nominations and has more info; it's generally for Caledon group membership (which prevents a lot of potential nonsense) but just say Des sent you, she can add you to the Caledon group (or I can, just drop me a note inworld to remind me).

After that ~ just grab an alt, and see who you can catch in a moment of kindness. Write a quick note about it, contact Ms Patty and they are now a potential winner.

This sounds like fun!

Thank you.

Problem here.
It's getting too serious. I really do plonk down a hundred lindens or even a thou to people who give me the right vibe, but this is sounding more and more organized. That means it's becoming a charity event. And I've been to a few of those in real time. And they dont work. Best to provide freely and without accoladles.
Therefore, I withdraw my candidacy.
I give even here but recognition also implies expectation for the future. In this good-natured evenet, Jig is scrooging. My real and sl charities are anonymous, but arent there workhouses?

Jumpy would include that the newbie had to be nekky on a stripper pole in his criteria. Best leave it set up as you have it.

Yeah it's a little bit organised, but, still not a charity as we might theoretically find a really rich person who was being super nice to someone.

It's not so much about wealth, and perhaps a bit about recognition.

Of course, if someone was just scraping by, we might end up making their life on the grid a bit easier for a while

I'm gonna go in as a 'spy' for your cause, although I don't know if I will say it's me. Works the same either way...

*dusts off an av*

(Jig it isn't about us being nominated it's about our finding good doers, or so I think)

Hmm, well in my real world, I find it very hard to nominate anyone else except for me. Oh I smile and nod BUT deep down I'm seething if it's not my name that gets called. That's doubly serious real. Soooo, since this is a social experiment and since you should experiment, why dont YOU think about nominating me seriously for this award and I'll do tons of good on offchance the old griffin is really on my side. I'd LOVE to be thought of as a silent benefactor.
And you could use some help, so I'll slit the grant 50/50 with you.

I only have to think about nominating, and you'll continue do-gooding?

Okay. Thought about it! ;p

Odd we've not met in SL before! btw.

Okay, time to stop being coy. I'll put a $1000 lindens into the pot for the winner of this event who must do some good for avatars.

I'll see youre not hurting, Melita.

Des, why would one need to do this as an alt? I don't get that part. I don't have an alt, and I do this all the time.... but my understanding of what you're saying here is that it needs to be an alt, doing the acts of random kindness?

I think it's to see who is kind to noobs or to people they don't think they know. The "no one seems to be watching" type of thing.

What is that ABC show...when no one is looking, what do people really do? My memory is failing. LOL

Mysterious statement.

You'll not have to run for a bus for a few days; a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat.