Dec
I told Twitter: I take issue with this world. I want your ideas. What can one kinda skinny, kinda angry, pretty fired up “girl” do about it? Srsly, IDEAS!?
(And I obviously realize millions of us feel this way. I believe nobody’s alone in that.)
UPDATE: Most concise germ of truth from Joel Dueck @joeld Think Specifically.
Some quick background: the seeds of this came up during my Christmas Eve Open House the other day (blog post forthcoming): What can technology tools DO to contribute to the greater good? While we answered, Steve Garfield sent out a live videocast from his phone: Direct Link
Anyways, this morning you all told me: (in no particular order, I’m compiling on the fly)
Brian Noe:
gandhi said “we will do what we can”
ultimately, though it’s often not very satisfying, that is always the answer
when i’m frustrated with the state of the world, i find something, however small, to do
example: when i became frightened and concerned about the erosion of our civil liberties, i started making monthly donations to the aclu, and routinely devoting some space to the subject on my weblog
that may not seem like much, but if each of us does a little something here and there, i have to believe that it adds up
we may not see the results we want even in our lifetime, but one never knows when the seeds we sow will come to fruition
so i do “something” - and have faith - that’s all one really can do, but i believe there is power in doing it
Michael E. Gruen @gruen
Depends on what part of the world she wants to change:
If she wants to change how people communicate, that’s a grass routes (sic) effort that need be thought out more carefully depending on how she wants to change it.
If she wants to change people’s opinions on something, there’s the Oprah route: find the influencers (the people that think for the people, like Oprah, Bill O’Reilly, Jon Stewart, etc) and convince them. Target their writers or get an audience with them… believe it or not, it’s not terribly hard to reach these people.
If she wants to change how people think, it depends on how quickly. Brainwashing is certainly an option, but an even better one is to infiltrate the school systems evangelists to your cause. But, make sure they’re the majority and/or the most compelling people in there. Otherwise, they’ll just seem crazy. This also takes a while, and your
results won’t be noticed for at least 20 years.If she wants to change how people live, it depends on how. This is more complicated and requires further detail.
If she wants to change everything, pyrotechnics and duct tape: put the fear of god into everyone (what? God is a skinny, somewhat angry “girl”!). Make sure they believe!
Bruce of 3Sixty Design @3Sixty I think that Social Media (many voices) can contribute to world change; business is not just about work. Keep sharing…
Girl With Issues
Hi Laura, I think that Social Media (many voices) can contribute to world change; business is not just about work. Keep sharing… Including ethics and issues in our work day conversations allows us to connect and perhaps engage in business with other like minded people living for change.
Digital Maverick @digitalmaverick you can believe that your point of view is correct and tell others about it, whilst LISTENING to others as you do so
Ted C @TedC @pistachio I take issue with the world too. I registered ragevent.com but haven’t done anything with it yet.
(in reply to my frustration about trying to compile all these answers & blog them on the fly)
@pistachio - that’s exactly what I was trying to with Ragevent. Automated capture, reply and threading in flagged conversations
@pistachio I’m interested in altering the material outcome in situations where the victims are otherwise helpless.
Marshall K@Marshallk see http://www.netsquared.org/casestudy also http://democracynow.org if you haven’t before
BeckyMcCray @BeckyMcCray @Pistachio - today, I’ll recommend a reverse of everyone else. Spread love. Do good locally. Take action: call, write, volunteer, donate.
Seesmic:
YoGeek (Elsie Escobar) Seesmic’d on creating the change you want to see within yourself. Contemplating and responding, not just reacting all the time.
DeekDeekster ( )
YoGeek
Even more on Seesmic:
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I’m trying to do things one baby step at a time. It begins in your own environment, I suppose.
What can you do to help homeless people in your street? I sometimes go to a supermarket and buy them something to eat.
What can you do to make a difference? Being a good example is the strongest way. Start with yourself, be contagious in the way you are dealing with the world. Be an inspiration so others may follow.
So don’t react, don’t yell, don’t write angry articles or preach. Just sit down, relax, breathe and try to think about what you want to do differently and do it. Inspire people with your grace.
Ah, I see what you like about Seesmic, with all of those spontaneous videos you clipped into this blog post. It would be cool to do live posts from your XO (if Seesmic accepts XMPP with video there might be an avenue there), just like I see lots of folk having conversations with their MacBooks.
On the topic of this thread, I want to discourage the notion of manipulating people into something and evangelism is maybe not such a great term these days (though I have no problem with witness).
Somehow we need to keep in mind that human beings are ends in themselves and not means for the ends of others. Maybe that is the place from which to look for what is missing, where is there a gap to be closed, what is an opportunity for improvement.
Here
Sometimes we think we can’t do much — and perhaps on a global level, we’re right. But then somebody tweets about frozen peas … and you discover that one person can turn into many people fighting the same battle.
I can’t solve the world’s problems … but I can pay attention when peas fall across my path. That’s how I try to make a difference in the world.
It’s very simple … change comes from within and it manifests outward. We truly are spiritual beings on a human journey. Let spirit guide and the rest will come. We’ve seen this happen with Frozen Peas … why stop there?
Pay it Forward.
If people just made a daily effort to do 3 selfless acts of kindness every day, imagine how much the world would look up for the better.