Draw arrows on the pavement so even the morons among us will understand that side-walk is not a free-for-all to roam as you please.
Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
41–46 of 46 posts
Re: Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
#42Help someone with rent. Bring some food to a neighbor. Donate to food banks and shelters.
IMO you’re thinking too small to try to “impact” as many people as possible - impact just 1 person and the world gets better. If you spread it out such that there is no signal left (contributing a grain of rice per person) then it prevents larger forces from self correcting. You can make a huge impact on the entire world by individual level kindness, because that person you impacted will go on to impact others for 50 some years.
Re: Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
#43Help someone with rent. Bring some food to a neighbor. Donate to food banks and shelters. IMO you’re thinking too small to try to “impact” as many people as possible - impact just 1 person and the world gets better. If you spread it out such that there is no signal left (contributing a grain of rice per person) then it prevents larger forces from self correcting. You can make a huge impact on the entire world by indi…
I read a story recently, which to be honest sounded fake, but it involved a guy donating a book to the children's hospital once every week.
That helped one person, chosen at random, in a way that is simple to repeat and scale.
Re: Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
#44small talk with your neighbour
Re: Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
#45Give at least one person per day — whom you otherwise wouldn’t — a few words of genuine and specific appreciation. Friend, family, coworker, stranger. Doesn’t matter.
It is heartbreaking to see how people's eyes light up when you give them a modicum of recognition. We shouldn't be so starved of love that we expect to walk through a wasteland every day. When I was Lyfting I had people shower me with thanks simply for showing what I consider basic human decency, by having genuine conversations and truly listening.
FYI see https://youtu.be/EP74acIVs60
Also research has shown how people who say hi to us improve our mood even if these are people who we recognize but may not even know their name
Re: Ask HN: Ideas for small ways to make the world a better place
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is heartbreaking to see how people's eyes light up when you give them a modicum of recognition. We shouldn't be so starved of love that we expect to walk through a wasteland every day. When I was Lyfting I had people shower me with thanks simply for showing what I consider basic human decency, by having genuine conversations and truly listening.
FYI see https://youtu.be/EP74acIVs60 Also research has shown how people who say hi to us improve our mood even if these are people who we recognize but may not even know their name
Good to know! Got mean-mugged twice for greeting my neighbors this morning, so at least someone benefitted.