reddecorator is offline reddecorator Post #1  November 5,2009, 7:51pm
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Random Acts of Kindness...your thoughts...have you ever either been the recipient/giver...OR... do you believe in this whole concept?
 
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Sassafras54 is offline Sassafras54 — Advice Official Moderator Post #2  November 5,2009, 10:05pm
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Please state the concept. RAKs are good? They are bad? They don't matter? What is their purpose?

I don't think you know, when you've been the recipient. Isn't that the point? Something just ... doesn't go wrong, or goes better than expected.
 
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Sassafras54 is offline Sassafras54 — Advice Official Moderator Post #3  November 6,2009, 9:52am
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How about doing things that are good for the environment, in some tiny little way?

A PBS show called The Botany of Desire looked at symbiotic relationships between humans and plants. It covered apples (desire for sweet), tulips (desire for beauty), marijuana (desire for intoxication), and potatoes (desire for control).

The potato segment talked about how monoculture -- the growing of vast amounts of 1 type of a plant -- is a big bad thing to do, both in terms of the environment (requires lots of pesticide, exhausts resources), and in terms of human security (a crop-destroying blight leads to famine). Apparently the popularity of french fries, which are made almost exclusively from Russet potatoes, has led to Russet monoculture.

So a Random Act of Kindness would be to buy odd varieties of potatoes, to encourage a market for biodiversity.
 
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Sassafras54 is offline Sassafras54 — Advice Official Moderator Post #4  November 6,2009, 11:06am
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While I'm waiting for someone else to say something, I'll just mention that today I'm making a special trip to return a library book I've done with that isn't due for 2 more weeks. Because I was on the Hold list for it for 2 months. And I'm sure someone out there is waiting for my copy.

RAKs are things I do that I would like other people to do, too.
 
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chawks64 is offline chawks64 Post #5  November 6,2009, 5:02pm
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I think Random Acts of Kindness are usually doing something nice for someone you don't know without any expectation of repayment. The library book is a good example.

I don't know that I actually set out to perform them, I just try to do the right and caring thing when it presents itself to me - closing a gate that didn't latch right so the dog doesn't get out, moving a brick so no one trips over it... things like that. Nothing big.
 
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Bluemay2 is offline Bluemay2 Post #6  November 6,2009, 5:51pm
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I agree with chawks64. I tend to perform random acts of kindness without really thinking about it because it just seems the courteous or right thing do. I expect nothing in return. For instance, I help women with a baby in a stroller carry the stroller up/down the subway stairs when I see them struggling to maneuver the stroller on the stairs. (Not all stations have elevators).

Fortunately, I've also been the receipient of kindness from strangers. My car died at the toll plaza and while many, many cars just honked at me for blocking the lane, one couple helped. The husband pushed my car to the side and they offered to call a tow truck in case my cell phone was not working. Luckily, my phone worked.
 
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reddecorator is offline reddecorator Post #7  November 6,2009, 6:24pm
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I recently saw a newspaper ad and billboards that were advertising Random Acts of Kindness Day with a designated date for this day.


Isn't the whole point that these should be random acts with no specific plan...acts that occur in a haphazard way?
 
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WeDesignOurLives is offline WeDesignOurLives Post #8  November 6,2009, 6:31pm
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How does one know they are the recipient of a random act of kindness?

Why do people consciously do them if not for Karma (that they'll get a return which would make it not very selfless...)
 
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Bluemay2 is offline Bluemay2 Post #9  November 6,2009, 6:31pm
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reddecorator wrote :
I recently saw a newspaper ad and billboards that were advertising Random Acts of Kindness Day with a designated date for this day.


Isn't the whole point that these should be random acts with no specific plan...acts that occur in a haphazard way?
Exactly! I bet it's another Hallmark holiday so Hallmark can make more money.
 
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chawks64 is offline chawks64 Post #10  November 6,2009, 6:34pm
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WeDesignOurLives wrote :
How does one know they are the recipient of a random act of kindness?

Why do people consciously do them if not for Karma (that they'll get a return which would make it not very selfless...)
Because it's fun!

It makes us smile!
 
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