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With all the wars, politics, economics, poverty, celebrities etc - we need more fun.
Every so often we hear of wonderful acts of kindness and people being good en mass. Although I have never gotten around to joining him, I have great respect for Danny Wallace. In 2002 Danny started a cult which, at the time had no purpose. He simply placed an ad in a local classifieds publication Loot with the words: “JOIN ME, send one passport-sized photo to…” followed by his address. Soon after Danny met his first Joinee by the name of Christian Jones. He was “a do-er”. Soon many others sent passport photos and, still not knowing what they were joining, they were still willing to join. Soon members began to question what it was they were joining. Soon after Danny set out his first task for his Joinees: It is better, think I, always to make happy, those gentlemen who are in advance of you in years!”
Soon after Danny received an email from Joinee Davies. He told of how he and four other Joinees had “the most exciting day in the name of Join Me.” They found several old men sitting on deckchairs and brought them cups of tea, and of course took pictures of the events. Later they paid for a hamburger for an old man in McDonald’s. Later they found an old man in a bar and asked “Can I make you happy?” This old man had no money to get the train home so they kindly gave him £38 for his fare home. At this point Danny knew he had found his purpose, even if it was only to “make old men happy.” The aims soon changed.
“My cult is a cult devoted to niceness. To kindness. To improving the life of a total stranger, if only for a moment or two. I call it The Karma Army, and I encourage my followers to carry out one Random Act of Kindness for a complete stranger, each and every Friday. I call these Fridays ‘Good Fridays’, and I ask my members to sign The Good Fridays Agreement.”
During and after reading the book I so often felt like doing great acts of kindness towards random strangers and often I have. I have even considered posting my own passport-sized photo to Danny who still receives between six and twelve photos a day. To me this is a wonderful thing. Certainly not your typical cult.
It makes me happy to see and hear about things like this happening all over the world. I feel more confident and safe in the knowledge that there really are many good people in the world who are willing to go out of their way to do something that makes some one else feel good, at the expense of no one. This hurt or harm anyone. It doesn’t put anyone out. It doesn’t affect anyone in a negative way. It is purely an act of selflessness. Many people, working together, to bring out the goodness in the individual.
It is definitely organised fun.
Recently I have heard of two particular instances of organised fun. The first being the Word Naked Bike Ride. An event protesting oil dependency, the WNBR was formed in 2003 with the first ride taking place in Spain on 12th June of the same year. Although this event has much more of a political backbone than Join Me, it is also an event where people come together to have fun, and silently, if not quite obviously, protest an important issue.
Again, unlike Join Me, this event is subject to a certain amount of criticism as some people are offended by the sight of a naked body, okay more than one as it happens. Unfortunate, maybe, though it certainly brings awareness to the cause. That cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as polluting motorists.
The next Naked Bike Ride is being held in 2007 on March 10th and June 9th and 30th.
“We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers face by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences we all face due to the dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable energy.”
A movie has been made recently about the organisation and the events that take place.
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The third fun event I have found recently is No Pants Day. Unlike the two aforementioned events - this one is purely for fun. To simply have a day not to wear pants, or trousers for this part of the world. Fun eh? For many yes. Pure fun.
“When large groups of people parade around in public without their pants, amazing things are bound to happen. At the very least, you’ll take your drab, wretched life a little less seriously, at least for one day.“
The last No Pants Day was held by Improv Everywhere. An organisation set up with the primary aim of organised fun. Founded by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere is about having fun en mass. Pure unadulturated fun - with no political, motives. Just fun - yes I do like that word.
“Improv Everywhere is, at its core, about having fun.� We’re big believers in “organized fun”.� In the process we bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they can tell for the rest of their lives.� We’re out to prove that a prank doesn’t have to involve humiliation or embarrassment; it can simply be about making someone laugh, smile, or stop to notice the world around them.”
The last event was No Pants 2k7, held on 13th Jan. Different to the original No Pants day, this time participants are pantsless on the NYC Subway. Around 300 people gathered together preparing the take their pants off given the word. They all went on one train, traveling to the designated stop, getting off, waiting for the next train and getting back on.
I find it hard to avoid liking these ideas - not sure if I would necessarily parade the streets naked, or even half-naked. But surely its the thought that counts, right? Power to the people!
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