Fun Not Fear

The good news experiment? What do you think?

With the "fun not fear" Facebook campaign, we are combatting the culture of fear with good news, good acts and a focus on the importance of everyday creativity. Creating a kind of neighborhood news for the world, members are making a daily habit of reporting on the good and creatives news in their lives.

We believe that if millions of us do this, then we might create some small good for ourselves and each other. Do you agree? 

Here are some examples of recent posts about the small, ordinary, sometimes corny, good and creative things members are doing everyday. Take a look at these and and then respond with what you think about this experiment.

- Maria is leading her pre-K and kindgergarten kids through a Georgia O'Keefe group painting project

- Anne spent the weekend making maple syrup

- Melea is working on "catnup" - new kind of agreement between cats and their owners

- Karyn is working on a name for her new skincare product and others are responding in Haiku

- Tony took an evening walk with different steps and moves on every block

- Jana is working on new homepage concepts

- Rafo is working on the design and construction of a musical instrument museum in Phoenix

- Martha is making a new shrine out of a box

- Kimarie is going to a yoga class and forgetting about the 60 things on her todo list

- FedEx Kinko's is giving away free resume printing

In the face of layoffs and hardships of all kinds, do you think it has a positive impact to focus on fun and creativity and these corny tidbits of everyday life?

Let me say a few words about why I think the answer to that question is "yes" and then ask you to respond with your thoughts.

I'm influenced by scientists, psychologists and cartoonists who all take play, creativity and fun seriously. Some positive psychologists talk about how good or bad moods can spread like viruses - and that by making a habit of seeing the glass half full rather than half empty, people can be happier and affect the happiness of those around them. Some development psychologists and educators - like Professor Carrie Lobman at Rutgers - take what they have learned from studying play and improvisation into all kinds of environments including inner-city neighborhoods where they radically change and improve in-school and after-school programs. And cartoonists like Bob Mankoff, who will be participating in our April Fool's Day webinar, spend time not just making and editing great cartoons but also seriously studying humor and fun.

What do you think about this good news experiment? 

I look forward to your thoughts.

Phil

P.S. Media studies show that bad news far outweighs good news - perhaps by as much as 17 negative news reports for every 1 good news report. Why is that the case? Read my proposed answer here.

First goal reached, "Blue Sweater"

We reached our first goal of 1,234 members and are well on our way towards our next goal: 123,456 members.

Thanks to Sunny Bates, I had the pleasure of attending a book party last night for Jacqueline Novogratz, author of Blue Sweater. Get the book. It's a good read and she makes the point that many in poverty show no fear. I agree. We have a lot to learn from how people with few resources live and create. And they have a lot to learn from us. Her subtitle makes that point: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World. Good.

We need more volunteers to help promote our global campaign to combat fear with fun and creativity.  Click here to learn more about the volunteer opportunities.

Small creative actions multiplied by millions?

Facebook "fun not fear" campaign 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51914474751

Current status:    670.000 members as of 11:00pm NYC time

Goal #1:          1,234.567 members by Monday, March 9

This campaign is *not*

- it's not a call to ignore the hard things going on

- it's not a belief in positive thinking only

This campaign *is*

- is to build community and courage

- is to shine a spotlight on the small creative actions taken by millions

See some of the encouraging photos and stories reported by members below. Spread the word.

- New Yorker Marian Rich posted this photo from the streets of New York

tinyurl.com/bcqvq8

- The World Bank announced today...and we say...

www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=51914474751

- Colombian Gioconda Perez posted a link about a village in Colombia that seems to be doing amazing things

www.dojump.org/entusiasmo.shtml

- California artist Hedy Buzan talks about lessons the from Peace Corps

"Love this. Twenty five years ago I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kingston, Jamaica. I would marvel that..." Read more

- Tennessee music teacher Nancy England says...

"On Sunday I'll be hosting a music school recital, and as usual, to convince the kids that there's nothing to be afraid of, I'll get up and make a certified fool of myself..." Read more

simple fun in the neighborhood?

After launching this "Fun not fear" campaign, I went out for the beautiful day in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

I visited a local artist coop gallery - 440 Gallery - where I met the artist Amy Williams and got to learn about this group of artists. Amy was great. If you live in Brooklyn you should go visit these guys (and if not go online to their site). 

The painting to the left is by local artist, Ellen Chuse. Love the colors. 

Then I went to the Brooklyn Public Library. I picked up five books I had reserved online. I recommend you use your local library.

Here's a website I built of all the local libraries in the U.S.. Go visit a library - support what they are doing and save some money: http://www.borrowabook.org

What are you doing today to have some fun in your local neighborhood?

Phil 

launching the fun not fear campaign

Today I am launching this fun not fear campaign on Facebook. The idea came out of conversations with friends and Council members, who, like me, wanted to find a way to use creativity to combat the culture of fear gripping our world.

This is a seriously playful group on Facebook with some ambitious goals in terms of our size and with some hope we can have a modest impact on the level of fear. 

We are foolish and playful but not foolish optimists.  We acknowledge the realities of the moment *and* we think we should combat fear and despair with human creativity. Fun and play are serious business - the joy of creating and having fun - viewing or creating art, walks in the park, dinners with friends, the experience of reading, starting new businesses - can have small but positive impact.

Join us in this playful campaign on Facebook:

- Join the Facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51914474751

- Join the volunteer team

If you want to help us, then visit this page:
http://funnotfear.typepad.com/fun_not_fear/volunteer.html

And bring a little more creativity and fun to the world.

Phil