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.