Ok, I'm thinking:
CPR
AED
Lifeguard
EMT
Class A Drivers Licence
Fire Extinguisher Training
Caregiving
Nurse Assistant Training
Conflict Negotiation
Critical Problem Solving
Health
Recycling
Mechanics
Marketing
Fundraising
Public Speaking
Logistics
Electronic Communication
Home Maintenance
Disaster Relief
Certified First Responder
Hexiyurt Construction
Wilderness Survival
outdoor Emergency Care
Construction
Leadership
Non-profit Management
Counseling
Swimming
Running
Flexibility
Social Networking
Writing
Photography
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Pain Tolerance
While in the shelter I got into a friendly conversation with a guy in his late twenties. He was telling me very enthusiastically how he was now dating someone in Germany. After I congratulated him, he went on to explain his plan for visiting his new boyfriend. He needed to sort out the flight, but he would have three months to find a job in Germany. But first, he needed to get his teeth fixed.
He shows me his lower jaw, which has no teeth at all. The story is that one of his wisdom teeth became infected, and the infection spread. So he had to have all his teeth pulled.
"Ow, sounds painful," I say.
"No, I didn't feel anything. The gave me some gas, and then some Novocaine but, nah, I didn't feel a thing."
Very manly, I think to myself.
Conversation turns back to his boyfriend.
"He has two piercings. On in his lip - here - and one... a bit lower."
"Not his toe I assume," I reply.
"No, not his toe. Man, I could never get that thing pierced. Ouch."
...
Manly pain tolerance, it seems, does not include tolerance of penile pain. It it a performance of masculinity to be hyper protective of one's penis?
He shows me his lower jaw, which has no teeth at all. The story is that one of his wisdom teeth became infected, and the infection spread. So he had to have all his teeth pulled.
"Ow, sounds painful," I say.
"No, I didn't feel anything. The gave me some gas, and then some Novocaine but, nah, I didn't feel a thing."
Very manly, I think to myself.
Conversation turns back to his boyfriend.
"He has two piercings. On in his lip - here - and one... a bit lower."
"Not his toe I assume," I reply.
"No, not his toe. Man, I could never get that thing pierced. Ouch."
...
Manly pain tolerance, it seems, does not include tolerance of penile pain. It it a performance of masculinity to be hyper protective of one's penis?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Grant
Tomorrow, I stand before group of judges. Men and women gathered by my school to judge "innovation."
For my part, I have created a plan to save one part of my small corner of the world. I've proposed to take $2000 of their dollars and spend them on invigorating an organization that serves homeless youth.
The plan is pretty basic. Gonna improve their training so they they get a larger volunteer base. Gonna create a development program to improve their leadership core. And lastly, gonna bring together members of the community (and homeless kids themselves) to brainstorm ways of reaching out.
I'm pretty stoked. This homeless thing has been a long time in formulating. I'm grateful that some of the fire and mission that started me on this venture is coming back around to really help those people who need it.
$2000 isn't that much. Not even two months rent back in my old place. But its something. Its a start. Could be a tipping point.
So now it's time to do this thing. I've survived skin rashes, mice sleeping on my face, wet and freezing nights, constant sickness, sleeping on the floor of my office, biking 100 miles a week with no car, and not to mention terrifying cops.
I think I can handle a couple of judges.
For my part, I have created a plan to save one part of my small corner of the world. I've proposed to take $2000 of their dollars and spend them on invigorating an organization that serves homeless youth.
The plan is pretty basic. Gonna improve their training so they they get a larger volunteer base. Gonna create a development program to improve their leadership core. And lastly, gonna bring together members of the community (and homeless kids themselves) to brainstorm ways of reaching out.
I'm pretty stoked. This homeless thing has been a long time in formulating. I'm grateful that some of the fire and mission that started me on this venture is coming back around to really help those people who need it.
$2000 isn't that much. Not even two months rent back in my old place. But its something. Its a start. Could be a tipping point.
So now it's time to do this thing. I've survived skin rashes, mice sleeping on my face, wet and freezing nights, constant sickness, sleeping on the floor of my office, biking 100 miles a week with no car, and not to mention terrifying cops.
I think I can handle a couple of judges.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Effectiveness
Most altruists get over notions of social exchange. If I think someone else's life is as valuable as mine, I tend to do things for them without the expectation that they repay me.
But that isn't to say there are no expectations. Surely, being appreciated for an act of service is always nice, but that isn't really the kicker.
There is often the expectation that the service does something good. That our sacrifice was not in vein. People rarely do things for themselves that they don't think are going to work. So even if the value of another is mingled with the value of the self, if there is no chance that any intervention will work, action is unlikely.
This is important to keep in mind. As people who are striving to do good, hope is a crucial component. It is not enough to value the other. We must also foster the hopefulness that what we can do can help.
But that isn't to say there are no expectations. Surely, being appreciated for an act of service is always nice, but that isn't really the kicker.
There is often the expectation that the service does something good. That our sacrifice was not in vein. People rarely do things for themselves that they don't think are going to work. So even if the value of another is mingled with the value of the self, if there is no chance that any intervention will work, action is unlikely.
This is important to keep in mind. As people who are striving to do good, hope is a crucial component. It is not enough to value the other. We must also foster the hopefulness that what we can do can help.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Follow the manual
Many advocates of social exchange theory claim that altruism doesn't really exist. They point to the benefits of moral action, such as satisfaction, self esteem, the belief that good was done, and claim that those things were really the motivator. What seem to be altruistic persons are actually selfishly seeking their own satisfaction through helping others.
I find this patently ridiculous. For starters, how the hell do they know what motivates someone? Saying that everyone who ever did something good was really pursuing their own benefit is like saying that everyone who ever assembled something was really following the instruction manual.
Of course that's not true. There are people who manage to construct all sorts of things without ever looking at the instructions. But someone could of course come along, open the manual, and point to all the things that had been done.
Sure, but the truth of it is this: the crafter attended to the nature and structure of the task. He or she looked at the project, tried some things, felt around for what seemed best, used some intuition, and worked so that the ideal end came to pass. The fact that they performed as the manual deemed is due to the fact that the manual reflects the reality of the situation.
Likewise. Most moral decisions are made by looking, trying for some things, feeling around for what seems best, using some intuition, and working so that the ideal end comes to pass. And yes, this may follow a social scientific "manual" for how humans behave. It may be that altruists benefit from altruism. But this is due to the fact that benefits flow from the structure of morality, not the other way around.
Sure, some crafters use the manual, but others are directed by what is real. In this case, both the crafter's actions and the manual flow from what is real.
Similarly, some philanthropists do good to get good, but others are directed by what is good. In this case, both the altruist's actions and the benefits of helping others flow from what is good.
I find this patently ridiculous. For starters, how the hell do they know what motivates someone? Saying that everyone who ever did something good was really pursuing their own benefit is like saying that everyone who ever assembled something was really following the instruction manual.
Of course that's not true. There are people who manage to construct all sorts of things without ever looking at the instructions. But someone could of course come along, open the manual, and point to all the things that had been done.
Sure, but the truth of it is this: the crafter attended to the nature and structure of the task. He or she looked at the project, tried some things, felt around for what seemed best, used some intuition, and worked so that the ideal end came to pass. The fact that they performed as the manual deemed is due to the fact that the manual reflects the reality of the situation.
Likewise. Most moral decisions are made by looking, trying for some things, feeling around for what seems best, using some intuition, and working so that the ideal end comes to pass. And yes, this may follow a social scientific "manual" for how humans behave. It may be that altruists benefit from altruism. But this is due to the fact that benefits flow from the structure of morality, not the other way around.
Sure, some crafters use the manual, but others are directed by what is real. In this case, both the crafter's actions and the manual flow from what is real.
Similarly, some philanthropists do good to get good, but others are directed by what is good. In this case, both the altruist's actions and the benefits of helping others flow from what is good.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Constructing Identiteis
While with Stand Up tonight I met a man in a shelter whose son was in the age group we serve. He said his son was in the shower, and that he would go get him. After passing on the message, the father stood with us, explaining how his son had an open scholarship to a motorcycle management school, all he had to do was get his GED.
It struck me as interesting how quickly the homeless father offered this anecdote about his homeless son. The implicit message was clear: "My son isn't a bum, this is only a temporary thing."
It struck me as interesting how quickly the homeless father offered this anecdote about his homeless son. The implicit message was clear: "My son isn't a bum, this is only a temporary thing."
Friday, February 5, 2010
Danger Control
When people are exposed to fear appeals, there are two common responses, fear control and danger control.
Fear control is a maladaptive mechanism that involves reducing the fear the person is experiencing. This is done through a series of mental back-flips as the the thinker tries to feel better.
Danger control, on the other hand, invovles doing something about the problem.
Believing the world is a messed up place, for instance, is a form of fear control. If things are supposed to be fucked up, then there is less to be afraid of. Seeing a problem as someone else's problem is also fear control.
Perhaps the problem is we let ourselves think too much. When fear and uncertainty fire our nerves, how often do we seek calm? Should we instead seek action? Isn't that why there is adrenaline pumping through our veins?
Fear control is a maladaptive mechanism that involves reducing the fear the person is experiencing. This is done through a series of mental back-flips as the the thinker tries to feel better.
Danger control, on the other hand, invovles doing something about the problem.
Believing the world is a messed up place, for instance, is a form of fear control. If things are supposed to be fucked up, then there is less to be afraid of. Seeing a problem as someone else's problem is also fear control.
Perhaps the problem is we let ourselves think too much. When fear and uncertainty fire our nerves, how often do we seek calm? Should we instead seek action? Isn't that why there is adrenaline pumping through our veins?
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