I confess I don't watch the news much any more. Here's why.
Just now, I pulled up the home page for one of my local TV stations. Of the nine headlines currently posted there, four were related to violent crimes, including abduction, shooting, and murder. While I do think it is important to try and stay informed about issues we face in our world today, I find that a steady diet of the horrific and unthinkable is not good for my emotional health.
In addition, there is some support for the notion of copycat crimes. (See for example this article or this article.) Type the single word "copycat" into the google search bar, and you'll find the top suggestion is "copycat crimes and the media."
All of which has led me recently to ponder the question: If publicizing crimes increases the probability of similar crimes being committed, then why don't we publicize acts of kindness instead?
Think of it: instead of reading about copycat crimes, we would find ourselves reading about copycat kindnesses. We might watch a news story about a man who learned that his neighbor volunteers weekly at a local food pantry, which led him to volunteer there. We might see contributions to nonprofits aiming to provide safe drinking water to people in third world countries double because the impact of their efforts are the lead stories on the nightly news. We might find ourselves led to do more in our own community because we were inspired by the story of an ordinary person like us who did so.
Thinking about this lately may be one reason why I'm enjoying two byutv original productions so much.
The Fixers sends a team of experienced builders around the world, giving them ten weeks to work with local communities to complete ten life-changing projects for people in need. So far I've watched them provide everything from a long-term source of clean water to a rural village in Nicaragua, to a new facility for an organization which trains rescue dogs to be companions for veterans with PTSD.
Making Good host Kirby Heyborne travels across the U.S., working side-by-side with founders of charities and nonprofits who are touching lives all across the country. So far I've learned about a former corrections officer who found a way to help young people break the cycle of incarceration, poverty and recidivism through establishing a youth-run supper club in San Francisco. I've also learned how volunteers from competition BBQ teams (I didn't even know there was such a thing as a competition BBQ team!) provided over 120,000 meals over 13 days to Joplin, Missouri tornado victims in 2011. Their efforts gave birth to Operation BBQ Relief, an organization which provides hot meals to victims of natural disasters throughout the U.S.
So if you're ready for a reminder that there are lots of good people doing lots of good all over the world, check out an episode or two of these shows. Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired to engage in some copycat kindness of your own!
Just now, I pulled up the home page for one of my local TV stations. Of the nine headlines currently posted there, four were related to violent crimes, including abduction, shooting, and murder. While I do think it is important to try and stay informed about issues we face in our world today, I find that a steady diet of the horrific and unthinkable is not good for my emotional health.
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| "INFO TV" by Renderon Broadcast Design is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 |
All of which has led me recently to ponder the question: If publicizing crimes increases the probability of similar crimes being committed, then why don't we publicize acts of kindness instead?
 |
| "Bekind_Lama" by Inspiyr is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 |
Think of it: instead of reading about copycat crimes, we would find ourselves reading about copycat kindnesses. We might watch a news story about a man who learned that his neighbor volunteers weekly at a local food pantry, which led him to volunteer there. We might see contributions to nonprofits aiming to provide safe drinking water to people in third world countries double because the impact of their efforts are the lead stories on the nightly news. We might find ourselves led to do more in our own community because we were inspired by the story of an ordinary person like us who did so.
Thinking about this lately may be one reason why I'm enjoying two byutv original productions so much.
The Fixers sends a team of experienced builders around the world, giving them ten weeks to work with local communities to complete ten life-changing projects for people in need. So far I've watched them provide everything from a long-term source of clean water to a rural village in Nicaragua, to a new facility for an organization which trains rescue dogs to be companions for veterans with PTSD.
Making Good host Kirby Heyborne travels across the U.S., working side-by-side with founders of charities and nonprofits who are touching lives all across the country. So far I've learned about a former corrections officer who found a way to help young people break the cycle of incarceration, poverty and recidivism through establishing a youth-run supper club in San Francisco. I've also learned how volunteers from competition BBQ teams (I didn't even know there was such a thing as a competition BBQ team!) provided over 120,000 meals over 13 days to Joplin, Missouri tornado victims in 2011. Their efforts gave birth to Operation BBQ Relief, an organization which provides hot meals to victims of natural disasters throughout the U.S.
So if you're ready for a reminder that there are lots of good people doing lots of good all over the world, check out an episode or two of these shows. Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired to engage in some copycat kindness of your own!