If things get tougher?

oldMcDonald

princesstippytoes wrote: »

What has it got to do with Old Style though?

I think it's a very nice and altruistic idea but far too open to abuse imho.

You are right, it could be easy to abuse, but I think that if one person is helped through a tough time - be that emotionally or financially - then it is worth chancing. I know that when I was going through a tough time in the past, a surprise card from someone I knew via a different forum made a huge difference to me. My child was very ill, my 'friends' had pretty much diserted me and my family have never been very close so support from them was not very forthcoming. To recieve that card made me feel that someone had thought of me, and I still feel emotional now when I remember it.

elona

I can't think of anything more "old style" than thinking of others!

It goes back at least to biblical times- think of the "Good Samaritan!"

:T :T :T :T :A :A :A

Put me down as a mouse too please!

Toonie

I would like to be a mouse too (if its allowed by the forum team). I've been part of things like this before and helped out people with different things. As others have said, sometimes even a card to let someone know they are not alone is quite often what they need and can really brighten their day.

carriebradshaw

ceridwen wrote: »

Two thoughts here:

1. That the mouse idea needs a thread of its own on M.S.E. Old Style - rather than being on an already started-up thread like this one.

2. If the idea of "mice" is not acceptable to M.S.E. because of contact detail concerns - then there is no reason why a "mouse" co-ordinator should not set up a blog specifically for M.S.E. paying it forward. Its easy enough to do. MSE'ers could access the blog by just clicking on the co-ordinator's homepage - and perhaps M.S.E. might "approve" a suitable link in the signature of the co-ordinator to the effect that they have a blog for this.

Blogs are summat one has out "in the wide world" and are nothing to do with M.S.E. and one is free to say what one pleases on there - one of the reasons I have a blog myself is in case M.S.E. deemed a bit of what I say to be "political" rather than moneysaving.

I feel the easiest blogsite to use is the one I use:

http://www.blogger.com/

That is the link for the webpage to start up a blog.

Blogs are done for many reasons - some people use them as a sort of diary/way of keeping in touch with friends; some apparent blogs are commercial firms touting for business; some are more "political"; you name it - theres a variety of reasons and a variety of styles of blog.

If a "mouse co-ordinator" wanted - then I could try and answer any queries about setting up a blog. I'm not the worlds most computer-literate person - to say the least - but I'd have a go at answering queries.

Obviously the normal caveats would apply - that of being careful what private information one gives even on a blog. Obviously blogs have a lot smaller readership than M.S.E. does - not hard - as M.S.E. is massive! but one still has to be aware that "loonies" (as well as us nice normal people) also read blogs (as well as the ones that sometimes read M.S.E. - though thankfully they tend to restrict themselves to the other Boards!).

I think this is a good idea to have it on a blog

or maybe even create a small new forum for it,seperate from mse there are lots of free ones out there

sammyjig

oldMcDonald wrote: »

You are right, it could be easy to abuse, but I think that if one person is helped through a tough time - be that emotionally or financially - then it is worth chancing. I know that when I was going through a tough time in the past, a surprise card from someone I knew via a different forum made a huge difference to me. My child was very ill, my 'friends' had pretty much diserted me and my family have never been very close so support from them was not very forthcoming. To recieve that card made me feel that someone had thought of me, and I still feel emotional now when I remember it.

I have to agree. I think this forum is very good at it too. It's amazing what a kind word or a ((hug)) can do. Imagine a card arriving in the post. It would certainly brighten my day if I was in need.

I suppose everything is open to abuse but don't we have to take a few chances in life?

Aril

I think I'd like to be part of this too please. I think the idea of a blog is a sound one.
Aril

katieowl_2

TBH anyone who is a member of Freecycle is giving out their address via a private e-mail to any other member they choose to, and then EXPECTING a HOME visit...so I don't see a huge amount of difference really. I've done a lot of Freecycling over the past few years, and honestly have only met at the worst very ordinary, or on the whole truly exceptionally lovely people!!!

I'll go with whatever gets organised though. I think the world needs all the nice it can get at the moment.

(But then I'm the 'nutter' that went all the way to a town outside London, to meet a 'complete stranger', and then drove with her, in her car, all the way to Mildenhall to meet with another 'complete stranger' that I'd been chatting to online for four years, and had a whale of a time....)

Regards

Kate
Kate

Softstuff

katieowl wrote: »

(But then I'm the 'nutter' that went all the way to a town outside London, to meet a 'complete stranger', and then drove with her, in her car, all the way to Mildenhall to meet with another 'complete stranger' that I'd been chatting to online for four years, and had a whale of a time....)
Kate

If you think that's bad I met my husband on the internet when I lived in England, and flew all the way to Australia to meet him!!! In any case, we've been married a year and a half now and it was well worth it.

I can't think of anything more old-style than this. Old-style to me is also about being a bit more trusting, a bit more giving and trying to do things for others. A whole lot less of the "entitlement" idea that people are having nowadays.

Anyhoo, off my soapbox, I have a plane to catch in a few hours.
Love to you all! :j

schoolhouse

Hi! Have been reading this thread with great interest and have picked up lots of tips( I'm getting a slow cooker for my birthday-can't stretch to a remoska just yet). I would love to be a mouse too if possible. I think it is a fantastic idea.

My friends and I keep talking about moving closer together but its not feasible(jobs,uni) and the idea of a community of like minded souls is fantastic, be it just on the web.Thank you to all the lovely posters and I hope that you all have a good day.

Tashja

I am still here !!

Just reading and catching up. I also think we should take a chance on this and obviously there should be some "ground rules" to help stop abuse though I don't think we would stop it all.

Will catch up then post again.

Also I am waiting for Martin or the go ahead from the BG's

T xx