Here’s the current Community Values so we can have the in this thread rather than switching back and forth to discuss them:
1. Welcoming
Our community is based upon an open environment of connection and positivity . All causes and opinions are valid and respected as people agree to put aside their affiliations for a while, allowing us to be open to everyone in our community, as a human, apart from our passionately held points of view which so often divide us
By focusing on what connects us instead of what divides us , we create a safe space where we teach the important skill of learning how to come together, as humans, around a project or activity which benefits the local communities we live in
2. An Open Human Space
Leave all political leanings, religions and spiritual beliefs at the door. Our positive action based community is open to everyone, simply as human-beings together . Everyone at a gathering may agree that the Flying-Spaghetti Monster is the way forwards, while those passing-by may be strictly Dudeists and not feel welcomed to join. It is an intensely liberating experience to just see, and be seen as a human exploring the many paths in life, just as everyone else is
Projects focusing on issues may appear to side with one political leaning or another, but our sole focus is on the root issue causing harm in society , and not on political bickering
3. Evidence Based
Every activity and action is based on peer reviewed scientific studies. Action must be anchored to humanity’s best current understanding of reality to ensure that energies are focused on making legitimate change in the world as effectively as possible. This differentiates the Public Happiness Movement from a hippie revival, or new age spiritualist/religious community
As a side benefit this teaches people to critically examine today’s flood of social media pushed anti-intellectualism, helping to act efficiently in life, and in supporting their local community
4. People and Innovative Technology Grounded
The Public Happiness Movement is grounded in technological innovation, and exploring their use to coordinate locally, while sharing the most effective ideas for creating positive societal change globally. Innovative technology should be harnessed to empower people and communities , giving everyone the tools to transform the world around them into a friendlier, safer, and happier place to live our lives in
5. Comfortable
Activities should be comfortable for anyone to attend. This means striking a balance between what is considered local cultural norms for children, while pushing society towards greater acceptance of each other. As a rule of thumb our mantra is ‘your rights end where someone else’s begin’. So a Tantra, nudism, or bdsm group doing a free hug event advertising their group name or ideologies, would be inappropriate through association. Their members would all be welcome without discussing the group/lifestyle where young people can hear it.
6. Encouraging
We are all on a journey of exploration and we support and encourage all of our fellow adventurers . Some may not get it right away, so please guide their ideas and suggestions to fit with these Community Values, using plenty of positive encouragement
7. Smiling
You’ve found a home for your lovely smile , positivity and enthusiasm. Please bring it along to our activities and projects, especially those targeting serious issues. All smiles are beautiful! Please share yours with the world, and with each other
8. Sharing
Our community is about sharing – sharing ideas, experiences, success stories, talents and smiles!
As a world-wide network – our whole is so vastly greater than the sum of our parts. When we come together with a shared vision, and an organised plan of the steps needed to achieve it, we as a collective of individuals, are powerful beyond imagination!
9. Empowering
Our community is focused on providing you with the tools and support needed to create change on social issues you care about through uniting with other positive and proactive people nearby and using the most effective ideas collected worldwide from our community.
Consider the issue of involuntary homelessness, where endless money has been given to charities around the world, and yet most countries are no closer to ending homelessness than they were in the 60’s. If people in a town simply came together around effective ideas and a determination to resolve the issue ourselves, it would be gone forever in no time
10. Rippling
How can helping a few homeless folk feel less isolated in a small town in Hungary, or creating greater connection between folk in a community in Dorset, really change the wider world in any way?
The activities and projects you create locally through our platform may seem small when we talk about making an impact on a global scale. Your energy and positivity is an essential part of growing an interconnected community of people , all exploring positive new ways to affect issues troubling their local community.
By sharing our small successes, each successful activity can be recreated thousands and thousands of times by other community members across the globe, and together those ripples combine into an unstoppable wave of positive action that can have a real impact for positive societal change, globally!
11. Locally Lead
Our main mission is to empower individuals and communities to create positive change themselves. While many of our projects and activities occur on a global scale, they are always implemented by local people who understand cultural differences where they live, and will be there to keep the ball rolling afterwards.
One caveat is that some members use our platform to pimp their travelling experience , as the most positive and amazing people are also the local people wanting to be contacted to meet (‘gather’) and take positive action to the streets where they live. Local people using our platform are still central even when initiated by a member who is travelling, so using the platform while travelling fits with this value.
12. Snowballing
All of your positive actions on our platform help spread awareness of the Public Happiness Movement. Reaching more people who want to live in a happier world with our message that it is possible, and they have the power to build it, today!
As more people are drawn into our mission, the effects of your actions that reached them are magnified far beyond what you can see. Each new member who joins in adds more positive energy as our Movement grows into an unquenchable force of change for a friendlier, happier world – at peace with each other, for all of humanity to enjoy!!
13. Slow and Engaging
Social Media has trained humanity to have ever shorter attention spans, because the faster you click around their platforms, the more adverts you see and the more advertising money they earn. This has harmed societies ability to come together and find solutions to the issues around us. Our design philosophy is to slow down and join in with whats going on . In an age where everyone has been trained to click and move on, this might be quite jarring to some. We are happy to have less users if that means an active community collaborating and creating change together. We value a high quality community over a high quantity community.
14. Everyone’s Rights Stop where Someone Else’s Start
As a rule of thumb, your rights stop where someone else’s start . Rights are respected if the are not doing harm to others, communities, or the planet . As an example, someone can claim they have a right to throw litter out their car window, but we don’t respect that right as it is damaging to the environment and others rights to enjoy a trash free nature.
