The Missed Connections section on Craigslist never fails to fascinate, entertain, or amaze (let’s just say some lack, um, subtlety). For the uninitiated, Missed Connections is a portion of Craigslist where people post messages to memorable strangers they have no other way of getting in contact with.These Missed Connections are especially fun when they hit close to home, so to speak, and you realize they’re happening in places you recognize and even frequent. Suddenly, there’s the chance that someone has taken notice of you. A friend and frequent browser of the MC section was completing her usual morning Coffee Bean run when she spilled her entire soy latte all over the coffee bar. Tiny but full of fury, this friend unleashed a few expletives. She drew enough attention to find a reference to herself on the LA Missed Connections page that afternoon: “M4W: You are a small, angry, brunette…”For some, these little notes conjure more than just images of familiar haunts. Check out the artist Sophie Blackall’s lovely illustrations, inspired by some of her favorite Missed Connections posts.We here at AOK often refer back to this idea of “missed connections,” not only because the AOK concept involves reaching out in small ways to people you don’t know, but also because we want to turn those missed connections into made connections. When a moment to help someone out presents itself, even if its just offering a few pleasant words, that AOK encouragement enters your mind. The AOK community will be there to celebrate you when you succeed, and it will be there to encourage you when you fail. Because there’s always more chances to connect.
2 April, 2011
Missed Connections
Written By: AOKate27 March, 2011
An AOK, Foiled by City of LA
Written By: AOKate
From AOK team member Lynn, an attempted AOK (Editorial Note: Inspired by this act of leaving extra time in the meter for the next person, I added an hour to my meter on San Vicente before I drove off. AOK relay?)I pull up to the parking meter, and with kindness overflowing, I don’t just take a nickel out to put in the meter while I run for coffee, I take a WHOLE QUARTER!!! I snap a picture, to document my overwhelmingly kind act, and lo and behold, the damn meter is BROKEN. Mission NOT accomplished, this was an AOK No-Go.
5 March, 2011
7-inch Chasm
Written By: AOKateA change of heart, brought to us by AOK team members Matt and Nathan:On Thursday, Nathan and I were strolling down the main drag in Mountain View (CA), heading to catch the train. Ahead, an elderly woman approached the curb with an apprehensive shuffle and, at its edge, stared down with concern. With her not-what-it-used-to-be body, the 7 inch drop might as well have been a chasm.Being an avid AOKer, I did what came naturally: I walked right past her.Three steps beyond, I turned around. Perhaps motivated by guilt or the recollection of my grandmother or a sudden spark of mindfulness, I walked back and did what I knew was the right thing (albeit five seconds late).”May I give you my arm?” I asked, minus a top hat.”Oh yes, thank you,” she accepted, “I had no idea how I was going to get down that.” She stepped downward and shuffled toward the open passenger door of a nearby parked car.A few steps beyond, I turned to Nathan and announced without a hint of irony: “now that was an act of kindness!”
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