[HJCotW Spacemonkey]

Since we seem to have a lot of new people finding the forum at the mo, I thought I'd start a few little threads with RAoK ideas for different price ranges. So leave your favourites here!

How about...

Leaving a bar of chocolate or some money in a vending machine?
Since you're not allowed to pay for people's parking, why not sellotape money to a meter for the next person that comes along?
Say 'Bless you' to strangers.

Over to you!

This post has been edited by Spaca Northern Monkey: 10 August 2007 - 01:41 PM

[joinee coolio]

Tuck a £1 book token into a book in a bookshop (my favourites are The Book, and self-help titles)
Leave 50p in a phone box for someone in an emergency
Chat to an old lady/gentleman on a bus/ train/ anywhere you wait. They always seem to appreciate it!
Take time to listen to someone.
Take time to thank someone, even if they are 'just doing their job'

[DG Joinee NEMESIS]

Spaca Northern Monkey, on 10 Aug 2007, 12:57 PM, said:

Since you're not allowed to pay for people's parking?

why not?

[Captain K]

Joinee'The Daddy', on 10 Aug 2007, 01:31 PM, said:

why not?

Perhaps in the sense that you're not allowed to "feed the meter", i.e. come back later and top up how much you've paid. If a warden has already clocked the car at a certain time remaining, they'll ignore any topped up amount that appears when they come back to check it's gone.

[HJCotW Spacemonkey]

Thanks for the pinnage... Kieran? I'm assuming? As you're the one loitering in here!

Hopefully these can be become 'invaluable resources' or something

[GJ Dandy David]

Quote

Take time to thank someone, even if they are ''just doing their job''

Because people generally don't, and they really do appreciate it.

Quote

they'll ignore any topped up amount that appears when they come back to check it's gone.

What if you're shopping, but the meter is running out and you're not finished?
Can you go back and buy a new ticket then?

This post has been edited by Joinee David: 10 August 2007 - 01:24 PM

[Gold Joinee Twinkle]

I hope so! Good idea.

But in which case can you please, pretty please, remove the extraneous apostrophes? 'Cos that's so going to do my head in!*

Sam
xxxx




* not that you probably are bothered that it will - but hey it's worth a try!

[PJ Hannah B-R]

Today I have helped an old woman up some steps with her shopping trolley, helped an old guy off the bus and held two doors open for women with pushchairs.

and yes they ARE all things we should do without thinking, but it doesn't hurt to think about doing them too

[Captain K]

Joinee David, on 10 Aug 2007, 01:45 PM, said:

What if you're shopping, but the meter is running out and you're not finished?
Can you go back and buy a new ticket then?

You need to always check the small print on the meter, but traditionally, no you can't.

Sometimes this applies to free spaces too. You need to always check the signs at the edge of the relevant yellow line or row of white boxes. It will often say something like "X hours; no return within Y hours."

A different way of doing this RAoK is to leave the money you'd like to RAoK with in the change drawer. Somebody will find it and use it. Or if they feel guilty, maybe they'll put it in a charity box.

[GJ Dandy David]

Quote

Or if they feel guilty, maybe they'll put it in a charity box.

I always worry with a money RAoK that a morally perfect person will come along and not use it, (Edit) thus, they haven't been RAoKed.

However, if they give it to charity, great!

I might start those again now!

This post has been edited by Joinee David: 10 August 2007 - 01:41 PM

[Pud]

Yesterday me and Amanda bought a £2.99 bunch of flowers and gave it to an old lady. She seemed delighted and said it had made her day.

[KatBod]

SJ Drunken Pud, on 10 Aug 2007, 02:48 PM, said:

Yesterday me and Amanda bought a £2.99 bunch of flowers and gave it to an old lady. She seemed delighted and said it had made her day.

Ooooh I like that one! That's lovely!

[Gold Joinee Torty]

In the spring, in daffodil season, you know when they are selling a bunch for a pound, leave daffodils on doorsteps and car windows.

Pick up litter!

This post has been edited by Joinee Torty: 10 August 2007 - 04:18 PM

[Gold Joinee Twinkle]

Seán I love you more than ever! Thank you very very much

How about paying for an extra coffee (or whatever) when you're in a Café for the next person in line or at the server's discretion?

This post has been edited by Silver Joinee Twinkle: 11 August 2007 - 11:52 AM

[Siobhán]

Silver Joinee Twinkle, on 11 Aug 2007, 12:52 PM, said:

Seán I love you more than ever! Thank you very very much

How about paying for an extra coffee (or whatever) when you're in a Café for the next person in line or at the server's discretion?

That one goes down really well but can sometimes cost more then £5 if they have already ordered a very expensive coffee as I found out once in New York - made the guy's day though. He was very excited.

There are also all the less random things to do as well, I guess like ou building gets post for next door so I always post it to them so they don't have to come round. Or making colleagues at work tea when they look really stressed, or giving up your seat, all the things that present themselves to you as being ace things to do as mentioned above - not random as such but lovely. Remembering to do them is ace, beaming at other people when they get there first is ace too, it shows more people appreciate what they do I guess.

[Au Joinee Rory]

As HBR said, a lot of the free raoks are things we should be doing anyway. My daily one is to always make sure that the new people in work aren't left out of anything—always go and say hello to them in the morning, make sure they're invited to lunch, etc.

One that I've seen done, but never had the cojones to do myself is, "Hi, I just had to come over and tell you that you're super cute. [big smile] Well, have a nice day." Note that this ceases to be a raok if you go on to get the person's number.

A less terrifying prospect than the previous one, but similar: tell a stranger you like their shoes.

Whenever I stop to watch a street performer I follow two simple rules: 1) It's not free, it's just the honour system. If you stop to watch, you pay. 2) If it's worth some of your money, it's certainly worth taking a second to tell the person that you enjoyed their performance and to shake their hand.

Expanding on thanking people who are "just doing their job", I think it's important to make a particular effort to interact with anyone in a service role in a proper human way. It's unfortunately very easy to treat a person like a robot, especially shopkeepers and bus drivers. Some people even manage to work in the "thank you" in a robotic way. Don't do that. Say hello, chat to them, look the in the eyes and smile when saying thank you instead of mumbling it as you fiddle with your change.

[Siobhán]

Joinee Rory, on 11 Aug 2007, 02:03 PM, said:

As HBR said, a lot of the free raoks are things we should be doing anyway. My daily one is to always make sure that the new people in work aren't left out of anything—always go and say hello to them in the morning, make sure they're invited to lunch, etc.

One that I've seen done, but never had the cojones to do myself is, "Hi, I just had to come over and tell you that you're super cute. [big smile] Well, have a nice day." Note that this ceases to be a raok if you go on to get the person's number.

A less terrifying prospect than the previous one, but similar: tell a stranger you like their shoes.

Expanding on thanking people who are "just doing their job", I think it's important to make a particular effort to interact with anyone in a service role in a proper human way. It's unfortunately very easy to treat a person like a robot, especially shopkeepers and bus drivers. Some people even manage to work in the "thank you" in a robotic way. Don't do that. Say hello, chat to them, look the in the eyes and smile when saying thank you instead of mumbling it as you fiddle with your change.

*nods*

I have a principle, if you ahve nothing nice to say keep it to yoursel, if you have soething nice to say - tell someone. If they have great shoes ir a fantastic outfit (or as someone once did for me, are carrying a rather nice bunch of flowers) tell them. It is lovely.

Oh and I agree wholeheartedly with all everyone has said about customer service staff and the like.

Daily RAoKs you can do are the best.

[PJ Hannah B-R]

I received incredibly good service from HSBC call centre last night. So when I had to go into the bank today I checked with someone to see if everything is logged, and she said it was, so I asked if I could register my satisfaction with that person and would she get the feedback. And she would. So I did. The woman at the bank said they hardly ever get the good feedback, just the negative stuff, and she was sure it would make her day. I could easily have not bothered but I'm glad I did

[PJ Wopunga (GA)]

SJ Drunken Pud, on 10 Aug 2007, 02:48 PM, said:

Yesterday me and Amanda bought a £2.99 bunch of flowers and gave it to an old lady. She seemed delighted and said it had made her day.

I did that for my mum when we had an argument. I went and bought her a little bunch of flowers so say sorry and she appreciated it. But then she paid for my tickets to go see my friend in peterborough (ok, only £16) so i'm not sure if it was a RAoK now

[DJ Darren (Ducktastic)]

This once can fit in all categories, depending on how much you want to spend:

Go to one of the charity sites like Just Giving

Search on a random name or pick a charity

Find someone's page

Add a donation and a good luck message

This one is a double RaOK - to the person doing the fundraising and the charity that benefits

[GJ Dandy David]

Quote

I did that for my mum when we had an argument. I went and bought her a little bunch of flowers so say sorry and she appreciated it. But then she paid for my tickets to go see my friend in peterborough (ok, only £16) so i'm not sure if it was a RAoK now

It was.
You just got RAoKed back.

[Au Joinee Rory]

Find a new or unknown blog and post an encouraging comment. Here's a link to find a random blog.

[JoineeJack]

How about writing letters campaigning for human rights in other countries? Its free and doesn't take much time.
www.amnesty.org gives info on current issues and who to write to.
Also I'd like to write to children who are ill in hospital - I'm sure there is a website (in fact I probably saw it here first) but does anyone know what it is?? x

[Silver SV Joinee Jo]

I always like buying 10p sweet mix-ups and giving them to bank tellers. They always look so bored - then so cheery post sweeties!

[MikeFishcake]

Souper Joinee Jo, on 16 Sep 2007, 01:32 PM, said:

I always like buying 10p sweet mix-ups and giving them to bank tellers. They always look so bored - then so cheery post sweeties!

That's a greeeeat idea :DI always like to make an effort to fill in comment forms positively if I've had great service, praising the staff

[Django the Hat]

A Dutch artist - forgot her name- once taped boxes to walls in.. i think it was Amsterdam... no matter)
anyway, the point is on the boxes was written "If you're rich, put some money in the box, if you're poor, take some out..."
i dunno if it ever worked, but i found the idea of a very touching naive...

[Joinee Mum White]

I came across this today. it really is easy, and FREE! Do it now! (and tomorrow, and the next day ....... )


A favour to ask, it only takes a minute....

Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com

happy clicking, Mum White.

This post has been edited by Joinee Mum White: 22 September 2007 - 11:13 PM

[PJ Hannah B-R]

That is a marvellous one...didn't we used to have a page of clickies somewhere? I thnk Jase set it up, just loads of pages where you can click for free stuff.

[Joinee Mum White]

GJ HBR, on 23 Sep 2007, 12:00 PM, said:

That is a marvellous one...didn't we used to have a page of clickies somewhere? I thnk Jase set it up, just loads of pages where you can click for free stuff.

I think there may have been. At one time the lovely Miss Bing used to keep us well supplied with free clicky things too. Mum White.

[DaniC]

My personal picture is a note that someone found in a book, and sent to foundmagazine.com. It makes me smile everytime I look at it, and it's a pretty good, no cost RAOK.

[joinee lamppost]

im guving glow sticks a way at gigs
only cost a pound and the greatly named pound land for 25 of the little things
but we all love glow sticks dont we

[Joinee Moles]

JoineeJack, on 12 Sep 2007, 03:04 PM, said:

Also I'd like to write to children who are ill in hospital - I'm sure there is a website (in fact I probably saw it here first) but does anyone know what it is?? x

Hi Jack, here's the link to the site with more info on to do that: http://www.postpals.co.uk/

[Wengle]

I'm not new either. I was here a long time ago, just could never be arsed to be on the forum.
You'll be pleased to here that for 36 weeks this year, I've gone on ROAK rampages. I give free chocolate to strangers on fridays with my lunch money. =D

[DJ Darren (Ducktastic)]

Aww that's nice!

[Joinee Michael]

Saying happy birthday to someone...and not mentioning that it's yours aswell.

[Metal Joinee Hobo]

Joinee David, on 10 Aug 2007, 01:39 PM, said:

I always worry with a money RAoK that a morally perfect person will come along and not use it, (Edit) thus, they haven't been RAoKed.

However, if they give it to charity, great!

I might start those again now!

Good point.

I saw a twenty pence piece on the floor and, resisting the temptation to pick it up, just left it there.

Ooh! I got one. If you see some money on the ground, don't pick it up for yourself, let the next person who sees it keep it. That's pretty random to me.

Obviously if it's notes and the like, they might need to be handed in somewhere... in which case, you can't trust the next person who comes along.

[Thorners (a.k.a. Claire)]

I love giving compliments, so that part is fun .

Thanks for the link to the PostPals site...I feel a project coming on...

[Joinee AndyKinsey]

xmas card to the postie man

[Chairman 'Jamin]

This one takes a little bit of guts.

It's called reverse pick pocketing, and if you get caught doing it, will likley get you thumped.

Take some nice items (sweets, a card telling somone they're great, or that your mate fancies them), and put it in somones pocket. they'll find it a bit olater and it's dead nice.

[Joinee Mum White]

Joinee Claire, on 5 Dec 2007, 10:46 AM, said:

Thanks for the link to the PostPals site...I feel a project coming on...

I did my post pals parcels on Friday It was lots of fun shopping for little ones again! made me very smiley! Mum White.

[Thorners (a.k.a. Claire)]

Oh good for you, Mum White! You are such a star! I'm in the process of writing cute cards to two wee ones - as fun for me as for them, no doubt!

[Joinee Rebekah]

Here's a good free one, if nobody's mentioned it yet...
There's a website called freerice.com and all you have to do is answer vocabulary questions, and for every one you get right, they donate 20 grains of rice to end world hunger. It automatically adjusts to your vocab level so it's not too hard, and it's a really fun way to improve your vocabulary, all while helping someone to eat. Plus, it's completely free for you.

[Joinee AndyKinsey]

visit www.justgiving.com/andy and raise money for his latest charity (1p would help...dont know if you can claim tax back on that though haha)

[Joinee Davy]

Free Hugs.
I do this quite a bit in York, it always makes people smile!

[Joinee Kebab]

JoineeJack, on 12 Sep 2007, 03:04 PM, said:

How about writing letters campaigning for human rights in other countries? Its free and doesn't take much time.
www.amnesty.org gives info on current issues and who to write to.
Also I'd like to write to children who are ill in hospital - I'm sure there is a website (in fact I probably saw it here first) but does anyone know what it is?? x

you can also write to British Servicemen: link here.

My mum used to visit people held in detention and awaiting a ruling on whether they could claim asylum, at Gatwick airport. Doing something as a volunteer doesn't have to take over your entire life - and is also a good way of meeting likeminded people; one of my friends met his wife as they were both Samaritans.

[GJ Michelle P]

Help end hunger by donating rice through The United Nations World Food Program.
Go to FreeRice and play the vocabulary game. For each correct answer, rice is donated to the program.
I might be a bit of a geek, but I'm obsessed with this.

[DanBrown]

How about leave a book you've already finished reading on a train or in another public place? You could write a nice little note inside the cover too

[Hernaic Tom]

Find one of those "justgiving" sites on the internet at random, and donate a fiver!!

[Joinee Meek]

Cleaning two sink fulls of dishes for your flatmates when only about three of them were mine...

I don't like living in a mess!

[PJ Wopunga (GA)]

^^ I did that! Means I don't have to wash up for a week now

On topic: say bless you to a stranger if they sneeze