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The Kindness Offensive

Matthew Chatfield
Latest posts by Matthew Chatfield (see all)

Here’s a video that made the Ranger scratch his head. Can kindness actually be offensive? Well, watch this and you’ll see how it almost can!

Obviously this is an ad sponsored by someone-or-other but it’s still interesting to ask yourself if this really is something you’d like to happen to you. The blurb says this:

Normally, little everyday acts of kindness pass with no fanfare. We don’t believe that’s right, so that’s why in August we surprised unsuspecting members of the public who showed a little kindness to strangers. Actors posed as members of public in need of a little help, to see how many people would be kind enough to help. Each person who did was given a huge, over the top kindness’celebration’ and a bottle of champagne to take home. For a few days, those little acts of kindness got the recognition they deserve.

But frankly, if that happened to me after doing some poor dolt a good turn, I’d find that possibly not personally offensive but certainly a bit over the top, as it says, and not really the English way. If you’re doing a favour, it’s a favour, isn’t it? If you expect something back, it’s not a favour. Or is it the end-of-summer feeling making me jaded?

Matthew Chatfield

Uncooperative crusty. Unofficial Isle of Wight cultural ambassador. Conservation, countryside and the environment, with extra stuff about spiders.

6 thoughts on “The Kindness Offensive

  • A friend of mine had this happen to him and he thought it was great. He didn’t realise it was an ad. I like it because it’s so ungreedy, so cheery and positive.

    Reply
  • pearl kenning

    yes , i agree with albert wain there are too many acts of violence these days its great that you are doing acts of kindness instead, who does it hurt,?. i,m all for putting smiles on peoples faces.well done boys.

    Reply
  • Albert Wain

    This is great and anyone who can’t see that is just too jaded to see it. Would those opposed rather see young people stealing stuff from their cars? It was all over the news, in the Sun, and on the BBC, and it was one of the happiest stories of the day. Tell me we don’t all need some good news. Well done, I say well done!

    Reply
  • Ian Smith

    Personally if that happened to me I would love it.

    It funny, thought provoking and a bit zany. It does seem like your a bit jaded at the end of the summer, it is over the top, but that seems to be the point, dude it is pretty funny.

    Reply
  • David Larkin

    That has put me rigth off carrying our any random acts of kindness. It’s going to be hard go against all that boy scout training though!

    Reply
  • Absolute nutters who need to get some productive work.

    Reply

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