# Low effort ways to improve things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751 "2013-01-29T23:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/1 "2013-01-29T23:14:38Z")
Please share some tips of low effort ways to improve the world. My “tip” - and it is really just common sense - is to be extra nice to people, to compliment them when they barely deserve it, and to touch anyone who isn’t overly gruff on their upper arm, when appropriate. Not very unusual there in concept but you’d be surprised how happy it seems to make people. There was a fun book that came out a few years ago by a guy called Danny Wallace, the basic idea was he formed a pseudo-cult entitled “Join Me” (and I skimming over a lot of the details, it’s a very funny book and recommended). Anyway part of it was performing a random act of kindness every day, sometimes extreme. How do you make the world a better place? Note that charitable donations, voluntary work, and heck, work probably don’t count because they are usually high effort… ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/2 "2013-01-29T23:36:06Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > Please share some tips of low effort ways to improve the world. > > My “tip” - and it is really just common sense - is to be extra nice to people, to compliment them when they barely deserve it, and to touch anyone who isn’t overly gruff on their upper arm, when appropriate. > > Not very unusual there in concept but you’d be surprised how happy it seems to make people. > > There was a fun book that came out a few years ago by a guy called Danny Wallace, the basic idea was he formed a pseudo-cult entitled “Join Me” (and I skimming over a lot of the details, it’s a very funny book and recommended). Anyway part of it was performing a random act of kindness every day, sometimes extreme. > > How do you make the world a better place? Note that charitable donations, voluntary work, and heck, work probably don’t count because they are usually high effort… Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/3 "2013-01-29T23:40:28Z")
Get more sleep. Recycle. Buy local, if possible. Buy your own ingredients, cook your own food. Exercise. Find some time each day to do something fun, just for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/4 "2013-01-29T23:55:54Z")
Take your grocery cart back to where the fuck it belongs. While you’re at it, offer to take the empty cart back from the lady who’s trying to strap her kid into the car seat. Hold the door open. Say thank you to the person at work who empties your garbage can and cleans your office. Say a few words to clerks who are ringing in your purchases; they’re doing a repetitive job and appreciate the friendship. Let people merge if they’re coming onto the highway. We are all obligated to share the road. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/5 "2013-01-30T01:09:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Get more sleep. This was my first thought. If everyone got enough sleep, the world would be a much nicer place. Give precedence to the world around you over your electronic device. If you are in a busy or crowded place, or on the sidewalk, step aside before you stop to consult your device. Do not stop in the middle of the street, at the top or bottom of the stairs or escalator, or in a doorway to use your device. Do not pay more attention to your device than to the person with whom you are conversing. And it should go without saying, do not use your device while driving, in a movie theater, or at a show or concert. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/6 "2013-01-30T01:16:13Z")
When I lived in the land of the free, at 12:01 Greenwich time on January 1st, people all around the world got together for a peace consciousness. The idea was if enough people were thinking peace at the same moment it might happen. I am sure this is still done every year. Here in the jungle it doesn’t get much press. I had forgot about this event. I used to attend every year. Next year I will organize something here in the jungle. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/7 "2013-01-30T01:48:13Z")
1. I really don’t think it’s good advice to touch strangers. Unless we’re boyfriend and girlfriend (or family), you’re going to end up getting punched. 2. Shower every day. 3. Call your mom today. 4. Never, ever text and drive. Tell your friends to stop texting while driving. If someone calls you while driving (and it isn’t an emergency), tell them to hang up and call back when they’re not driving. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/8 "2013-01-30T01:48:29Z")
Leave change on the ground for hobos to scoop them up. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/9 "2013-01-30T01:51:10Z")
Don’t hock loogies on sidewalks (or anywhere else in public for that matter). ETA: I just had to say something here about the “touching a person on the upper arm” thing. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/10 "2013-01-30T03:19:31Z")
Mind your own beeswax. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/11 "2013-01-30T03:26:30Z")
Don’t hock loogies onto the loose change that was dropped for hobos. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/12 "2013-01-30T03:44:45Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > When I lived in the land of the free, at 12:01 Greenwich time on January 1st, people all around the world got together for a peace consciousness. The idea was if enough people were thinking peace at the same moment it might happen. I am sure this is still done every year. Here in the jungle it doesn’t get much press. I had forgot about this event. I used to attend every year. Next year I will organize something here in the jungle. If that could ever actually happen for every single person in the world then it would work, wouldn’t it? It’s very interesting when you think about things like that. A reasoanbly simple proposal when you look at the \*\*ENORMOUS \*\*benefits. Then again I think back to the football played amongst the trenches in Xmas 1914 and maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/13 "2013-01-30T03:47:41Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > 1. I really don’t think it’s good advice to touch strangers. Unless we’re boyfriend and girlfriend (or family), you’re going to end up getting punched.. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > ETA: I just had to say something here about the “touching a person on the upper arm” thing. WTF? It’s no big deal, you just have to be not compeltely socially inept. I am quite socially inept but not enough I would touch someone who would be uncomfortable with this and also 65% of the time when I am touching someone they are a woman because men are less touchy and also more in tune with my boorishness (which negates the need for the “softly softly” approach). Over all it is a great thing to do if you are reasonably sensible. People like it for connection purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/14 "2013-01-30T03:50:19Z")
Only in my nightmares would I intentionally touch a female co-worker, outside of an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/15 "2013-01-30T03:50:48Z")
Avoid drinking or serving beer directly from the can/bottle/tap. Nice, appropriate glassware adds so much. Even at the drive-in. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/16 "2013-01-30T03:51:53Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > It’s no big deal, you just have to be not compeltely socially inept. I am quite socially inept but not enough I would touch someone who would be uncomfortable with this and also 65% of the time when I am touching someone they are a woman because men are less touchy and also more in tune with my boorishness (which negates the need for the “softly softly” approach). Over all it is a great thing to do if you are reasonably sensible. People like it for connection purposes. Keep it in your pants, though. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/17 "2013-01-30T03:53:13Z")
let it all hang out ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/18 "2013-01-30T03:54:31Z")
I shouldn’t have made the above (#17) post. It wasn’t serious. Please be serious 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drew870mitchell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drew870mitchell/32/3946_2.png) [@drew870mitchell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drew870mitchell)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/19 "2013-01-30T03:55:18Z")
Everybody is the Player Character of their own life. Whenever you do anything with anybody put yourself in their shoes. Arguably low effort since it just involves thinking and practice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751/20 "2013-01-30T03:56:16Z")
Sorry. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-effort-ways-to-improve-things/648751.md?page=2)