Whatever It Takes
Yesterday, I was stuck on an airplane for most of the day. As I got ready for my trip, still intent on winning America’s Giving competition and half delirious with lack of sleep in my attempts to do just that, I imagined what amazing things could happen if all the people on a single plane collaborated to commit a single act of kindness.
So I decided to conduct a little social experiment, let’s call it the “Friendly Skies Experiment,” to find out how many people I could get on an airplane to do a random act of kindness for a stranger - in this case, the act being to make a $10 donation to Epic Change toward the rebuilding of Shepherds Junior school.
My game plan was simple: go up to each passenger who wasn’t otherwise occupied, ask them if they wanted to participate in my experiment and give them the following information card:

So once we hit an altitude of 30,000 feet (and I shook off a bad case of fear), I got up and went to the back of the plane to start my little experiment. I started off well, but let’s just say that the airline didn’t quite approve of my unorthodox approach. A flight attendant took me aside, actually to the flight attendant station and asked me if I was soliciting and if I had permission to do what I was doing. I explained that I wasn’t soliciting, that I was “experimenting,” and speaking only to those passengers who were otherwise unoccupied and who agreed to participate in my experiment. I added my personal philosophy that, in cases like this, “it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.” This particular flight attendant said okay, “experiment away”.
After handing out about 5 of the cards I’d prepared, the purser asked to speak to me, and requested that I conclude my experiment. Another flight attendant present said that my little experiment could qualify as a form of harassment. (Actually, the Ricky Martin sales pitch on the overhead projection system seemed more like solicitation and harassment to me, but I digress . . .) Of course, I immediately complied. I wasn’t trying to create a scene, just to come to a scientific conclusion to what I still think is a fairly interesting question: What if the free time individuals use on a plane twiddling thumbs could be directed toward discussing and taking small steps to address any single issue? The world might just be a lot better place.
So, the “Friendly Skies Experiment” was cut short, although I still wonder what the outcome might have been. I’m actually extremely proud of my fearlessness too; I think I’ve proven once and for all (as if my international Yentl impersonation wasn’t enough), I’ll do whatever it takes to make certain this school gets built.
Yep, anything - go ahead, double dog dare me.
Posted: January 31st, 2008 under The Foundry.
Comments: none



over a little thing like sleep. For those of you who don’t know, or who’ve arrived here because of 
As you can see from some photos, the work is quite encouraging! Special thanks to those who made their donation to Epic Change which made all these possible. While we’re making progress, we still need your support so as to achieve our goal of completing necessary buildings.