hitchhikersguild

[hitchhikersguild]

This is cool:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91218065/inside-ikeas-thoughtfully-designed-tiny-house

[hitchhikersguild]

Hey, all you Hoopy Froods!

Want to put all your research and ideas to use for a good cause?

Check out Welcome.Us and learn how to help new refugees get settled in your area.

You may need to do some fundraising because sponsoring someone costs $3000 (which I know I don't have lying around), but a group of people working together could probably get there.

Plus: you will actually get to help someone get settled in a new place.

[hitchhikersguild]

Happy Towel Day, Everybody!

Introduction

Welcome to the Hitchhikers' Guild! We are a group of nerds who want to make the world a better place and encourage our fellow nerds to do the same.

How can I participate?

There are four levels (currently) of participant: investigator, helper, advocate, and change maker. We'll post more details about each one but, in summary: investigators learn about their community; helpers make themselves available to share this information and help individual people; advocates identify specific problems and work with others to solve them; and change-makers put all of their experience together to create change.

Are you associated with Douglas Adams or the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

No. We are just fans. All art was either created by one of us or by people who released them into the public domain.

We chose the name because, early in our friendship, we bonded by reading the entire Hitchhiker's Guide series out loud to each other. The books are important to us, so the name felt right.

You keep saying "We." How many of you are there?

Three, currently.

Okay, but how are you different from the Nerdfighters or Fandom Forward?

Well, all of us are nerdfighters, so not too different? As for FF, they are an official 501c3. We would like to be, but aren't.

Also, we have a leveled badge system. If FF would like to absorb us, or DFTBA would be willing to start making our pins, we would welcome them. For now, though, we're just us.

Did you say "badges?"

Yes! We are selling badges to allow people to literally wear their intentions on their sleeves (or backpacks, hats, jackets, etc.) We are currently selling them for $2 each in an attempt to cover production and shipping costs.

Unlike other badges, you don't earn them and then get them. You wear them during the work you have chosen to commit to. For example, wear the "investigator" badge while you are gathering information. Add the "helper" badge when you are prepared to help people. Add the "advocate" badge when you picked the issue you want to advocate for. Finally, add the "change-maker" badge to indicate that you are working on your big project. The goal is to make the symbols a recognizable sign, saying "this person can be counted on to help you."

In the future, we may add subject-specific badges.

If you have any questions, ask! There are no bad questions, and you may help someone else in the process. Ask here, or email hitchhikersguild@gmail.com. Thank you! Let's make this a good project.

[hitchhikersguild]

If the link in the bio doesn't work, this is where you can get your buttons. :)

[hitchhikersguild]

Level 4: Change-maker

In this level, you'll take on a problem no one in your community is addressing.

Instructions and rules:

If you are already an experienced helper, volunteer, or service-worker, you can jump right in to this level. If not, we recommend at least completing levels one and three first. Of course, if you want to for any reason, you can go through all levels in order. Do not wear pins (link in bio) for any levels you have not completed (or are not currently working on).

Find an issue not being addressed in your community. Maybe this is one you discovered in levels 1 or 2, or a new project/goal you want to achieve on behalf of an organization you worked for in level 3. As long as you are the developer, taking the lead, it counts.

Develop a plan to solve the problem or address the issue you found.

Attain any and all required permissions (call before you dig, for example).

If you need to raise funds, do so.

Carry out your project. You can work as an individual or a team, recruiting friends and family, or even hiring pros if necessary (please do not do your own electrical work if you are not certified, for example). As long as this is your project, developed by you, and you are doing any work you can do safely and within your own ability level, you're good.

The project can benefit you, but cannot benefit ONLY you. For example, heat-based injuries may be common at your local park. You might choose to build a cooling shelter (a place with shade, moving air, clean running water, and a list of appropriate emergency numbers) there. If you frequent the park, you will benefit from this, but only because you are also a member of the community being served. This project WOULD qualify. Building the same kind of shelter behind a locked fence in your back yard WOULD NOT qualify.

Share your project and tag us. We will repost.

[hitchhikersguild]

Level 3: Advocate

In this level, you will identify a need and work within your community to help.

Instructions and rules:

This level can be taken on at any time, but if you are starting from scratch, you should complete level 1 activities first.

Think about an issue you care about, an issue your community struggles to address, or an issue you find yourself repeatedly dealing with when in "helper" mode. For example: you may have a strong passion for protecting the environment; your community may only have a single, struggling, LGBTQIA+ advocacy group; or children are lost in your local shopping center far more frequently than one might expect.

Advocate for the cause in some way. This could mean volunteering for an organization for at least 6 months; participating (and recruiting your friends) in a big event held by the organization; making videos, websites, or fliers promoting the cause; petitioning government officials (including acts of civil disobedience); bringing local issues to the intention of change-makers; and more.

You can do this for one or more cause, but please know your limits.

Share your efforts here, and tag us. We'll gladly reblog your posts. This way, your advocacy can grow. :)

NOTE: We want people to follow their passions, but if your chosen organization is harmful, and your advocacy is contributing to the harm (as opposed to advocating within the org for change, we do understand nuance), we reserve the right to not repost. We do not support racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, animal cruelty, or hate in general.

[hitchhikersguild]

Level 2: Helper

In this level, you will use the information from the Investigator level to be a helper in your community.

Instructions and rules:

Continue to carry the information you have gathered with you. An informed helper is a good helper.

Wear the helper pin (link in bio) and tell people this signifies your desire and willingness to help in a variety of situations. You do not need to shout this from the rooftops, but simply letting people know you've done the work and are part of an organization can help to back up your trustworthiness.

BE TRUSTWORTHY. Do not use #2 to take advantage of people. One of the reasons we are selling these pins, despite having no interest in profit, is so we know who has one. Do no harm.

Look into official trainings. If you can afford to and haven't yet, take a first-aid/cpr/aed class from the Red Cross or other certified organization. Mental health first aid, pet first aid, and wilderness first aid may also be available in your area.

Do not provide services out of your knowledge or training. Call the appropriate emergency number.

Do not call the police unless absolutely necessary. This is why you have the contact numbers for other emergency and non-emergency services.

If you are helping anyone lost (a lost child, a lost adult, a lost non-human animal) do not move them to a secondary location unless the scene becomes unsafe.

Maintain your own safety while being a helper. Letting one emergency become two is not actually helping. You may wish to travel in pairs or groups while in "helper mode."

Maintain a personal, home, and vehicle first aid kit.

If you have a mobile phone, keep your phone charged at all times. If not, be sure to carry coins for payphones and learn where they are.

Within ability, time, and budget, learn the skills you believe would make you a better helper.

[hitchhikersguild]

Level 1: Investigator

This level forms the basis for all of the work you will do as part of the guild. The goal is to learn as much as possible about your community. How you define "community" is up to you, and can be as small as your neighborhood or as large as the world.

Instructions:

Know the emergency number where you live. The big one. You probably already know this, and may decide to learn the main numbers for other countries or regions. Keep this information on your person. I recommend a small notebook or a phone app, whichever is most accessible to you.

Learn the non-emergency numbers for your local fire department and hospital. Keep this information on your person.

Learn about the social services in your community. Who helps people who are dealing with physical injuries or illness? Mental illness? What resources are available for people whose housing is insecure or nonexistent? How about food insecurity? Who helps with environmental disasters? What resources are available for traditionally underserved communities? Who helps with wild animal encounters? Keep this information on your person.

Learn the emergency procedures for at least three places you go frequently. Where are people to go in a fire? Weather emergency? Active shooter situation? Be sure to ask people who would know, like a store manager or employee, a park ranger, a mall security officer, or a librarian. Keep this information on your person.

Learn about situations or problems unique to your locality. How do people go from place to place, and what can stop people from moving around safely? Is electricity an issue? Are you more likely to encounter a stray dog, a racoon, a coyote, a bear, or a lion? How are these situations dealt with? Are you in or near a war zone? What can people do and what do people need? Keep this information on your person.

The better you understand your community, the more you can help. Wearing the investigator pin (link in bio) can help remind you of your mission, and help others see that you are part of a group.

[hitchhikersguild]

Introduction

Welcome to the Hitchhikers' Guild! We are a group of nerds who want to make the world a better place and encourage our fellow nerds to do the same.

How can I participate?

There are four levels (currently) of participant: investigator, helper, advocate, and change maker. We'll post more details about each one but, in summary: investigators learn about their community; helpers make themselves available to share this information and help individual people; advocates identify specific problems and work with others to solve them; and change-makers put all of their experience together to create change.

Are you associated with Douglas Adams or the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

No. We are just fans. All art was either created by one of us or by people who released them into the public domain.

We chose the name because, early in our friendship, we bonded by reading the entire Hitchhiker's Guide series out loud to each other. The books are important to us, so the name felt right.

You keep saying "We." How many of you are there?

Three, currently.

Okay, but how are you different from the Nerdfighters or Fandom Forward?

Well, all of us are nerdfighters, so not too different? As for FF, they are an official 501c3. We would like to be, but aren't.

Also, we have a leveled badge system. If FF would like to absorb us, or DFTBA would be willing to start making our pins, we would welcome them. For now, though, we're just us.

Did you say "badges?"

Yes! We are selling badges to allow people to literally wear their intentions on their sleeves (or backpacks, hats, jackets, etc.) We are currently selling them for $2 each in an attempt to cover production and shipping costs.

Unlike other badges, you don't earn them and then get them. You wear them during the work you have chosen to commit to. For example, wear the "investigator" badge while you are gathering information. Add the "helper" badge when you are prepared to help people. Add the "advocate" badge when you picked the issue you want to advocate for. Finally, add the "change-maker" badge to indicate that you are working on your big project. The goal is to make the symbols a recognizable sign, saying "this person can be counted on to help you."

In the future, we may add subject-specific badges.

If you have any questions, ask! There are no bad questions, and you may help someone else in the process. Ask here, or email hitchhikersguild@gmail.com. Thank you! Let's make this a good project.