Twipple: Twittering with Kindness

As Twitter quickly becomes a household name, some are finding uses for the microblogging tool that go beyond work and play. One of of the most thoughtful we’ve seen is Twipple – twittering + random acts of kindness. As the twitter page explains, “a twipple is a random act of kindness via twitter. We post 1 twipple per 100 sign ups. So please sign up and tell your friends. twipple ideas also welcomed!”

We asked Twipple creator and PSFK friend Floyd Hayes to share a bit more about ‘the twipple effect’.

First: what is twipple?

A twipple is a Tweet combined with random acts of public kindness, Flash Mobs and a dose of silliness. Unlike normal flash mobs, participants perform the action right there and then as opposed to converging in a large group at a specified time and location. Adrants called it a “feel good meme” which I love!

How did twipple start?

I’d been following flash mobs for years and at the same time getting into the concept of ’socially useful marketing’. I’d commented on PSFK a few times asking why flash mobs, although great fun and an interesting modern phenomena, couldn’t be more socially useful.

Which led me to think about random acts of kindness.  This concept has been around since 1982, reportedly coined by peace activist Anne Herbert. So, it occurred to me it may be interesting to revisit the Random Acts idea but through the modern lens of twitter.

The name came from the combination of the word ‘twitter’ and the word ‘ripple’ as in ‘ripple effect.’ I started the project on Feb 1 2009.  Twitter is free and easy and I wanted to learn more about how it worked, how people networked through it, how information flowed, the etiquette and so on.

I had no big goal in mind.  I call these kind of personal experiments ‘Information Toys’ – information-based ideas I can play with and learn from.

In this instance I was taken by the idea of people being inspired through twitter to do socially useful and fun public acts. In my heart of heart I would like thousands of people doing twipples and importantly, putting forward their own twipple suggestions.  I don’t want to be some sort of benign twitter puppet master!  I’d like it to take on a life of is own really.

If anything, I would be happy if it just makes people think for one second about how we behave socially in groups and how this wonderful technology at our disposal can be used for positive purposes beyond marketing or aimless goofiness (although I’m a fan of both of those things too!)

Even the beat of a butterfly wing can cause a hurricane. (Thank you Prof. Edward Lorenz and RIP.)

Obama’s group and their use of Facebook… Movember was pretty special. I also have to give Jake over at Zoomdoggle props for his ‘Love Letter‘ campaign.  I know him well and know this comes from the heart.

The first day I sent this idea out I had zero response. I was pretty upset because I really believed in it. Then a few days later adrants gave it a mention which led to the first 100 people to follow.  A twipple is triggered every time 100 people join, hence there have been 4 twipples so far.

I do each twipple myself and twipple #3 was fun to do: ‘Give a copy of the Onion to the biggest sourpuss you see today!’ I gave it to a really angry looking guy on the subway. He was a big dude and I did think, maybe he’s genuinely upset and wants to be left alone.  I just gave him it and smiled.  He blinked and then a massive grin cracked across his face. It was a brilliant moment. He went from this almost violent looking man to a big kid. The whole thing was worth it just for that!

That aside, I’ve had great support over the past week; people seem to love the idea and I’ve had some fantastic suggestions that will appear as the process moves forward.

A fantastic suggestion Christine, thanks!

I was a little concerned that it may not work. Flash mobs are effective because they are all in one location and present a good picture for the media. A twipple is time based but not location based so we miss that tasty photo op. I’d love to set up a website of people’s experience and pictures/movies but I have so much on my plate it will be hard to do right now. If anyone wants to help or get involved I’d love to hear from them. [You can see a pic of followers performing twipple #4: "Give someone a big, heartfelt kiss" below.]

Thanks, Floyd!

Follow twipple on twitter here.