Frequently Asked Questions
Shouldn't we all just be as kind as we can every day anyway?
Of course! And in an ideal world, that would be the case. However, the level of impassioned giving and the sense of community felt during things like Batch of Kindness, Boxing Day, Christmas, etc. sadly can't withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. We are human; we have bad days, we grouse at our loved ones, we are curt with the cashier at the grocery store. It's easier to ignore the little annoyances and imperfections of life when we feel a sense of community behind our kindness (it's a holiday, it's the first day of school, it's so-and-so's birthday, etc.). Nobody can be kind, generous, giving and perfect 100% of the time. It's just like when you finally recover after being ill...you think, "I'll never take for granted again the ability to eat/breathe/get up and walk around." And yet, after a few days of feeling back to normal, we do take it for granted. We're human. Nobody can sustain that heightened awareness of gratitude and giving over the long haul. And besides; we love our loved ones every day, but we still are a bit nicer on Mother's Day, wedding anniversaries, Valentine's Day, etc, right? What's wrong with a little extra kindness?
Also, by setting aside one day in which we're all joined together in this worldwide campaign, the hope is that we become more deliberate about these little acts of kindness, and gain an awareness of how our attitudes and actions affect the people we interact with on a daily basis. Batch of Kindness is not about "saving up" all our kindness for one day; it's about performing those everyday acts with intention and awareness, which hopefully helps us become kinder in general.
How do you know people are really from the country they say they are from in their response?
As far as an IP address can verify someone's location, which I realize isn't 100%, you can consider it verified. If someone says they are from Bangladesh but their IP address puts them in Kansas, USA, I won't add Bangladesh to the country list or their flag to the picture. So if you're using a proxy extension that may alter your IP address, you might want to mention that in the comment section of the "Participating this year?" form. Or, if you want to see your country's flag but will actually be participating elsewhere, just let me know! (With that, we've reached the end of my knowledge of the interweb.)
Why do you have [name of place] listed as a country when it's not really a country?
Ultimately, let's remember that this isn't about politics or who does or doesn't want independence from whom; it is about human beings who share an admiration for the same actor, joining together to make the world a little bit friendlier on that actor's birthday. In the end, if someone wants their flag on CroSherlock & John's wall, I don't see that as a hill to die on.
I submitted my response...why aren't I on the map yet?
I manually add each map marker, which takes time. I try to update the map daily, but I do have a full time job, as well as household responsibilities involved with raising four teenagers, so I ask for your patience. If you still don't see your location on the map within a couple of days, feel free to contact me to make sure I received your response.
Who are you, anyway?
My name is Michelle, a 40-something American in middle America, mother of two teenagers and stepmother of two more. (Incidentally, it is the oldest daughter's fault I'm in this fandom. "Just one episode of Sherlock, mom, PLEASE!") I've been a high school teacher, a middle school teacher, a medical receptionist, and a secretary. I have never met Benedict and probably never will, although I did get to see Hamlet on August 5 and 6 on my first (and probably last) trip overseas! (To my everlasting sadness, he wasn't doing stagedoor yet those nights!)
Of course! And in an ideal world, that would be the case. However, the level of impassioned giving and the sense of community felt during things like Batch of Kindness, Boxing Day, Christmas, etc. sadly can't withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. We are human; we have bad days, we grouse at our loved ones, we are curt with the cashier at the grocery store. It's easier to ignore the little annoyances and imperfections of life when we feel a sense of community behind our kindness (it's a holiday, it's the first day of school, it's so-and-so's birthday, etc.). Nobody can be kind, generous, giving and perfect 100% of the time. It's just like when you finally recover after being ill...you think, "I'll never take for granted again the ability to eat/breathe/get up and walk around." And yet, after a few days of feeling back to normal, we do take it for granted. We're human. Nobody can sustain that heightened awareness of gratitude and giving over the long haul. And besides; we love our loved ones every day, but we still are a bit nicer on Mother's Day, wedding anniversaries, Valentine's Day, etc, right? What's wrong with a little extra kindness?
Also, by setting aside one day in which we're all joined together in this worldwide campaign, the hope is that we become more deliberate about these little acts of kindness, and gain an awareness of how our attitudes and actions affect the people we interact with on a daily basis. Batch of Kindness is not about "saving up" all our kindness for one day; it's about performing those everyday acts with intention and awareness, which hopefully helps us become kinder in general.
How do you know people are really from the country they say they are from in their response?
As far as an IP address can verify someone's location, which I realize isn't 100%, you can consider it verified. If someone says they are from Bangladesh but their IP address puts them in Kansas, USA, I won't add Bangladesh to the country list or their flag to the picture. So if you're using a proxy extension that may alter your IP address, you might want to mention that in the comment section of the "Participating this year?" form. Or, if you want to see your country's flag but will actually be participating elsewhere, just let me know! (With that, we've reached the end of my knowledge of the interweb.)
Why do you have [name of place] listed as a country when it's not really a country?
Ultimately, let's remember that this isn't about politics or who does or doesn't want independence from whom; it is about human beings who share an admiration for the same actor, joining together to make the world a little bit friendlier on that actor's birthday. In the end, if someone wants their flag on CroSherlock & John's wall, I don't see that as a hill to die on.
I submitted my response...why aren't I on the map yet?
I manually add each map marker, which takes time. I try to update the map daily, but I do have a full time job, as well as household responsibilities involved with raising four teenagers, so I ask for your patience. If you still don't see your location on the map within a couple of days, feel free to contact me to make sure I received your response.
Who are you, anyway?
My name is Michelle, a 40-something American in middle America, mother of two teenagers and stepmother of two more. (Incidentally, it is the oldest daughter's fault I'm in this fandom. "Just one episode of Sherlock, mom, PLEASE!") I've been a high school teacher, a middle school teacher, a medical receptionist, and a secretary. I have never met Benedict and probably never will, although I did get to see Hamlet on August 5 and 6 on my first (and probably last) trip overseas! (To my everlasting sadness, he wasn't doing stagedoor yet those nights!)