The setting: New York City, sometime in 2011. An angry koszilla stalks an anxious city in search of dicks prey. A nervous population tentatively wonders, Is it safe to speak? What will halt his capricious rampage? And then, seemingly out of nowhere....it appears. In Union Square. A simple unoccupied lectern. A megaphone. And a single Commandment, engraved not on stone but onto a simple plaque: Say Something Nice.
Would New Yorkers know what to do with such a thing? Would you? Observe their reactions beneath the gnocci-cheeto-doodle, as we enter...... The Nice Zone.
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For those who can't view the video, a lectern with an attached megaphone is wheeled into Union Square by official looking men in orange vests and then left unattended. A plaque invites people to Say Something Nice.
At first people are tentative, saying things like “Have a nice day!” and “I love New York!” A woman singles out a stranger-- “You with the umbrella-- I really like it-- it's pretty!” while umbrella girl takes a bow. Four women sing A Capella.
Most improbably, a toddler, held up by his mom, lisps out “To infinity and beyond!”
I will admit my first impulse upon encountering such a thing: I would walk demurely up to it, put on my best lilting Roma Downey Irish accent and proclaim, “God loves you!” The passerby would think I'm actually being nice; any accompanying friends and family would instantly recognize my smarmy sucking up.
What would you say to your fellow citizens armed with a lectern, a megaphone, and one simple suggestion?
Meanwhile, We Gotcher Top Comments Right Here!
Apparently duck-and-cover drills were in full effect today, as there were only a few comments in the mailbag:
From Dragon5616:
navajo was indisposed today so bubbanomics stepped up to supply this image of the new kos in JanF's J-Town: Got Post?
from jlms qkw:
In which we are reminded that Community Spotlight is run by the Rescue Rangers.
and from yours truly,
smileycreek:
In fitting with tonight's theme, and an overall shift in tone on the site, I am including this lovely apology and its gracious acceptance. Read and learn!
It isn't so much the content of the comment that made me happy but the fact that not only did Elizabeth Warren post here, it was not a hit-and-run piece looking for support as so many high-profile people tend to write; she also commented in it. Welcome, Elizabeth!
And Now, a Little Top Mojo!
1) Here's my concern... by Bob Johnson — 181
2) Blocking Obama agenda by Magnifico — 148
3) I haven't had a permanent job... by Mets102 — 147
4) A misread by the law professor President as well. by trinityfly — 143
5) suckup by Lisa Lockwood — 138
6) Thank you. And love the new layout! by UnaSpenser — 133
7) Every time the teacher said "You know who you are" by crystal eyes — 133
8) Over three years for me... by One Pissed Off Liberal — 113
9) Damn, my evil alliance was this close to winning by MinistryOfTruth — 108
10) btw by lunachickie — 107
11) So if the original $780 billion stimulus by Dallasdoc — 106
12) Oh NO! by edwardssl — 105
13) He is a treasure but, his work is ugly by happenstance — 103
14) I feel your pain by lunachickie — 99
15) I'm sooo there with ya Corwin. I'm over 40 by nchristine — 97
16) Well by Major Tom — 96
17) extending payroll taxcuts only puts the... by lostinamerica — 93
18) But seriously, by campionrules — 92
19) Of course Dick Cheney knows torture is illegal by Garrett — 84
20) Fucking co-signed. by slinkerwink — 84
21) lets talk about it, twigg. by mallyroyal — 84
22) One of My Brothers Always Named Names by Empower Ink — 84
23) they had a year and he needs to say it outloud by ca democrat — 81
24) Zinn is a national treasure. by johanus — 79
25) They fear us. They fear we will come together by nocynicism — 78
26) Thank you, thank you, thank you, and by blue jersey mom — 78
27) "Gee, Mrs. Cleaver, what a nice necklace." by Bush Bites — 70
28) Yes, same with MLK by bruh1 — 70
29) I think hating someone is a prerequisite by MinistryOfTruth — 70
30) All that cheering about Texas executions was sad by supercereal — 70