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Bid to cheer up commuters
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| Inventor Liz Akers |
A MERRY marketing manager is on a mission to get the capital's "miserable" commuters to be nice to one another.
As the season of good will approaches, 28-year-old Liz Akers has launched a scheme enabling stressed out commuters to pass each other "niceties" tokens - simply for being friendly.
Miss Akers, of Vesta Road, Brockley, dreamt up the idea after becoming sick of the mass of miserable faces on her daily commute to work into central London.
There are now 100 tokens in circulation following a launch party in Soho at the weekend, each bearing their own unique name.
Miss Akers said: "London has a bad reputation as a city which is rude where everyone keeps themselves to themselves.
"You look around the train or bus, and some people look about as happy as a Rottweiler chewing a wasp.
"But I want to shatter the Victorian myth we are a nation of miserable people with a stiff upper lip."
The clay tokens come in an array of colours and carry the address of a website where token owners can register their act of kindness, before passing it on.
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| The Niceties tokens |
Miss Akers, who works for a publishing firm, says she hopes the initiative will help break down barriers.
People in possession of the tokens can pass them on to someone simply for smiling at them, giving up their seat, or just because they like the look of someone.
Miss Akers said: "Who knows, it may end up as a way to meet people. I'd be happy to match-make people if both parties were willing.
"But essentially, it's not just about rewarding niceness, but about reminding each other we all deserve good manners.
| "I gave up my seat for a woman who looked pregnant. Upon closer inspection, I don’t think she actually was, just a bit porky in the belly. But it didn’t matter." | |
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"Today, for instance, I gave up my seat for a woman who looked pregnant.
"Upon closer inspection, I don't think she actually was, just a bit porky in the belly. But it didn't matter. The most important thing is that we are being nice to each other."
There are around 30 core members of what Miss Akers has dubbed "team nice", consisting of friends and family who will help her in her quest to spread niceness.
She also wants to tackle bystander apathy - where commuters may chose to bury their head in the sand, rather than help someone in need.
Miss Akers added: "Essentially, I think a lot of people lack confidence and are more concerned about drawing attention to themselves than in helping out.
"I remember one hot summer I was on a packed train when someone nearly passed out.
"I cooed in a sing-song voice, could anyone give up their seat for this lady?'
"Then a few minutes later someone else felt faint and I shouted Ah na no, we've got another one' - and everyone was in roars of
laughter."
How it works:
100 tokens were distributed at a launch party in Soho on November 18
Owners of these tokens are now giving them out on their daily commutes
When you receive one, log on to niceties-tokens.com to register your token name, colour and how you got it
Then, pass your token on to somebody else to spread more niceness'
As time goes on, people will be able to track whose hands the token has passed through by viewing the website
5:39am Wednesday 22nd November 2006
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