free-range social media!

This quote by Mahatma Gandhi serves as a touchstone for the faculty, staff, and students at The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work:

"We must become the change we want to see."

I believe in this approach to change, and I try to live it (imperfectly, of course).

Recently, I've done some passionate writing on civility, bullying, and the mean-spiritedness that happens online. I think our culture is becoming a culture of cruelty and I want to do something to change that.

The Free-Range Social Media movement is about standing up and saying, "I will do my best to make my online space cruelty, cage, and copying free."

I invite you to grab a badge from the left side of my page and join us! We can be the change.

Leave your link in the comments section so we can check out your Free-Range site!

Comments

[Annie]

Bravo, Brene!

[Margo Caulfield]

I work with people who are living with chronic and/or life threatening conditions. It's a tough world for many, and the internet has become a haven, which can have its own set of issues. The internet can be a double edged sword.

Your "Free Range Social Network" is terrific and I hope it's adopted by many, along with Karin Armstrong's "Charter for Compassion."

I've been working on my blog Healing Whole www.healingwhole.blogspot.com for well over a year. The articles, posts, handouts and the Wednesday's Take a Break (activities for de stressing) are meant to be used by anyone who comes across the site. As a result, your item 2 speaks volumes to me. Not only do I try to make sure that I list and credit who may have inspired a particular post, but I also hope that others do the same for me.

[Tiffany Noth]

I love this!

[Flavia]

I just discovered your blog/website today via a tweet from someone I follow. I think you are doing a wonderful thing with your website and I was so proud to post your Free Range Social Media badge on my food blog's "About" page today! Hope you will check it out: www.flaviasflavors.com Blogging has been the creative outlet that I was looking for and I am having so much fun "learning as I go"! I will definitely be visiting your blog often. Thank you for contributing decency to the Internet!

[Ashley Jackson]

I have added it to my page:) Great idea
http://ashleymorganjackson.blogspot.com

[Dandy]

Hi Brene,
I love the idea of this movement and would love to be a part of it. I couldn't agree with you more about the abuse of the internet. My blog will definately be a free range site! Thanks so much!

[Naima]

householderyoga.wordpress.com

IS NOW A CRUELTY-FREE BLOG!

[Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]]

This is a perfect way to start or re-direct mindset.

Thank you!

[Ellyn]

Once again Brené, I applaud your words and smile gently. I'm wondering - maybe we need to redefine the word perfect. Maybe it was absolutely perfect for me to "unravel" so as to rebuild and be that change - I am seeing perfection in what would otherwise seem imperfect...

Thank you
...Ellyn

[Karina]

Thank you Brene!!!

I also stand to be a CRUELY BLOG.

[KCLAnderson (Karen)]

I've already grabbed the Wholeheart badge and am adding the Free Range Social Media badge to my site (and I'm gonna share on FB too)! http://kclanderson.com/before-and-after/

[TJ]

This badge is wonderful. I'm new Brene, but my german hubby brought back your books to me that i ordered on Amazon.com! As a blogger, I worry a lot about the posts I publish and what I get wrong. But the thing is, I want to keep trying to always get it more and more right.

I totally don't know how to format sidebars so your badge went all left and 1st thing! Dang it looks magnificent! Thank you.

Best wishes from Bavaria
tj

[krys]

Well done!

[Tracy Mangold]

Hi there! I just finished "The Gifts of Imperfection". I really enjoy and appreciate your blog and all that you are doing! Count me in as I add this badge to my blog!

http://theinkytwig.wordpress.com/

[Kath]

love it, shared it, am inspired by it <3

[Elizabeth Irwin]

Holy Validation, Batman!! Thank you so much for posting this (and to my friend Karen for putting this on her Facebook page).

My blog is brand-spanking-new (it just went live a couple days ago and I'm still tweaking it) but this is EXACTLY why I launched it. I respect people's right to disagree but I am tired of venom and mean-spiritedness. My blog is I Face the Sun...and it's about keeping one's eyes open for every day miracles.

http://ifacethesun.wordpress.com/

"The Gifts of Imperfection" is part of the reason I seized the day and just did it...and I'll absolutely add a Wholehearted badge and the Free Range badge....and soon as I put my techie hat on.

;-) Liz

[L.J. Burton]

I can't seem to manage to post a PDF file onto my blog page - a nice jpeg would work. Love the idea. I try. Usually.

[Janet Clere]

As a mature (57 yo) full time student, I am often amazed at the difference between most of my classmates and the people who make such rude, cruel, and offensive comments. Every so often people tell me that "that's the real world, deal with it." I say, it's only the real world if you allow it to be, and it's possible to make people aware of the endless possibilities for positive change. Thanks for being an always positive blogger!!

[Dawn M Adams]

Love it! Now it figure out this badge thing:)

[Patty Sherry]

Brene,

I love this idea!! I definitely want to grab the badge and pass this along. All such fabulous points to keep in mind in this cyber world.

[Rachel]

I love this idea! It goes beyond mere copyrighting of the creative commons idea by adding "no cage" and (sadly more importantly) "no cruelty."

My blog and its subblogs are all free range now starting at http://www.rabe.org . The subblogs can be found via the pages Academic Work, My Transition, and Your Life is A Garden.

[Patty Sherry]

I wanted to make sure that technically I could install the badge on my blog site before I put a link, and yey!!! I did.

My blog site is called Share Your Love Story

http://abcpatty.wordpress.com

ps once again what a great idea!

[Kristine]

Fantastic! I am all for free-range blogging - what a steller term.

For the most part I have found the online world to be one of the most supportive places. It always surprises and pains me to hear others have had different experiences. That's not what blogging should be about. I pledge to do my best to be the change I want so see.

http://rescuedinsanity.com

[Miven Trageser]

YES!! Some writers I know have spent time tracking down their cruel commenters who hid behind anonymity and were quite cowed when asked, why were you being so nasty? By and large they said, I didn't think anyone was really listening.
I love the no cages idea. So much focus on 'personal branding' these days, in any small business or social media conversation. The energy is always tending to narrow down, or identify more as a Self or a job title. I love the idea that bravery is required to keep expanding. That is something I've always stood for and I have a post titled "Why NOT grow?" that asks why would you want to stay the same. http://www.miventrageser.com/?p=35

[Christa]

I'm new!!

www.1minplease.blogspot.com

[Evelyn Rodriguez]

I don't believe I've commented here yet (I say that because I have been tempted to, and have formulate responses yet never hit the Send button). I really respect your work and have forwarded your TED videos to many, and posted in my blog.

I've never interpreted Gandhi's quote that way for myself. In fact, to me, it seems like it is an invitation and encouragement to see and inquire within myself where I have been cruel, where I have bullied (could be other subtler forms of controlling others), where I have imitated? In that space, I can be more accepting of disowned parts of myself, and reclaim any projections. Also sometimes I go deeper into inquiry perhaps using Byron Katie's methods,for instance, are my own mind and thoughts bullying my authentic self, where have I been cruel to myself, where have I imitated others to "please" or otherwise? So this "change" Gandhi speaks of is within me.

Thanks.

[Jef Tobias]

Great idea!

Added to my blog: http://emptyyourself.wordpress.com

[Cat Cook]

Since a friend of mine (Lily!) shared your talk on TED, "The Power of Vulnerability", the other day I've been avidly reading your blog and have been devouring my kindle version of your book, "I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't)". The timing of coming upon your work is pretty life-changing, I feel very lucky to have come across you and your writings.

I'm happy to add this badge to my blog! Blogging about model trains doesn't usually get cruel but I certainly do strive to be 'cage'-free in my approach and very careful about crediting other sources at http://blog.theshortline.com/

Thanks very much for all of your work!

[Yvonne]

Hey,
I like the idea of this movement. It's a good way to keep your spaces here good spaces. I was happy and proud to add the badges to my blog.
Your site is great! You can be very proud of yourself!

[Erin Moline]

What a great idea, love it, added it to my blog.

I love your courage and conviction, Brene, and have been borrowing a bit of it for myself.

I honestly never thought about courage in terms of putting thoughts out into the world, but you are so right.

Thank you!

[Heidi]

3 Cheers! This is such a lovely, inspiring message - I'm paying it forward! Cheers and thanks-

[Mlissabeth]

I really like this Idea, and plan to put a couple of your badges on both my blogs. Thanks for making them available.

[Jenny]

Thriveable http://thriveable.com is now a CRUELTY-FREE BLOG.

[Annie]

Love this. The cruelty is the most important to me.

[Meg]

Oh! I love this!
xo

[MaryElizabeth]

Count me in! I've added it to mine: www.modernsurvival.blogspot.com. (The Odd Socks Survival Guide)

Shared on FB, too. Great, great, great idea!

[Sue]

Great idea. I've added it to my blog. www.suepariseaupottery.blogspot.com

Be well.

[PJH]

Love it, like always! Got my badge on http://www.makeitbeautifultoo.com/!

[Renee]

I love these badges! Thank you so much. I, of course, agree and have put them on my blog. I choose authentic, wholehearted, free-range expression.
Cheers,
-Renee

[Renee]

Forgot to add my URL: http://rdl-artequalslife.blogspot.com. Thanks!

[Pamela Picard]

Love it. Posting it now.

www.reinventing64.ccom

[deborah/wholehearted home]

Happy to jump on this bandwagon and proudly display your badge on my site.

As always, you're leading the way, Brene with your whole heart. thank you.

[Angela DiGiovanni | Living Out Loud]

I LOVE this! Okay, mine is at the very bottom of my blog... I'm working on getting sidebars :-)
Thanks for visiting!

http://AngelaDiGiovanni.com/

[Kylie]

Thanks heaps for the badge. What a wonderful idea!

http://kyliesconversations.blogspot.com is a free-range site.

[Mari]

I actually had to think... have I been cruel? Probably mostly to myself, which has been part of my journey with my inner healing. Not the cruelty of personal attacks which I detest anywhere. I would hope that I'm respectful even in my pain. I. Hope.
Mari

[Heather]

I'm with you, WHOLE HEARTEDLY!

[Kim Smith]

You're amazing Brene. I am constantly amazed at how my love for you and your work continues to grow. It is limitless. (Hmmm, I think I will sit with that one for a while and see what else I can discover, about myself, lol) Open mind, open heart...

[soraya nulliah]

Dear Brene-I just LOVE coming over here for inspiration and intelligent discourse. As a huge believer in Ghandian philosophy-I could not agree more! Violent thoughts result in violent actions and we must stop this! It's amazing at how many many people I see copying and bullying and...just grabbed a badge and am happy to participate. "we must become the change we want to see" and "We are the change we have been waiting for" -soraya

[Christina]

Brene, you ROCK!

[Judy Schwartz Haley]

this is wonderful - I love it!