wayne on June 18, 2008
For my first post in what I plan to make a weekly series I decided that I would write about an idea that has been in my back pocket for some time now. There are no web sites for urban explorers, that I have found. I suspect that if I do happen to find one, it would be a joke site perhaps. Here's an idea that could be groomed into something fantastically helpful for the destitute among us.
What's an Urban Explorer?
Officially, it's a term to describe one that explores modern architecture and modern ruins. It's also a euphemism for a homeless person or family, which is what we are talking about here. I prefer the term urban explorer to describe a homeless person or family only due to the negative connotation the word bum or other terms imply and the sad feeling I get when I hear the word homeless. It's a sad state to be in, however, some choose to make their way as an urban explorer.
Irregardless of how they came to become an Urban explorer, either through their own errors in life, or by circumstance beyond their control, they are lacking a voice on the Internet due to the lack of resources they have available to them. This could change if there was a way to get them connected.
Raising Awareness
The biggest problem here is how would an urban explorer actually make use of the Internet? They can visit Internet cafe's, but that costs money. They could buy a laptop and find electricity somewhere I guess, but that really isn't a solution either...obviously.
By raising awareness to the plight of the urban explorer, perhaps we can collectively do what the government has failed to do these many years. Help them out and get them back on their feet. They are, after all, part of the same country just like you and me, and some could actually really use the help. It is the most in need that should be focused on first.
Qualification
I want to qualify something before I go any further. When I say help those in need, I also mean help those that actually want the help. One becomes an urban explorer in one of two ways, either by choice, or by circumstance. If you decided to consciously to become an urban explorer, then perhaps you should deal with your own decision. The people and families that are urban explorers by circumstance is where I'm aiming.
A web site for Urban Explorers
My initial idea for doing something to help involved a web site where people would create an account, much like any other site where a profile could be created. The people that sign up are either 'helpers' or 'urban explorers'.
The 'helpers' are people that have the means to help. Either by virtue of having a steady flow of cash through their bank accounts or by classic volunteerism. These helpers would meet and interview urban explorers and get their story. In turn, the story would be formalized, written up and posted for visitors of the site to read. The writer would perhaps maintain some level of contact with the urban explorer in some fashion. If they cannot, this will be harder to make work.
The profile of the urban explorer should provide ways to allow visitors to the web site to learn more about how the individual or family became an urban explorer, keep up with their progress of getting back on their feet and learn how they are doing it, make monetary contributions to the explorers to help out and provide feedback in the form of comments.
Comments and money collected are used to provide shelter and food to the family, or to help them out in certain circumstances. Perhaps the community of helpers and visitors could determine exactly how each urban explorers funds could/should be used. Ultimately though, I believe that the power of the collective will prevail to ensure that funds are used according to plan.
No Free Rides
I don't believe in free rides. If there is anything I learned as a child, its that if I want something in life, I need to make it happen. It starts with me, no one else. So to help ensure that our urban explorer friends and families are not taking advantage of the system, much like many do that are on welfare, there should be some level of checks and balances put in place. Perhaps the site provides updates to their progress. Perhaps they are provided a way to update their progress themselves? Either way, there should be checks put in place to ensure that we don't get weighted down by any freeloaders.
What else?
What else can be done? The government doesn't seem to have any focus on helping these families in need. What if the Internet community at large could help them though? Much like the way the blogosphere has found a level of self-regulation (only the cream of the crop rise to the top by virtue of what everyone else thinks), couldn't the same concepts be applied here to help these people and families?
There actually may be government programs that could help. In fact, the site could help match those in need with programs available for them.
In closing
Every time I try to make a left hand turn and there is someone standing on the island in the middle of the street, I ponder why this person is there, how did it happen, and then finally, if I give any money, will it be used properly? Some look perfectly able to work, while others are obviously challenged. How does one make that determination? Perhaps this web site idea can help to clear the air and actually help those that need the help, without worrying if the money is used to help them, or help their habits.
I don't want any credit for this idea if it is indeed a new idea, in fact the idea was realized between myself and co-worker a few years back. I only want to see that we are helping those in need rather than worrying about ourselves. If you happen to take this idea and run with it, let me know and I will be more than happy to help out where I can. There are plenty more people out there with more time than myself that could help make a difference.
We should all, if we are serious and want to help our fellow man/woman consider some ways to help out those in need, while filtering out those that will only take advantage. We have the tools. We have the man-power, why isn't it happening?
I picked up the domain HardLuckStory.com originally for this idea in case anyone wants to use it.
What would you do?
Have some ideas that would help this idea become realized someday? See any flaws in what is presented? Please take some time to provide any feedback you might have on this idea. How amazing would it be to hear on the news that bloggers have collectively developed an idea that will aid and assist those urban explorers. Fantastic!
