On Privacy & Oversharing

After my interview on RDU 98.5FM this morning, Spanky (the show's host) raised a good point about privacy, that in the past we would never have considered tell everyone exactly where we are 24/7 (paraphrasing). Often with new technology people get carried away with the novelty of it before they think about the repercussions. Location based social networking is great and has tons of wonderful features, but as this article points out, we can go too far and endanger ourselves, our families and our friends if we are careless.

7point1squared would like to encourage you to share responsibly. Don't check-in to your friends' or families' houses without asking them first and don't share their address publicly. Likewise, while it might be great to be the mayor of your own flat, be aware than if you share your address and your other check-ins, people know that you aren't at home, and where you live, making you a possible target for burglary. Extreme situation, but one to consider.

If you are concerned about your privacy (which you should be!) this needn't stop you from taking part in 7point1squared or from using location based social networking like Foursquare, Gowalla, BriteKite, Google Latitude, Twitter Location or Facebook Places.

Please be aware that you do not have to make your Foursquare check-ins public, nor do you have to share them on Twitter or Facebook to participate in 7point1squared. When you check-in you can select to not share your checkin with friends (this means friends on Foursquare) and you can also untick "Share on Facebook & Twitter" (or simply don't connect these accounts with Foursquare.) You can email me a screenshot of your check-ins or we can work out some other system if you would still like to be eligible for prizes. Obviously I respect your privacy and will never share any info about you that you don't make public without your permission (i.e. I will use your Twitter username but not your real name unless you say its ok!)

Also think about your username when you sign up on things like Twitter & Foursquare. It doesn't have to be connected in any way with your real life details!

Your life,your privacy, your choice! Lets not let this stand in the way of us helping support our local businesses, their owners & staff, our neighbours, family & friends!

Rediscovering Christchurch

The morning of September 4th 2010 changed my life, as it did for all Cantabrians. I'm one of the lucky ones, though. My house has come through relatively unscathed (apart from the ominous creaking of the now-jauntily angled carport as it sways gently in the wind and the odd quake) and neither I nor my husband has had our jobs affected by the chaos. On the surface, then, it was business as usual. Underneath, however, I was shaken to my core (literally, for those 45 seconds, and figuratively for a lot longer). Gone was the comfortable belief that I could get around to doing things and going places 'one day' or 'when I have time.' In its place was a gripping knowledge that much of what I value in the city: the buildings I love, the places that represent the city for me, could just disappear. In the blink of an eye places I have loved were gone or changed beyond all recognition.

My complacency gone, I began looking at the city in a new light. I realised I had been taking it for granted, like a doddery old relative who I loved but got impatient with because I focused only on their faults. I didn't appreciate anything beyond the surface. I hadn't even really been aware just how much of the city was made of bricks. They'd just kind of seeped into my subconscious as part and parcel of living here. They were part of me and their loss hurt, but it was a sheepish hurt; the hurt of someone who hadn't really appreciated what was around me until it was destroyed. I had roamed the city and the suburbs but I'd never really paid attention to them. I've lived here for more than ten years and yet there are a shameful amount of things I've just not done. There are shops I've never taken the time to go to because the malls were easier. There are cultural places I've never been because I 'didn't have the time.' There are parts of the city I barely know exist because it was easier to stick to what I already knew.

Looking around what was left of our city I made a vow: no more of that. I began exploring in a haphazard way. I've found new haunts, looked at old favourites in a new way and generally had a great time. I've been enjoying myself so much that I set myself a challenge. No more haphazard exploring for me. Instead, I'm going to go somewhere new each week and blog about it. I'm having a love affair with Christchurch (shhh! Don't tell my husband) and I want to share it. It's been beaten, battered, bruised and even broken in places but at its heart is still a place to celebrate. I'm excited to get out there and discover all that our home has to offer.

Now, I'm sure you're all smiling benignly and thinking to yourself: 'yes, yes, that's all very nice; good for you. But ... what on earth are you doing on 7point1squared's blog?' Well, that's the most exciting part of this whole project. We got talking and realised our goals were compatible: we want to help the city recover from the earthquake. Neither of us wants to see any more of our smaller businesses wiped out and both of our projects are designed to highlight the wonderful places and businesses in our city that need the support of our community. So we decided to join forces. Each week I'll highlight one or two places I've visited and encourage people to check in there on Foursquare. I'll let you all know in what ways the places I visit have been affected by the earthquake and what they are doing to get themselves through. It's up to us, the community, to help these businesses survive and flourish. Our small unique businesses, our cultural venues, our heritage sites; these are what make Christchurch unique and it is these places that I want to reconnect with. Join me as I rediscover Christchurch and try to help our struggling businesses along the way.

Rethink - User Suggested Venues!

Something struck me this morning, I think I'm going about this all backwards. Rather than chasing businesses to opt in, why don't I just ask you guys what places you want to support?
The business doesn't have to "opt in," we can just create a list of places we know that have been impacted by quakes (change of premises, damages, stock losses, temporary closures, road closures, evacuations, etc. etc.) and then bombard them (nicely!) with our patronage! I'm sure they will be pleased!

So, where do you know of that needs a helping hand? I'll tweak the Participating Venues page to reflect this new model. I might even do some kind of fancy graphic to explain the flow.

Of course if a business want to opt in they are still totally welcome to! Also, if you aren't from the Canterbury region and you want to get involved somehow, contact me, I love brainstorming with others about how they can help or be a part of it!

Progress Report: Going well!

Well I've been having loads of good feedback, mostly through Twitter, seems people really respond to the idea which is very encouraging!

Pass the Parcel are the first company to get involved, sponsoring a "secret" venue (details to come!) in Christchurch. Best of all, the first 10 people to check-in once venue released and retweet the check-in to @7point1squared on Twitter will get a free courier satchel post ANYWHERE in the country (up to 25 kgs!) Cheers muchly Pass the Parcel!

Powershop are very interested in getting involved in a big way, hoping to hear more about this soon.

The team at 4sqday have gotten in touch with me on Twitter and are keen to chat, as is Deon from Rebuild Christchurch (Check out the Rebuild Christchurch site, it is a fantastic resource with tons of useful earthquake related links!)

Rumpelsnorcack is the first official participating individual, having signed up on Foursquare after hearing about 7point1squared! Onya!

I've contacted lots of places and people in Christchurch, Waimak & Selwyn districts and am planning to keep on contacting them! We need lots of participating venues and users so get in touch if you are interested in finding out more!

The Back Up Plan

Or, "If Foursquare don't come to the party."

Many of you might be thinking, "This sounds all well and good but most of the idea hinges on Foursquare making this badge for you. They must get hundreds of badge suggestions daily, what if they never get round to making yours?"
And you'd be right, if I didn't already have a back up plan in mind.

If we don't get Foursquare to get on board with the idea (and believe me, I'm trying!) then I propose holding a leaderboard style race between Foursquare users to collect as many points as possible. I will tally the points (proof of check-in would be required, probably in the form of a retweet of your check-in mentioning @7point1squared) and update the leaderboard here on the blog, regularly.
On certain days or weeks I will offer bonus points (e.g. "Double points if you check into a library today!") and highlight specific participating venues (e.g. "5 bonus points for checking into Tom's Plumbing Supplies this week!")

I'm hoping to gather donated prizes to offer to the race winner and spot prizes through the time the race runs for too! I'd like to time it to co-incide with the Boxing Day Replay Sales in February (which the Christchurch City Business Association are organising) but it will depend on how quickly interest picks up in the idea! (See the Progress update post for more!)

Dear Si & Gary...

Here is the email I just sent to Simon Barnett & Gary McCormick of More FM:

Firstly thanks for taking the time to read this! I'm very nervous as I write this, putting your idea out there is scary stuff!

Anyway, I have an idea on how we Cantabrians can band together to help our local businesses who are struggling still after all these jolly quakes. 

My idea is this, we utilise the power of the social networking site Foursquare, which is a location-based site where users "check-in" to venues to meet up with friends, earn virtual badges and take advantage of deals offered by venues through the site. 

I am going to propose to the Foursquare business development team that they create a special badge for Christchurch users to earn by checking in to participating shops, restaurants, bars, etc. I'm hoping to team up with the Christchurch City Business Association to coincide with the Boxing Day sale replay they are planning for next month. (I've already contacted Paul Lonsdale at CCBA and he sounds interested, fingers crossed!)

In short, venues in Christchurch as well as the Waimak and Selwyn regions could sign up to be a participating venue simply by contacting me and getting on the list, then I request Foursquare to make the badge and all going well users can start earning it by simply "checking-in" to a certain number of the participating venues on their mobile phones or laptops while out and about enjoying our wonderful city and surrounding area! There is no cost to either the businesses or customers, which is the best part!

I'll be encouraging the businesses to offer discounts or specials to users through Foursquare which will help entice them into their venue but it won't be compulsory! (Foursquare makes it really easy to do this AND it shows up on the mobile app that there is a special nearby to help draw the punters in!)

Hopefully then I'll be able to offer prizes to users who earn the virtual badge (and I'm hoping venues will offer specials to them also such as "Free beer if you show your Foursquare badge" etc!)

So why am I telling you guys? Well, I feel that the project will have a much better chance of succeeding if I can find some well known Cantabs to add some clout to it! I know from past events and campaigns that you both follow your heart on these things and I'm really hoping one or both of you will want to get behind this initiative to help our local businesses survive in the aftermath of an event which rocked our region in more ways that one! I'm just a stay-at-home mum but I know that by clever use of social media I can make a difference if someone is willing to take a chance on my idea! I won't be getting any money out of this, I'm just putting in my spare time to hopefully get the right people together for something I feel passionate about, the city my daughters were born in, where my family are, my home; Christchurch!

If you made it all the way to the end, I thank you sincerely! There are more details on my website: http://7point1squared.blogspot.com and I can be contacted either at this email address or by phone on 021 162 0821 or on twitter, my username is @7point1squared

Warmest regards,

Rachel Dunlop