So I checked out the Common Ground Community Mapping website. Maybe its just because I'm a little technology illiterate, but I can't seem to get the map to a size where I can actually see the "green stuff" in my area, or read the print on the map. Maybe I'll look into that later. It's a great idea though. I seem to be not only technology illiterate, but area illiterate since moving to the island as well. Normally when I aquire a new stomping ground, I immediately go out to get lost and find my way back. I love finding the little gems that are hidden about, but, alas, school and laundry are about all I have time for this year. A green map is EXACTLY what I need.
But, alas again, what's that movie? The Beach, yes. I believe in it fully. I think that's what happened to this island and Hawaii. Paradise found is paradise lost. I'm not sure if I actually heard that somewhere or just brilliantly made that up. If I did just make it up I should put a copyright on that....how exactly do I do that? In grade one it would be as simple as "Finders Keepers!!". Hopefully that's good enough.
Nice idea. Make a map of all the great spots in ur hood (in the place where you live) so that the peeps knows where its at (so that your neighbors can also frequent that location). So one of your friends come to share the joy, then another, then...hey, who the hell is THAT guy??? And BLAM, now we have to put up a Starbucks in paradise to accomodate all the visiting yuppies that can't "enjoy nature" with out the convinience of Tripple Skim no fat mocha latte grandes and public washrooms that are serviced regularily and don't smell like pee.
If you could restrict the use of green maps to greenish people, or limit the amount of times a person is allowed to visit, or limit the number of people that someone was allowed to bring to that spot then MAYBE it would work.... but probably not. The point was brought up in class that you usually try to purposely avoid letting people know about really awsome places that you find. That's what keeps them special, untouched, and green.
I had an x-ish-boyfriend that took me to his favorite park at night, just because he didn't want any one to know how to get there. We even took this long rediculous way to get there. Not that he thought I would immediately bring hoards of people there. Even if he thought I would, he knows that all the peeps I know here are green and trust worthy. He did it jsut because he knew the risk that telling just ONE person could impose on his little piece of heaven.
Of course being his lady-friend I was immediatly offended by all the shenanegahns. But once we climbed the hill, scaled the rock face, and found our mossey perch over looking ocean waves that were lite up by the midnight moon, I fully understood. I probably wouldn't have told him where it was either. Even I thought it was better that way.
There are so many good intentions with all this community/sustainability/green stuff. But, unfortunately, people manage to screw up most good ideas. Woah, listen to me, little ney sayer. I guess I just dont' have faith in the number of Phillippe's in the world compared to the number of BBQ Lady's yet. (Hope you're reading this in chronological order, or else THAT didn't make sense). I guess the real isn't even BBQ ladies, the real problem is assholes like me. People that don't have any real faith in the human race as a whole. I have faith in the Phillippes, and the people within Phillippes radius that can be affected by him, but I don't have faith that there are enough Phillippes. Sigh.
Well, that was a depressing discovery. I'M what's wrong with the world. Me, sitting all high and mightly with my green business planning, re-usable bags, and environmental impact education... I AM what is wrong with the world. Sure, I know what we COULD do... but it won't work. Woah. We talked about this before, the continuous game of mental tennis that goes on in my brain. Guess it was just the asshole's turn to serve. (You should REALLY be reading this in chronological order. Not that I believe that you... I'm talking about YOU here Mr.Ling.... are actually reading all of these. If you aren't, then my sudden use of profanities may seem a little un-orthedox for a school blog. Well, this is MY diary and MY story of how the topics of the class relate to MY life. And in the narrative of MY life, I play the part of the lovingly named character "Asshole". My friends know this, and now, so do you.)
So, back to the subject at hand. When exploring then websites that you so kindly gave us, I noticed a green mapping site from Illinois that includes a function where you can make your own green map. It has little tools and instructions on how to use the icons. After all my above ney saying, I will say that i thought that was a brilliant idea. For me, and my friend, to start our own green maps. Keep it personal or make it with the purpose of just showing your friends, or make it to show everyone.
I thought of the trip up the hill with the x-ish-boyfriend. It would be cool to make my own little map of all the cool spots that I find or frequent. When i have a special friend, or special event, or jsut wanna go somewhere, I can check out my little map. Or start one among a special group of friends... when one person finds something cool they can save it to the online map. then you get a little email update or something, that you now have somewhere cool to go. Just between you and some peeps that you know are cool.
That's a nice idea for me. But, I guess that's what the people that started the green mapping were thinking. Except, being decent people, instead of assholes, they extended their circle of 'cool peeps' to include the general public, their global community. AND really, are THAT many peple going to get a hold of these green maps? How many un-green yuppies would go looking for green maps? And there should be many green maps, tagging different combinations of interesting places... there wouldn't be one mother-map that contained all things that were-are-and-will-be -cool. everyone's opinion and view on cool green places will be different. And we're not jsut talking parks, we're talking cute walkable communities, coffee shops were local musicians come to share their newest creation or just rock out, maybe a little spot on friday nights were people come to talk about books, or politics, or just to talk to get to know their neighbors.
Okay, I never flat out said that green maps were a BAD idea, I actually said they were good. I just had a moment of negativety as too how responsible the general public could be with this sort of information. BUT, I know I'm interested in this little green victoria map. So, I'm glad that someone decided to trust ME with this information. And now, again, this class has added some real potential to my everyday life. Start my own 'green' map. Or just a map of peaceful, enjoyable, odd places. Start my own little legacy of cool to share. AND, if I do start my own map, I'll be forced to go find new stuff to do and see. Can't have a map filled with just one kind of thing or with just a few spots on it. A personal map is like a CD collection, very personal, very telling... more so even (in my opinion) than an underwear drawer. You don't want people to see that you only listen to top 40 shit. You want to see world music, underground, you want music from classical, to acid jazz, to crunk. THAT says a lot about you.
Go home and check it out. Take a look at your cd collection, then make a list of the place you usually go. Where are your normal hang outs. Do you even KNOW a spot in town that you're pretty sure none of your friends would know about?? Hmmm. How full is your life? That's what I think your cd collection says about you... that's what the map would say about you to.
Since MY cd collection got stolen WAY back in August (at least the little hoodlums in my neighborhood will now be exposed to some cultural music developed by some real ARTISTS. Not this cookie cutter bull shit.) I have been hella lazy about bringing the collection back. My puter has crashed and deleted itself twice (oops, no, just dropped it off again today...that makes 3. I'm buyin a Mac) in the last 6 months. With it, went a couple other extensive music collections. Because of it, my ipod is also a bag of suck at the moment. So? Well, its a good reflection of my life right now, of my connection to things outside of myself, to the extent of my creativity... they are all LOW. So to would my map show. What places would I have on there?? The annex? A few places within 20 km of my house? BORING. NO social capital building happening there.
So, that's the thought of the day. CD's + personal maps = how connected am I really. To my community, to my environment, to myself. Well, I guess i know what I'm doing on my June break!!! Inbetween unsustainable 4 hour trips to Tofino by myself :)
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