The Responsibility Project blog tour.
[Note: This post is part of my participation in Mom Central, "a one-stop web resource dedicated to providing busy moms with smart household and parenting solutions." In exchange for my honest thoughts on The Responsibility Project, I will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card.]
To be frank, I wasn't sure about this review opportunity when I first read about it, and predicted that I would bail out rather than post a tepid review. The Responsibility Project is sponsored by Liberty Mutual, an insurance company. Many corporate-led Web sites aimed at families are just product placement in primary colors, but this site's color palette is muted and the home page is attractive and uncluttered.
To my surprise, the project is not simply not an advertisement in disguise. Apparently, the idea for the project began with Liberty Mutual's TV ad campaign, which I didn't see because we don't have a TV set. From that "pay it forward" commercial of strangers helping strangers, the company says, a series of films and the Web site were born.
The films are sweet and well-done, featuring real people and real stories. My kids aren't up for watching too many of the videos, but the conversations about personal responsibility that followed were much more authentic than, say, the character education that many public schools insist on, which typically reduces concepts such as "responsibility" and "honesty" to a worksheet and lame song. I know we've had many discussions, particularly when out in the car, about how our actions (just one kindness or just one episode of rudeness) can have a ripple effect in our community; it's good to have more examples of that in a world that seems particularly short on kindness these days. If I were still homeschooling, I could imagine using the extensive "Resources" section for curriculum inspiration and support.
The site also solicits reader stories about responsibility in their own lives, which may be featured on The Responsibility Project blog. The idea of responsibility is so broad, yet the site really covers its bases and has something to appeal to just about every lifestyle and income group. Probably the most surprising link was the "What's Your Policy?" button, which I was sure would be an ad for insurance. It turned out to be a meme of sorts, where users can share thoughts on what makes a responsible parent, teacher, coach, etc., and read and rate other users' entries.
Overall, it's an enjoyable site and a nice concept that could probably grow into a legitimate movement if the interactive element on the site continued to expand and develop with fresh content. Corporate ventures in consciousness raising are often suspect, but I think this one has just the right mix of care and authenticity.
To be frank, I wasn't sure about this review opportunity when I first read about it, and predicted that I would bail out rather than post a tepid review. The Responsibility Project is sponsored by Liberty Mutual, an insurance company. Many corporate-led Web sites aimed at families are just product placement in primary colors, but this site's color palette is muted and the home page is attractive and uncluttered.
To my surprise, the project is not simply not an advertisement in disguise. Apparently, the idea for the project began with Liberty Mutual's TV ad campaign, which I didn't see because we don't have a TV set. From that "pay it forward" commercial of strangers helping strangers, the company says, a series of films and the Web site were born.
The films are sweet and well-done, featuring real people and real stories. My kids aren't up for watching too many of the videos, but the conversations about personal responsibility that followed were much more authentic than, say, the character education that many public schools insist on, which typically reduces concepts such as "responsibility" and "honesty" to a worksheet and lame song. I know we've had many discussions, particularly when out in the car, about how our actions (just one kindness or just one episode of rudeness) can have a ripple effect in our community; it's good to have more examples of that in a world that seems particularly short on kindness these days. If I were still homeschooling, I could imagine using the extensive "Resources" section for curriculum inspiration and support.
The site also solicits reader stories about responsibility in their own lives, which may be featured on The Responsibility Project blog. The idea of responsibility is so broad, yet the site really covers its bases and has something to appeal to just about every lifestyle and income group. Probably the most surprising link was the "What's Your Policy?" button, which I was sure would be an ad for insurance. It turned out to be a meme of sorts, where users can share thoughts on what makes a responsible parent, teacher, coach, etc., and read and rate other users' entries.
Overall, it's an enjoyable site and a nice concept that could probably grow into a legitimate movement if the interactive element on the site continued to expand and develop with fresh content. Corporate ventures in consciousness raising are often suspect, but I think this one has just the right mix of care and authenticity.