What are Open-Source Happiness Packets?
People are generally much more loved than we think we are. But while it's easy for many to complain when they don't like something, we're often fairly silent when things are good. Open-source communities are no different, especially when our main communication channels are textual and virtual.
However, the feeling that you made a difference, that your work matters and has value, and that the people you work with are happy to work with you, is an awesome and important feeling. With Open-Source Happiness Packets, we're trying to spread that feeling.
How does it work?
Openly expressing appreciation, gratitude, or happiness to other people can be difficult. This is especially true when you don't know them very well. Many of us come from cultures in which people are not open by default about such feelings, and naturally feel uncomfortable or even creepy to share them.
Open-Source Happiness Packets is a very simple platform to anonymously reach out to the people that you appreciate or to whom you are thankful in your open-source community. Your message can be sent anonymously if you feel uncomfortable to share your name with the recipient. Of course, we encourage you to share your name, but it's completely optional!
Happiness Archive
If both the sender and the recipient agree, we can publish the Happiness Packet on the website. With this, we're building an archive of open-source happiness that people and communities can use to draw inspiration.
As an example, here are two random messages from our archive:
Anonymous message
I appreciate your time, energy, and unique insights you brought into the campus clubs event this past weekend. From your presentation title, I thought it would be a repeat of things that I already knew, but I ended up learning more from you, your topic, and your insights than I had imagined. You creatively combined so many different parts of open source in a way that I hadn't thought of before, and your presence had an impact on me this weekend. One thing in particular you said that I remember was about diversity and how it costs you less to speak up for things than it might for someone else. That really resonated with me and it's something I will remember (and already am). Thank you for everything you contributed into this weekend. We are truly lucky to have people like you involve with open source. I love all of the projects that you are helping grow in the Firefox extensions community.
Anonymous message
Thank you for being this amazing hubby I met 8 years ago. You are such a kind guy, always supporting me and pushing me out of my comfort zone so I can learn and enjoy much more.
Also thank you for having us moved to this lovely shiny city.
I love you from the deepest of my heart