Recently, some Madison High School Facebook users have logged onto their accounts and have looked in puzzlement at their notifications: someone named Dodger Compliments had sent a friend request.
Students cautiously explored the unknown profile and realized that posts contained compliments directed at certain members of the student body. One student was tagged in a post for being amazing at all things music-related, while another student was called “a great role model and inspiration to others.”
So what was going on? The Madison Dodger Online decided to message Dodger Compliments via Facebook to find out what this new Dodger development was all about.
Madison Dodger Online: What is Dodger Compliments? When was it created?
Dodger Compliments: Dodger Compliments is a Facebook page created exclusively for Madison High School students. It was launched the first day of December 2012. The main purpose is for people to be able to post nice things they have to say about others online that they may not be comfortable with saying in person. Sometimes people have something nice they want to say to either a friend or that special someone, but are not confident enough or too scared to say it outright. This page encourages those who aren’t confident to express how they feel, yet keeping it anonymous which can, in the long run, actually boost someone’s confidence to express themselves in the real world!
MDO: Who runs Dodger Compliments?
DC: Dodger Compliments is run by a Dodger! Plain and Simple.
MDO: What gave you the idea to create Dodger Compliments?
DC: This isn’t the first high school compliments page in existence, other schools across New Jersey have been following the same movement by creating pages like this one for their own respective schools. I wondered why Madison High School lacked one, and took care of that right away!
MDO: What do you hope to accomplish by doing this?
DC: By creating this page, my hope is to spread more joy and happiness in Madison! Also, this will give a chance for students to give compliments or just nice remarks to others they wouldn’t normally talk to or don’t have the confidence to talk to, like a friend or a special someone. When the recipient sees the message, they too gain confidence and happiness and will hopefully pay it forward!
MDO: What would you say to anyone who is considering sending in a compliment? Do you edit the compliments before you post them?
DC: Simply send us a message with the person’s name and the compliment or nice remark and it will be posted anonymously to our wall. All nasty remarks will be deleted. I try not to edit compliments before they are posted, but I do do things like spell check and anything that I feel might offend somebody is removed.
MDO: How many compliments have been sent in/posted so far? Has anyone messaged you any insults?
DC: Three compliments (and zero insults) have been sent and posted so far, which isn’t bad for four days in existence! D.C. currently has 130 friends who all go to Madison High School and I hope to get more involved!
MDO: Do you think the Madison High School population will be receptive to this new idea?
DC: I think with the right amount of enthusiasm and publicity, it is very possible that Madison High Students could be receptive to Dodger Compliments!
MDO: Anything else you would like to tell our readers?
DC: It’s human nature to want to be accepted and praised for your hard work. Dodger Compliments gives people that opportunity! Want to tell someone they are doing great, but you know they won’t believe it coming from you? Like a guy and you really wanna just tell him everything that you love about him? How about a girl? Did somebody do something nice for you but you were too embarrassed to say anything? All these things can be done at Dodger Compliments! Make Someone’s Day!
B. • Dec 10, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Though I do like the idea of confidence boosting, the idea of sharing personal thoughts with an anonymous source seems kind of sketchy to me. Obviously, as I have seen, many posts that have come in are very genuine and thoughtful. However, if one was to post something a little private, yes, now that person knows someone is thinking of them, but the Dodger who is running it could use their newfound information about another member of the student body. Though if rumors erupted and people were in guidance constantly, I’m sure that the Dodger, who is probably known by the staff of our school, would receive punishment. Actually, now that I think of it like that, it seems pretty strong. Great idea! I hope it goes to infinity and beyond!
Dodger Compliments • Jan 5, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I do understand your concern, but I can assure you that the privacy of the Madison Student Body is safe with me. It honestly sucks to have rumors spead about anyone, myself included, so why do it to someone else? It’s not right. Hopefully I put your mind at ease a bit. Also, I had no idea this would grow into what it did and I myself actually smile at the things people say about others, it warms my heart to know there are nice people in Madison 🙂 Thank you! You guys are great! Love you all! <3
Stevie LaFerriere • Jan 6, 2013 at 8:16 pm
While I agree that the influx of personal compliments grants the Dodger-in-Charge considerable power, I don’t think it would be characteristically consistent of him or her to use that power against the students who have sent in compliments. Although I was equally skeptical at first, the project has now been up and running for over a month, over one-hundred compliments have been posted, and the reaction of the Dodger populace has been nothing but positive. So far, It has proven itself an awesome and authentically benevolent project.
In regards to nature and intent of the Dodger behind it all, whom I’ve had extended personal interaction with, I can attest to the unlikelihood of the project being used against any member of the student body. The Dodger demonstrates unfailing diligence, a positive outlook, and a genuine, focused desire to be of help. It is altogether inspiring and encouraging to see such character rise from the Dodger Nation, and is nothing but a compliment in and of itself to the quality of our institution. I see nothing to fear here but the fear of fear itself.