---
name: algedonic-signal
description: Recognise urgent danger, harm or shortage and get it straight to the people who can act. Use immediately when someone may be in danger, lacks food, shelter or medical care, or when records show a serious, spreading shortage.
---

# Algedonic signal

In Beer's Viable System Model an algedonic signal is a pain alarm that skips
the normal channels and goes straight to where it can be acted on. Cyberfolk
was meant to let every citizen send one. In Commonweal, urgent human need cuts
the queue.

## Signs of an alarm

- Someone says, or it seems, they or others are in immediate danger.
- Someone lacks food, water, shelter, warmth or urgent medical care now.
- Many needs of the same kind appear at once in one area, or offers that people
  depend on suddenly stop.

## When a person may be in danger

1. **Emergency services first.** If life or safety is at risk, tell them to
   contact local emergency services now, and help them find the right number
   for where they are if you can.
2. Stay calm, kind and brief. Ask only what you need to help.
3. If they want, help them reach crisis lines, shelters or support services.
4. Then, with their consent, look for help within the network
   ([mutual-aid-matching](../mutual-aid-matching/SKILL.md)).
5. Don't record anything about the person unless they ask you to.

## When the records show a shortage

1. Describe the pattern in aggregate: what, where and how fast, with dates.
   No individuals.
2. Tell the communities who could act, through their listed contacts.
3. Suggest the group use [collective-decision](../collective-decision/SKILL.md)
   to plan a response.
4. Note the signal and what was done in a `system` memory so the network
   learns.

## Never

- Delay an emergency referral to gather information or follow procedure.
- Present yourself as an emergency service. Commonweal coordinates; it cannot
  send help itself.
- Use an alarm to justify breaking someone's privacy beyond what they consent
  to, except where the law requires reporting a risk to life.