Not All Social Experiments Have to Be on Twitter. Or Facebook. Or Online.
Ben Muller sent us word of I Got an Envelope, a social art project where people leave empty self-addressed envelopes in random places. The hope is that some (ideally not malevolent) person will come across the envelope, fill it with magical things, and send it back to the owner.
Charming. Or not:
One guy just walked by our desk, peered down at what we were covering, smirked and said "I'd sprinkle coal on a note with the words, 'YOU DON'T BELONG.' Written in lipstick."
Seems disturbingly like he thought that through beforehand.
Comments
Uh. Blogger. It's online.
postsecret anyone?
Uh, different idea that post secret.
In this economy? Steam off the stamp and re-sell it on Craig's List.
Brian -- IMO it doesn't count if it's being tracked online, but all the action's going on offline.
Yeah, I'm with Mike on this one: PostSecret strikes is about broadcast confessionals to the world, versus bits and pieces of shared self to a single stranger.
Fred -- NICE™.
I realize Post Secret is not the same thing. But, it sure feels similar -A social project where the success matters greatly on the ONLINE component of further sharing, thus furthering the social experiment. Just as art is worth nothing when it's not shared-whether that be in a gallery or on the wall of one's home.
This project is worth nothing stuffed in shoe box under the bed.
Despite the fact that it doesn't feel all that fresh, how many people will actually do this? The cost of stamps and envelopes adds up, although I guess if you're THAT curious, you'll make the effort. However, I would NEVER just leave my address out there for the taking. Maybe instead of sending something to me they'll show up on my doorstep!