Instead of showing up physically, the participants show up via mail.
On a designated date (or in the days or weeks immediately preceding it, depending on expected delivery times), everyone involved sends a postcard to a pre-designated address. No return addresses, no explanations... just a lot of mail one day, for no apparent reason.
The benefit is derived by the recipient who revels in all the unexplained mail gotten on that one delivery.
I am tempted to ask you all to do this for my brother as an obscure Christmas gift.-- waugsqueke, Dec 09 2003 another kind of Christmas mob... http://www.halfbake...dea/Santini_20ClausI sense a turf-war... [RayfordSteele, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] [waugs]: Better hurry with his address if we have to send out Christmas cards to him!-- Cedar Park, Dec 09 2003 Post his postal address and we'll post a postcard posthaste.
Post script: Don't postpone! This is good for posterity.-- grip, Dec 10 2003 I love this idea! That is all I can say. Brilliant! May I vote twice?-- Klaatu, Dec 10 2003 You are awesome! +
On an unrelated note, don't piss off UnaBubba! If you figure out that combat tupperware is another word for a glock. I don't know what sorta shit is going down at the UnaCompound just be glad you aren't any part of it. ( :-- sartep, Dec 10 2003 You da (post)man, waugs!-- FarmerJohn, Dec 11 2003 Isn't this like one of those "send your business cards to a sick kid" thing, where the sick kid doesn't really want the business cards at all and it's just a horrible misunderstanding? Amnesty International already organise this for certain lucky Ministers of Justice in third world countries.
It may also be illegal in some jurisdictions under laws on stalking or harassment.-- kropotkin, Dec 11 2003 No, it's nothing like those. It's not a letter writing campaign or a Craig Shergold thing.
It's a one-time event, consisting of anonymous people sending postcards to one address to arrive on (or as close to as possible) a designated date. That's all.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 how is the event advertised?-- po, Dec 11 2003 I like this idea. It reminds me in some ways of mail art from the late 80s, early 90s. A friend of mine did her art degree show with stuff she had been sent from all over the world.-- sufc, Dec 11 2003 The seedy underworld of St. Nick, a 60 Minutes expose'.-- RayfordSteele, Dec 11 2003 Cool, 10 gifts per. Can I get on that list or is it a family-only thing?-- half, Dec 11 2003 What, are you saying I can't do math? That I'm numerically challenged? That I musta dropped outta school in the thoid grade? Are you sayin' I'm stoopid and I don't understand the family ways? Is that whatchur sayin'?!...oh, yes, I guess it is. Never mind.-- half, Dec 11 2003 It could be a feature offered by the Post Office (sorry I'm in the UK) - write in front of the address To be delivered on such a date-- geofones, Dec 11 2003 <signs [waugs] sign-up sheet and hands in email address.>-- k_sra, Dec 11 2003 quick [waugs] what's his address, last posting date from the UK is Saturday I think.-- neilp, Dec 11 2003 See, that's my only hesitation. He's got a physical address, and I'm not sure if that's wise to post it. Would rather he had a post office box...
I hesitate to bake my own creation.
// how is the event advertised? //
po, well offhandedly, just like this. By somebody like me asking some folks like you on a community web site or mailing list or whatever. Though I suppose it could be taken to the next level and get it organized, and people could register addresses through postalflashmob.com or something.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 So it's halfbaked, then..?-- egbert, Dec 11 2003 Local flashmob baked this about a week ago, to send donations to a children's literacy organization called 'The Dollywood Foundation'.
Email snippet as follows: // On Monday, December 1st, put any amount of money* you'd like to donate in an envelope. You can send $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 or more - whatever you can afford. It doesn't have to be a lot - especially if lots of people do it. (remember, this will be tax deductible as a charitable donation)
*Make the check out to DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION. In the memo line on the check, just put "FM" (for flash mob) //-- Baker^-1, Dec 11 2003 [Waugs] What if all of the mail was sent to you at a post box or general delivery, then you could re-route it to preserve his anonymity.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 11 2003 Baker^-1, that's just a bunch of people organized and making donations. Nothing like this. I think people are missing the point somewhat.
fry fry, that would solve it but it would clearly indicate my involvement. Ideally the mail would go straight to the intended recipient.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 I beg to differ. As the entire newsgroup thread for this venture showed, it was an idea to surprise them with an influx of donations for, as you said, 'no apparent reason'. The only difference between mine and yours is the recipient.-- Baker^-1, Dec 11 2003 No, I mean that the envelope you receive would have a return address and pre-stamped envelope inside it. You just scribble the proper address on it and pop it back in the mail box. If all of the mail is coming from the same location it should all arrive, (who knows with snail mail), at the same time. As far as the recipient knows the mail comes from all parts of the globe.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 11 2003 // it was an idea to surprise them with an influx of donations for, as you said, 'no apparent reason'. The only difference between mine and yours is the recipient. //
I disagree. The apparent reason is that charitable organizations exist to receive donations. You can't surprise them with donations - they're kind of expecting them. In your case, a group of people decided to contribute en masse. Receiving lots of mail from people they don't personally know is nothing out of the ordinary for charities.
My brother does not typically receive a hundred or so anonymous and unexplained postcards from all parts of the globe most days.
sorry, fry fry, there's something about what you're describing that I'm not catching.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 So, waugs, is this a go? I'd love to help do this. I'm assuming this to be the simple no-strings-attached, one- time-card-in-the-mail-thingy idea?
What if those who are interested, e-mail you first. Then it's your discretion to whom you reply back to with your brother's address.
If it's still a concern for you, is there any possibility to rent temporarliy a box from Mailboxes-r-us? (Or whatever the names of those contract sites are.)-- Tiger Lily, Dec 11 2003 [waugs] It's ok if it isn't going to work for your brother. [2xFry]'s solution leaves all of the mail coming from one town, which isn't really the same. However, it doesn't mean we can't do it to someone else.
How about: [Addresses of real people censored -- please send email to bakesperson@halfbakery.com to discuss this.]
I found them on Yahoo People Search.
(later) They were names and addresses of people that were similar to holiday names. Doesn't matter.-- Worldgineer, Dec 11 2003 I think it would be better if it was someone known to one of the group, so there could be some sort of report on the reaction.
The other thing is the intended receipt date.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 waugs, perhaps a contract site could make a one time delivery on a designated date determined by you. I will see what I can find out, It won't be for another couple of hours though. (It's almost 8:00PM Eastern time--Thursday)-- Tiger Lily, Dec 11 2003 Do you have any friends/relitives with PO boxes?-- Worldgineer, Dec 11 2003 Not organizing anything, jutta. It's just an idea, like any other one here. And 'attacks' is rather harsh, but everyone's entitled to their perspective, I suppose.
Tiger Lily, thanks but that's all right.-- waugsqueke, Dec 11 2003 Yeah, sorry. I can imagine it's implementation going off poorly and scaring someone. I don't see a problem doing this to someone you know however.-- Worldgineer, Dec 11 2003 //can no longer find their phone bill amidst the torrent of unsolicited warm fuzzies// Or the 4,000 "Merry Christmas" cards that show up to the one Jewish family on the block who's lit Star of David had coincidentally been vandalized the day before.-- Worldgineer, Dec 11 2003 Is'nt this just an environmentally-unfriendly version of spam?-- Avendra, Dec 11 2003 No, my mailbox is filled with environmentally-unfriendly versions of spam. This is different.-- Worldgineer, Dec 11 2003 Oops, my bad.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 13 2003 I think we should do this to someone. I have a whole box of stamps....-- futurebird, Mar 21 2004 Jolly Good Show! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Stupendous!-- smugcomputerguy, Mar 21 2004 random, halfbakery