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The Listserve: Brilliant or Bad Idea?

SodaHead Tech 2012/05/06 23:55:09
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“If you had the chance to speak to one million people, what would you say?” That’s the tagline for The Listserve, a new website that allows you to e-mail “the world.”

So here’s how it works: First, go to www.thelistserve.com and enter your e-mail address. Then, once a day you’ll receive a message from a different randomly chosen The Listserve subscriber. (There are currently just under 17,000.) If your e-mail address is selected, you then have three days to respond with your submission so that it can be forwarded to the list.

The tech site Digital Trends describes The Listserve as a cross between PostSecret and Chatroulette (minus the unsolicited nudity). You can send text, photos, or videos. You can share your identity or remain anonymous. You can confess your darkest secrets, give fashion tips, share recipes, or comment on current events. Whatever your heart desires. (Except porn or viruses—those will be weeded out.)

The ListServe was created as a final class project by a group of NYU grad students—Greg Dorsainville, Josh Begley, Yoonjo Choi, Alvin Chang, and Zeno Koo.

“The basic idea that it comes from is to see what people do when given a spotlight,” Begley told Betabeat. “I’ve long been curious about that idea. You know, even on Facebook when you see a bunch of friends having this perception that a lot of people are listening, sometimes we end up doing crazy, heartfelt or surprising things. So we’re just trying to create a scenario in which that can happen in a low budget way.”

The team argued that one of the things that makes their site different from other large-scale e-mail lists is the fact that it is not organized around a specific theme, topic, or idea. Instead, The Listserve has the potential to expose users to people and ideas that are outside their normal realm of existence.

“The obstacle that most people have now is that they are in silos, they talk to people of like-mindendess,” said Dorsainville. “When I thought of the use cases of getting an email from someone you don’t know and you don’t know the topic it will be about, it’s an antithesis to that type of behavior.”

So SodaHeads, what do you think about The Listserve? Brilliant or bad idea?

Read More: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/06/the-listserve-...

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Top Opinion

  • Anthony Souls 2012/05/07 00:54:11
    Brilliant
    Anthony Souls
    +3
    I think it's an awesome social lottery idea. I signed up just for the hell of it, what will people use it to say?

    Take care,

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Opinions

  • Aquaduck 2012/05/07 02:55:33
    Brilliant
    Aquaduck
    +1
    cool, but i dont think i'll be doing it.
  • Osaka 2012/05/07 02:46:05 (edited)
    Brilliant
    Osaka
    I just hope no one misuses it, LOL.
  • ...Kat... 2012/05/07 02:33:39
    Brilliant
    ...Kat...
    Omg lol. Somewhat genius, but then again not so much :P sounds like it could turn into a "Dear Abby, here are my problems..." kind of thing :P :)
  • Sandman366 2012/05/07 01:59:29
    Brilliant
    Sandman366
    +1
    Going to need to keep an eye on spammers though...
  • JohnT 2012/05/07 01:56:03
    Brilliant
    JohnT
    That is a brilliant idea, and is the next step in the evolution of the Internet.
  • Bill 2012/05/07 01:43:19
    Brilliant
    Bill
    +1
    Think I'll have some fun with this. About to give it a try!
  • overdog001 2012/05/07 01:39:21
    Bad Idea
    overdog001
    +2
    Oh Buddha, bless me. List servers have been in common use by both legit and junk mailers since before the Internet was invented. You know that little quiver of excitement you got when you hear about this new service? That's the cold finger of a bad idea running down your spine, attached to the right hand of the spectre of ignorance hanging over your shoulder.

    Before you start imagining that there is a new bandwagon you just have to jump on, take these important steps:

    1. Research what a listserv (list server) is, and how it's been used so far.
    2. Ask yourself if your whiny emo or cat picture blog really needs more traffic.

    Still excited?

    3. Shoot yourself.
  • ...Kat... overdog001 2012/05/07 02:31:32
    ...Kat...
    +1
    Lmao xD
  • not u 2012/05/07 01:37:35
    Bad Idea
    not u
    +1
    Yep looks like spam to me.....
  • Anthony Souls 2012/05/07 00:54:11
    Brilliant
    Anthony Souls
    +3
    I think it's an awesome social lottery idea. I signed up just for the hell of it, what will people use it to say?

    Take care,
  • Maya Zauberman 2012/05/07 00:44:35
    Bad Idea
    Maya Zauberman
    +2
    I don't want people I don't know sending me messages about their lives, thank you very much.
  • Jenna ☮♡ッ 2012/05/07 00:44:30
    Brilliant
    Jenna ☮♡ッ
    +2
    I think it looks like it could be kinda fun.
  • Michael 2012/05/07 00:34:08
    Bad Idea
    Michael
    +1
    I think it will be just another hi tech form of junk mail!
  • Elephant Lord 2012/05/07 00:32:14
    Brilliant
    Elephant Lord
    +2
    Looks fun. I might add my address.
  • Depsycho 2012/05/07 00:14:00
    Brilliant
    Depsycho
    +2
    Certainly a fun and creative idea.... Until some unpleasantries attempt to ruin the fun.

    Regardless though, it's still a nice idea. I may try it.
  • Lisa 2012/05/07 00:10:31
    Brilliant
    Lisa
    +2
    I think it's a super fun and cool idea. I just added my email to the list! :)

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