A new messaging service has been helping to spread the word around Cambridge by delivering anonymous notes to students’ pigeon holes.
The Anonymous Pigeon, introduced this term, consists of over 20 volunteers posting notes all around the city within 24 hours to share the mysterious messages.
Users can log on to the website, write their message and say who they want it delivered to, all anonymously. Each message is then delivered in black ink on card to the specified student.
Explaining the concept, the Pigeon said: “The idea behind the service is to give people the opportunity to express thoughts or feelings that they usually wouldn’t, and the response has been fantastic. We’ve had over 2000 individual messages, with more and more coming in every hour.”
Some of the topics of messages delivered so far include:
- Love poetry
- Rugby banter
- Surreal metaphors
- Mothers wishing their children a good day
- Elaborate emoticons
- Organising clandestine meetings at Life and Fez
Girton has proven the most popular college for notes, with over 400 messages sent there. But enthusiasm has been sadly lacking at St. Ed’s, with only a measly one message delivered there so far.
Meanwhile, all-girl colleges Murray Edwards and Newnham appear the most romantic, having received the most loves notes.
Lots of letters have also had an international flavour, with Russian and Latin just two of the seven languages seen to date.
Speaking about the idea behind the service the Pigeon told The Tab: “An individual initially had the idea as an art project, but since then the team has expanded.
“All the Anonymous Pigeon Volunteers are members of Cambridge University, but we can’t reveal the exact identity or roles of the Volunteers at this time.”
Donations from several people have helped the service to keep going, but the Pigeon has announced the service will stop on February 15th, once all Valentine’s Day messages have been delivered.
Erm…what the fuck is a pigeon?
It's a big grey rat…but it can fly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon
It's going to stop on Feb 15th?! I think it should be an all-year-round thing. They should appeal to the JCRs or just the student body for some funding – I'm sure it'd be forthcoming.
volunteer then!
Yeh, they did this ages ago. The thing already exists. It's called the University Mailing Service. There is a drop box in your post-room.
I think this is different from what you're imagining, i just got one today and it's pretty cool
This is the coolest thing ever! I'm so excited!
I'm sending you my trousers then xx
Just donated 5 pounds. should be useful for sending veiled threats to other sports teams.
The thing about these anonymous pidgeons is: You have no idea who the message is from!!!! It's brill!!! Can't get nothing past me.
UMS is much better
Anonymous… but not entirely confidential?…..
"When you submit data to Anonymous Pigeon (including any text, photographs, graphics, video or audio) you agree, by submitting your contribution, to grant Anonymous Pigeon a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, play, make available to the public, and exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to your contribution worldwide and/or to incorporate your contribution in other works in any media now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in your contribution."
http://www.anonymouspigeon.co.uk/disc
Why can't you send to Clare???
i have a feeling a lot of people sent messages out to Girton just to screw over the anonymous pigeon volunteers…