The history of a little project that got very very big.
In 2001, my then-flatmate Dave and I created a range of humourous and slightly cynical anti-valentines, which bore slogans such as “Oh my god. I’m thirty and still single” and “Destined to die alone and unloved in a room heavy with the tang of cat wee”. Pairing classic movie still images with slogans, the cards were available for download - but not automated sending. The project was well-received by the UK Blogging community, but didn’t perform spectacularly well.
In 2002, we resurrected the project with a new (pink!) interface, redesigning many of the cards without the movie stills, and adding a send functionality. This linked to an external cgi card sending function, which came with advertising and pop ups all over the place. Not ideal, but a step on from the year before. Again, there were a good number of cards sent, but the advertising on the send solution was offputting to users.
In 2003, we redesigned the cards again, and added some new slogans. This time, I implemented an ad-free local cgi sending solution, and launched the project at the start of February.
It did very well indeed.
By the time the project was retired on 15 February, two weeks after launch, there had been over 30,000 cards sent; somewhere in the region of 270,000 unique entries to the tool - and neither the server nor the application fell over once.
During this period, it was highlighted and linked on Metafilter, k10k, Coudal, Cal State LA, Buttafly, Popbitch, Humour.About.com, XOverboard, Fark, USA Today, Canada.com, Ask Jeeves UK, Gawker, Web Today Belgium, Albequerque Journal, Planet Netherlands, Nu.nl, Plastic, Nana.co.il, Tommy White Tie, Jaguaro, Projo, and many hundreds of bulletin boards, weblogs, and other sites.
The project has returned for 2004.
Hi, i think you’re anti- valentines were great this year, you should be proud. do u do anything like this for birthdays/ christmas etc???
The Limey
You know what I find funny? The life-cycle of a popular link. The Album Cover Challenge has been up for
Coming soon:
– The return of the Anti Valentines. — A long weekend in Northumberland — Some more pics from New Year…
I love the anti-valentines last year. I got the ol’ heave ho that week and sent the bastard the card with Cupid. In keeping with the season’s spirit of cynicism, please bring them back for 2004!!
Oh please please bring back the Anti Valentine! I loved sending them to all my friends who recognise the over commercialisation and inflated expectations of the stupid day.
Blame Ryan Tubridy of 2FM for the amount of traffic you got on Friday 13th, 2004.
He read out some of your “alternative” Valentines greetings on his radio show this morning and gave your web address. he was pi**ing himself laughing and rightly so, they’re hilarious.
Wasn’t that nice of him eh?
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant :)
If only everyone else realised what this day was all about *sends cards to all her mates*
Cheers, keep em coming!
:)