What is Failed Mailed?In early 2008, Raymond Benson released his novelization of
Metal Gear Solid. Fans have regretted this event ever since, though we have managed to glean some limited satisfaction from its multitude of lulz.
failed_mailed was a concept brought up in chat to mirror other round robin events with a bit of a twist on it. The idea behind FM is that a copy of the novel is provided by the founding member (in this case, myself) and passed around between a group of people who then read, comment, and vandalize the original copy for the enjoyment of the next reader until it eventually makes the circle back to the origin.
How long will this event take?As of now, there's no set time, as we don't have a full list of people. In terms of the reading restrictions, it was agreed by the original circle who came up with the idea that two weeks is a fair stretch to finish the novel. It's ludicrously easy text, so it shouldn't be too hard for the average third grade to muck through it, but exceptions can and will be made in cases where it's an extension is understandable. After the second week, the book gets mailed to the next person and so on and so forth.
What about the book itself?People are encouraged to take notes/make comments/draw/attach/staple/etc. whatever they want into the book. That's the point of the round robin. I'd prefer if people kept the book in decent condition, though it doesn't have to be pristine. It's bound to get a bit battered by the end. Just don't sound the book back in pieces.
What stipulations are there?Only that you keep the round robin going by paying the shipping price for the next person. That's the only expense that really comes to mind, and it's the one you have to be willing to make to join in.
I live in a non-U.S. country, can I participate?Sure, but just be aware that international shipping is expensive. I'd prefer to do European or other transactions in a cluster, that way to minimize shipping between continents. I'm also not going to force anybody to pay international shipping who doesn't want to. They would just send the book back to me, and I would set it up to go international.
What if it gets lost in the mail?A shame, but c'est la vie. I'm not going to charge anybody for lost mail. Besides, somewhere, someplace, someone's brain cells are thanking me.
How do I join?Admissions are going to be open for the next couple of days (today is September 20th, 2008). I'll shut it down if and when I think the pool is starting to get unmanageably large.
