Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Art and Writing

Steal this journal: when theft is acceptable

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Steal this Journal?

Definitely.

As with seemingly 90 percent of on the edge projects, this one originates in Seattle. The basic concept is to encourage people to journal by leaving journals, labeled "Steal Me" in places where people can find them, use them, and maybe get them back into circulation for future thefts.

The idea is pretty cool, conceptually speaking. But does it work? Do people really steal the journals, write in them a bit, get them back out and begin the process again?

I know I tried BookCrossing for a while, which had a similar idea that involved "freeing" your books. I freed quite a few of my books in some of the area towns. I think, in speaking with people about it, the idea confused people up here in North Dakota. Maybe we don't trust anything given to us for free, or we don't actually think it really is free but that there are strings attached.

I would love to make a journal and leave it to be stolen somewhere, but it would most likely collect dust or be found in a location and taken to the proper authorities as a "lost and found" object.

It's a shame. The concept sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps a modified guestbook would work, leaving a journal in, say, the local coffee shop and encouraging people to anonymously journal in it while they had their break or sipped coffee. The book would be returned to the shelf, ready for the next person. It's just an idea.

Though a more permanent website is in the works at www.stealthisjournal.com, you can find out more about the project at its "temporary" website.