Bethanne Patrick

In Spamalot: The Shelfari Chronicles

"Finally someone takes on the great evil of our time: SHELFARI...," writes Choire Sicha in yesterday's Gawker, referencing Jesse Wegman's New York Observer piece.

Finally, my real story can be told. SOB. It's one of pain, heartache, and Internet spam.

A few weeks back, my producer asked if I could create a Shelfari widget for my new vlog. Why not, I thought? Shelfari virtual shelves looked attractive, the process of creating a Top Ten shelf seemed simple, etc. etc.

Oh, Shelfarians, you nefarious lot. You had me at "Select Books." I was hooked, and so when I saw a screen that told me I could add my friends from my email address book, I thought again: why not? Why not see which friends of mine already had shelves?

About fifteen people in my AOL address book did. I hit "Add These Friends."

Whoops.

Below the fold and below the belt, Shelfari! I had NO idea that the application had already conveniently "selected" every single person in my address book. There was no warning, and perhaps I should have known better. Within minutes over 2,000 people, mostly in this industry, had received "Invitations" from me. 

As Wegman says, "This was my bad, and I want to apologize for it. So, in lieu of sending out another e-mail to my entire address book, I’d like to take this space to say I am sorry. I’m sorry to everyone for my inadvertent invitation... " 

Truly, everyone, I apologize if these invites didn't land in your computer's spam folder. Feel free to send me chain letters, Cialis offers, and pictures of pets dressed up in Halloween costumes. I deserve it.

But. But, but, but, but. I want to offer an alterna-view, because this bizarre act of unconscious spamming has resulted in good things for me. No, not riches or offers to publish my unedited memoirs -- old and sometimes dear friends emailing me. Last week, because of Shelfari's bad tech behavior, I had lunch with an old friend from grad school. I've reconnected with a freelance colleague, gotten messages catching me up on all sorts of news from all sorts of people.

So while I would never have pestered all of you voluntarily, and while Shelfari really really really needs to get its mind right (pace Tionna Tee Smalls), I'm going to consider the good in Spamalot. And just in case you want a safe way to see my Top Ten list, click here -- just remember not to go anywhere near the Get Your Own Shelf button. Caveat lectores!

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on October 25, 2007 | Comments (7)