I invited strangers to message me through a receipt printer

Project behavior & interaction design

• Commenters ask if messages are visible to others; they’re currently stored in SQLite, with interest in a possible public feed.
• Some like the idea of anonymous venting; others suggest optional attribution and filters by anonymity.
• People enjoy sending “uplifting” notes and the feeling that their text triggers a real-world physical action (even if the printer might be out of paper).

Appeal of receipt printers & analog experiences

• Many express affection for thermal/receipt printers as delightful, low-friction, “offline” devices.
• The tangible, ephemeral strip of paper contrasts favorably with purely digital messaging.
• Several mention using printers for notes, zines, party cameras, or kids’ instant-photo toys.

Impermanence vs permanence of art

• One thread highlights that thermal paper fades within about a year; suggestions include adding QR codes for long-term archiving.
• Some embrace impermanence (comparing it to fading slides or Burning Man–style art); others argue that art “should” be lasting, citing centuries-old paintings.

Prior art & related projects

• People recall earlier internet-connected thermal gadgets, like Berg’s Little Printer and various guestbook/“dumpster fire” live-printer installations.
• Stories include Disney World’s old receipt-based task assignment system and a bathroom-based thermal printer project.

Spam, abuse, and moderation

• A few worry the printer will be overrun by bots or offensive content.
• The author notes a basic rate limiter and character limit; so far traffic is mostly benign, with some trolling considered part of the fun.
• Others share experiences where open printers were probed by spammers but not heavily abused.

Health and materials (BPA, BPS, etc.)

• Multiple comments raise concerns about BPA/BPS in thermal paper and recommend phenol-free or specialized alternatives.
• Others downplay the marginal risk relative to common lifestyle exposures, pointing to regulators’ findings on “normal exposure.”
• There is skepticism about “BPA-free” labels that simply swap in similar chemicals, and recommendations to use non-thermal printing when possible.

Hardware, cost & tooling

• Discussion covers Raspberry Pis handling load, printer model suggestions, second-hand deals, and cheap ESC/POS units.
• People share drivers and libraries (CUPS, Ruby, barcode/QR support) and note that entry costs still feel high for “fun” experiments.