Do you still write actual letters to people?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

Not talkin' email here- I'm talkin' 'bout sitting down at your desk, taking out a few sheets of fine paper, picking up your favorite pen, then composing and writing a studied missive to a friend or acquaintance.

It just occurred to me- I haven't done that in years. I'm talking twenty and more years. And I miss it.

I used to do it all the time- it was relaxing to pen a letter to someone. It was a way to intimately and privately communicate with someone. A hand written letter was sacred- a sealed envelope with someone's name on it was considered sacrosanct. It was a private thing, and it was a joy to receive a reply within a week or two. One didn't mind the wait- it was anticipation, not wasted time.

It's a thing that seems to have passed- now all we get in the mail are bills.

Now there's email. Now there's a keyboard and monitor. Now there's instant messaging. Now the world has shrunk into a ball of mud ANYBODY can hold in the palm of their hand. Now bad grammar reigns. Now misspelling is condoned (witness the first sentence of THIS missive). Now 12 point computer print replaces good penmanship. Now ink jet paper has replaced fine stationery.

Now instantaneous communication has replaced the quiet joy of the letter mailed to a friend.

I sometimes believe this computer generation has destroyed far more of our essence than we will ever realize. Kids type by the time they're in pre-school, but do they ever learn to write with pen and paper? We all Instant Message around the world without ever seeing the face of who we're talking to! We don't have to WAIT for it any more- ICQ even lets you know when your unseen friend is TYPING THEIR REPLY!! We don't even bother forming our own coherent thoughts- we let Smilies express those all-important universal feelings that so easily well up!

Of course, the other part of the New Equation is the cell phone. Do we even need to go there? Now we have people walking the streets talking to thin air, and we know they're merely chatting with a friend. People walk around with bluetooth Star Trek earpieces clamped to their heads, and nobody notices! Nobody is EVER EVER EVER out of contact (unless they're Roaming, and who does THAT any more?) and it's becoming increasingly impossible to drop out of sight, even if only for a quiet afternoon of relaxed letter writing.

We've lost a lot in the advent of instant worldwide communication, and I for one mourn the loss. The world has become far too small, and too many tangible joys have disappeared as a result. The really funny part is, this new generation doesn't even know what's gone.

Perhaps I should write a letter about it.




---
Note: I had written this to be posted in GD, but DAYUM they're looney tunes over there these days. Instead I offer it up to The Lounge. Hope you enjoy it.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Yes, I do, though not very often.

It's still a helpful medium for certain communications.

[liberaltrucker]

2. On one level, I agree 100%

Technology has in many ways, made interaction more impersonal.
At the same time, made communication with loved ones more
immediate. Paradox? You betcha.

For example, when my granddaughter took her first step, I saw
the video in minutes via email. She says "nite, pawpaw" in real
time on the webcam.

Yes, putting pen to paper has it's nostalgic attraction, but
give me technology. My emails are saved and printed on archival
paper and will last much longer than the ink on letters my (then)
teen-age Mom received from soldiers during WWII. BTW, those have been
scanned, saved to CD, and printed on archival paper.

Having said all that, the art of composing a letter, or a book
will never die. We are after all, human beings.

[fizzgig]

3. not since my grandmother passed six years ago

i used to write her a letter about once a month or so because i knew it made her happy.

i often think about writing letters more often but never get around to it

[Recovered Repug]

7. Same for me,

My grandmother wasn't online and hard of hearing (well she was 100). Writing was the only option.

[Shine]

4. Yup, it's a different world

I still write thank-you notes by hand. I think it's a sign of respect that you care enough to take the time to write it personally, as opposed to simply shooting off an email.

My 14 yr old son has a cell, but the big thing with kids in his age bracket is the text messaging. They don't even call each other anymore, it's all texting! He's got a whole private social life going on, via texting, that I don't know anything about. I know he's texting girls, but that's about it. I don't think it's moved into the realm of actually TALKING to them yet! :eyes:


Yeah, this generation has no idea about how communication was done earlier. Everything moves faster now...and I'm like you, I'm not convinced it's necessarily a good thing.

:hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

5. Only when I'm sending them items as well.

[ThomCat]

6. Yes, occassionally.

I even went out and had some stationary made. It's awesome for "Thank You" letters and "I'm Thinking About You" notes. :)

[REP]

8. Regularly, and I'm not 100

I write to my friends and family. Email and phone calls are great, but a letter gives you more time and space. Not for anything earthshaking - I often wrte letters wen I'm bored - but letter writing is different from other writing.

[Heidi]

9. I'm not surprised to hear that you do this, REP.

I do it, too. There a level of caring (and SPLEEN, too!) and a certain expression of individual humanity that can be conveyed by a handwritten letter but not so easily by an email or phone call, and that's why I write letters -- not to everyone and not even on a weekly basis -- to a handful of friends and family.

Nice to see you! :pals:

[REP]

10. Oh, yeah, plenty of Spleen!

Don't know that my letters show that much care - other than good taste in stationary.

Oh yeah - letter writing justifies my paper "problem." If I keep mailing it away, I can get more!

Good to see you, too! :hi:

[Heidi]

11. Hahahahahaha!

My "paper problem" is enabled by a very serious "fountain pen problem." :rofl:

[REP]

13. Tell me about it!

On me I have a Waterford, a Waterman, a Lamy and a very beautiful handmade one I got at the local art fair this fall. The guys at the fancy pen store know me a little too well (they're all junkies, too),

[Not_Giving_Up]

12. Yep....

My grandparents don't have e-mail. We talk on the phone regularly, but every now and then I write them a letter. Every one else gets e-mail.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. Yes, I still write letters. And I handwrite all birthday and thank you notes

I stopped buying pre-written cards years ago, and use blank quality paper and envelopes for things that require cards - congratulations for things, birthdays, anniversaries, thank yous, and so on.

I don't write as many letters as I used to, though.