It is a shame that in today’s society, when one checks the mail it contains mostly bills and some advertisement. As technology rapidly advances, many new efficient ways of communication are created, making people reject the “old school” methods.
I personally enjoyed receiving letters growing up. In elementary school, my heart would flutter with excitement if there was a letter addressed with my name on it. Personal letters were extremely special to me, and what contributed to that was the wait and anticipation of receiving a letter back and how infrequent letters came that when they were given it was worth value.
There are now newer and faster ways of communication. One can choose between a phone call, email, text message, instant messenger, social media sites, and Skype to try to contact someone. There are so many more possibilities than writing a letter which takes days for it to be received. For obvious reasons, its understandable why the postal service use has declined over the past years. Fortunately, sending packages is still needed which helps keep the business alive.
I do wish there was a way to use both the postal service and convenient technology service. Online shopping is a great example of both usage. One can use the internet to shop at the comfort of her own home and rely on the UPS to deliver her package. I wish there was a way to use that balance with cards. I am actually not a fan of e-Cards. They just seemed impressionable and last minute. Maybe one can design and write her card online, and then instead of emailing the card, they can print and mail it to the person. I think that way it is still convenient yet personable. Plus, it makes it look like you took the time, money, and effort into a card 🙂
If technology continues to rapidly develop, more ways of communication and eventually shipping will be created… possibly ending the U.S postal service. In this article, the postal office talks about how they are loosing billions of dollars due to the decrease in use. They are hoping to rely more on the shipping business to keep the postal service alive.
What an interesting free choice. I like how you enjoyed the “old school” method of communication when talking to a distant friend or relative. While others sit all day in their rooms and text with an addiction, they don’t feel any happiness in being able to atleast communicate with someone, because its so frequent, and there is no rarity to it. It happens all the time, so why would anyone care? They would text someone one day, and forget it over the weekend. But a mail is more important. It doesn’t come everyday from a friend or relative. Of course like you said it comes from advertisements, but its more rare to get a letter, so you will remember the letter more full heartedly, and you will be more happy you got it.”Fluttering with happiness.”
I think letters are pretty nice too, but I think the sentimental value of letters are high because of how easy communication is today. If we look back maybe 50 years, letters were still a common form of communication and many people wouldn’t give another thought about the method of communication. But today if someone sends a letter, they took the time to write a handwritten letter rather than type up a quick email. Letters make us feel like we were worth the effort instead just another guy on an email list. But in the end, there isn’t much benefit of handwritten letters other than sentimental value. Emails are faster, more convenient, and easier to use.
Interesting post, Lauren! Personally, I prefer the new methods of communication as opposed to “old school” methods, such as letters. That doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate a handwritten sentiment, but I feel that it is far more convenient to use email, text, etc., to communicate and exchange information. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time that I sent a letter to a friend. And for that matter, the only letters that I really receive are either from my grandparents on holidays or from colleges. Some people would argue that technological advances have caused communication to become somewhat bland. Letters have a more personal touch to them, but I don’t feel that that special touch is always lost with these new forms of communication. For instance, Skype and FaceTime are ways to communicate “face-to-face” wherever you are. That can be even more personal than a letter, as you are talking directly. Nevertheless, I can see how people would be upset with the lack of letters, and you brought up an interesting point when you mentioned the deterioration of the U.S. Postal Service. If the possibility for its collapse is present, then it is certainly a valid cause for alarm.
I like how you brought up something concerning such a forgotten topic. Mail is in fact, an evident part of US history. It shows thought, attention and diligence. Anyone can spend a minute and write a long email or skype or facebook, or twitter but knowing that someone went out of their way to make you a letter, or card is much more touching and heartfelt.
Also people tend to forget that the mailing system offers plenty of job opportunities for millions across the world. If technology were to replace the mailing system established, millions would become unemployed
I totally agree about not liking e-cards. What ever happened to the times when people would take the time to craft a unique card? Now, people live quick and fast lives, and want to do everything faster and faster. I think we should take some time to slow down and donate some time to write thoughtful letters with meaning and not chock full of spam and junk. Chatting has become so fast now, with Facebook and Twitter, that we sometimes act before we think. I wish that people would slow down, just enough to really appreciate hand written mail and write some too instead of emailing a thoughtless email!
I too like receiving mail in the mailbox instead of a simple text or email. Technology is so convinient yet it drains human interaction away from social experiences and replaced with images or quick replacements. Noone calls each other or write notes in class (even though thats bad) instead they do worse, text. I see technology and the advancement of all these communications as a double edged sword, sharpening our lives but cutting away what he had before losing that feeling and meaning.