E-mails vs Handwritten Letters

[Todah Tear]

I find that I communicate with my friends via e-mail now. Back in the day, when many of use parted ways for college or took jobs in different cities, we wrote letters. I always enjoyed having an actual item that they touched. Having their handwriting was a way of having a piece of them and I could tell which mood that they were in when they wrote by the appearance of their writing.

I have an elderly friend who was once a neighbor who moved back to her home town. She refuses to get the internet, so we talk on the phone sometimes, but she writes me mostly. I try to write her back when I can because I know how much she loves getting a physical letter! I must admit that I would rather have a handwritten letter than an e-mail too. It is very enjoyable to go back and read letters from years ago. Eeewh, it stirs up an air of nostalgia.

I don't think e-mail can ever replace the pleasures of a handwritten letter. What do you think? When was the last time that you received a handwritten letter or even wrote one?

Just a thought,

Todah

[S. Heisley]

There are a lot of advantages to email.

-It is easier, faster, and cheaper. I, for one, am more likely to keep in touch with friends now.

-When I write, I always make mistakes and have to go back and rewrite it and I still make mistakes! Plus, my hand cramps when I write.

-It's easier to add pictures right where you want them. Adding pictures amongst the text enhances reading for others.

-It's easier to read type than it is handwriting.

However, I do miss getting purchased paper cards that I could prop on the counter and look at for days.

[S. Heisley]

I thought of something else:

It's easier to file away the email letters with a tickler name that allows you to recall something specific without wading through a stack of papers.

[planovet]

I agree with Sharons points.

I hated to write handwritten letters and seldom did. I'm more likely to write someone via email. I don't think it's impersonal at all.

[eamarquardt]

Why wouldn't one want to join the 21st Century and use the best technology for communicating with one's friends?

Even I have trouble reading my "handwriting" (if I can't remember exactly what I wrote) after a few minutes. No one else stands a chance. Even when I do go to the trouble of sending a letter to someone, it's typed! That is the only way they'll be able to read it!

Cheers,

Gus

[iplay10us2]

I prefer and mainly use email, but for me, it depends on what I am needing or wanting to write.

If I owed someone an apology, I would probably hand write it. Same thing if I wanted to really thank someone for doing something nice or if I am just plain appreciative and grateful for them.

I might send a quick email as a condolence note if someone had a death in their family, but would follow up with hand-written note in a sympathy card.

For me, some things just call for a more personal touch than email.

[S. Heisley]

iplay10us2 wrote:

If I owed someone an apology, I would probably hand write it. Same thing if I wanted to really thank someone for doing something nice or if I am just plain appreciative and grateful for them.

I might send a quick email as a condolence note if someone had a death in their family, but would follow up with hand-written note in a sympathy card.

For me, some things just call for a more personal touch than email.

...Good points.

[starleen2]

E-mail = for quick infos to each other
Handwritten= for bithday cards, sympathy, christmas cards, thank you cards.

IMO

[Arne]

one big concerns of historians is that many fewer letters are written... In the Civil War, there are many letters that give insight into what the average soldier was feeling and doing....

From Iraq, most is being done by email.... most of which will not be saved for posterity....

[tk]

I much prefer to WRITE letters. I was an English major in college and am very particular in how I say what I want to say. The very impermanence of electronic communication cheapens what I have to say. Even though I appreciate the ability to correct my errors, it just doesn't 'feel' right.

Best,
Tom

[Laredo]

I honestly do think it depends on the reason.

For e.g. thank you notes or sympathy cards, hardcopy handwritten, absolutely.

For that 83-page incomprehensibly-scrawled "family newsletter" that comes round between Thanksgiving and Christmas?? EMAIL! That way I can run the thing through spell-check and have at least a reasonable shot at figuring out what it's supposed to say....

[Miriam C.]

Printer printer printer......... For those folks who don't have a computer I write or better yet pick up the phone. The grand kids text instead of phoning. Times change.

We do Christmas cards because we put them on the mantle.

[robertaw]

Printer printer printer.........

That's exactly what I do! I find I can barely write by hand anymore but typing is so easy. Printed letters are easier on the eyes and you can even enlarge the font (or make it fancy).

[Todah Tear]

There are a lot of advantages to email.

-It is easier, faster, and cheaper. I, for one, am more likely to keep in touch with friends now...

You definitely have some good points. I like and enjoy the advantages of e-mails, but I do really cherish bit of the handwritten correspondance that I receive. I have been careful to try and save the letters from my those close to me, particularly me mother for sentimental reasons(an internet user, but not an e-mailer )

Todah

[Todah Tear]

[quote="Arne"]one big concerns of historians is that many fewer letters are written... In the Civil War, there are many letters that give insight into what the average soldier was feeling and doing [quote]

I know. If a historian were to gather the handwritten letters that were exchanged between myself and my best friend in college during the time that we each did our first internship, the total would amount to "The Life and Times of the 1980's Young Professional Woman". It was pre-email times and we wrote each other at least once a week. We covered every topic (work, rest, and play).

It is said that most of the young people can hardly complete the written part of exams like SAT and ACT because they are not used to having to physically write as much. Since they don't really know cursive writing, they have to print and that consumes a lot of their time.

Todah