A dying Art

I have not written to anyone today or recently , but i have to agree with you on the fact that poeple now days prefer to just forward messages instead of writing them.

I haven't written a letter in years, and I don't even see why it's important. The point of writing letters is communication, and if you can do that just as well via email, then ink on paper sent by snail mail is just a useless hangover from a past time. And in case you think I'm too young to appreciate letter-writing, I'm 72. I was once a member of a letter-writing group and was very glad to have it available before the internet. But now my friends and I can carry on long conversations via email without waiting for days for the letters to get back and forth. If you want serious conversation, then snail mail was a real obstacle to get through. Another point, though maybe not a major one, is cost. if you're already paying for internet service, and letter writing is one of the things you can use it for, why spend the extra money on snail mail? And why use paper that will probably be thrown away? People confuse the means of communication with the communication itself. Snail mail is a delivery system. Email is a delivery system. What's delivered depends on the individuals involved. Email doesn't determine in any way what you can or can't write, or how frequently you do it.

I don't write very often, but I do write to some people who don't have email or computers (such a my mother). If I have something physical I want to send to someone--a photo or a newspaper clipping--I'll send it in a notecard or brief letter. If someone takes me out for my birthday or something I'll send a written thank-you note... I feel it's more personal and appropriate than just sending an email thank-you.

When I was younger I had a lot of penpals and it was one of my hobbies to exchange letters with people from other parts of the world. I still send handwritten letters to my friends every once in a while, but I have started writing a lot of emails instead of snail mail letters. It is easy and fast to communicate via emails, but sometimes I enjoy writing and receiving snail mail letters. A few of my friends don't like to use computers and emails, so we always communicate via handwritten letters instead.

I have found that everyone loves to receive mail (snail mail as I have heard it called). I love sending mail to children so as least they learn that they can write letters. After they reach a certain age then if they want letters from me they find out that I need to receive a letter from them about once a month. If I send a letter every week and then can return one once a month. Mind you by the time they reach their teenage years they no longer sned me letter very often, but by then they at least have the basics down and can write a letter. It is an art that is disapearing. I have sent an email letter today to a friend. I like your goal. Stamps are expensive for those of us on a fixed income. My arthritis makes it hard to actually write lettes like I once did, but it is important that children receive hand written letters. If my other letters are done on the computer and printed up and mailed or emailed then the adults in my family and my friends understand my health problems and still enjoy the letters.

That is a very good post. It has actually inspired me to write a letter to a friend I've slowly been loosing contact with. Thanks for that post!

I do write to different people...I haven't done it in a while. But when my boyfriend and I were in different parts of the country we wrote letters to one another all the time (through snail mail) as well as talk to one another online and on the phone all the time. On here we are all writing. Plus I love to write in my journal.

Dear friend, After the using of computer my writing has come down very much and not my even others too. May be as an art many other arts too gone due to the advance of technology and social changes. I hope it is really a talent to write well and I just remember my school days when we hac handwriting competitions which is not there now.

hello there.... yes i've notice that also.... i still remember when i was still in high school. i have a crush and we used to write each other.... every other week i receive a letter from him. you know every time the mailman would pass by our house i would see if i have mail and if a have i would jump!!!! for joy!!! hahahaha..... but that was a long time ago... now all i receive are bills to pay.... receiving a letter really makes a difference... Oh.... yes i did send an email to a friend to today...well i hope he writes back... nice topic!!! have a nice day....

I haven't written anyone today, but I do love to write by hand. I feel there is something more personal about a letter which has actually been handwritten, you can even tell a lot about a person via their handwriting.

I sort of got out of writing but I am starting to get back into it as of late. I think you are right though, many do not appreciate writing like they once did.

I love writing letters. I would actually write some short notes on a cute stationary and slip it on a friend's book or notebook. Or I would leave a thank you note or a note of appreciation for my sister or my mom. Whenever I'm sad or I'm angery, I write a letter to myself or to God. I guess, i'm just in the habit of writing letters. I agree,it's really an art. That is why is saddening that in our present times, I notice that we're no longer into writing letters anymore. I may be a little bit old-fashioned, but nothing beats the thrill of receiving a handwritten work of art in a nicely-scented paper and reading the raw emotions through them. Ah, pure bliss!