electronic greeting cards vs. the conventional paper greeting cards
By Rexy_leigh
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
Philippines
February 19, 2007 4:41pm CST
Aside from flowers and chocolates, greeting cards is a great way of expressing our endearment to the people we value the most, our better-half, parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, and even instructors in school. It feels just awesome if you receive such when you least expect it. But am afraid that with the advent of high-speed technologies, this manner of expression is slowly dying out. By this I mean the ordinary paper greeting cards, some are even scented and musical which are unfortunately slowly replaced by the electronic greeting cards which we can get in just a few clicks of our mouse, no hassles of going to the mall or bookstores at all. Well, if I were to choose I'd still stick to the conventional coz I find it a lot sweeter and I can keep them as souvenirs...LOL What about you, do you really think there's a big difference between these two or am just the one making a big deal out of this? :)
8 people like this
25 responses
@lauriefnp (5109)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I still love to receive the old-fashioned paper cards, and I love to send them, also. E-cards are cute, and they have their place, but they are a bit impersonal. There is nothing as special as receiving a card which someone picked out just for you, took the time to write a greeting in, and mailed. It just makes people feel good to receive cards in the mail, I think. Of course, I'm also one who still feels that Thank-you cards should be hand-written and mailed, also...
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
20 Feb 07
How can you say e-cards are impersonal? I agonise trying to find the best one. I go from site to site, I then write in them, just as I would a real card, some can come with music attached so agin, I spend a long time finding the right tune.
Don't get me wrong I love the original greeting cards as well but they are just too expensive now and when you incude postage ...that's impersonal! And people don't acknoledge when I send an e-card and my daughter has told me it's an insult and that it's offensive. Mind you, she doesn't acknowledge paper cards either and these days rarely sends anything.
I guess that's life in the fast lane...sigh.
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Very well said... Like you, I feel more special if I receive some cards which I knew the giver has spent time and effort sneaking at the store and looking for the right one, and of course the handwritten greetings really has a personal touch. :)Thanks for replying, by the way...
2 people like this
@sunil18_r (52)
• India
20 Feb 07
hey,
technology would have reached great heights but wen it comes to emotons n feeeling of connectivity with your dear ones..i think there is no match for ordinary greeting cards which sometims we ourselves can make it n express our feelings in the way which is directly communicated with heart rather than sitting in front of lifeless comp n sending it....
i think its d way v present ourseles in ordinary paper than in formatted electronic greeting tat makes ordinary greeting special
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yes, exactly!!! It brings a feeling way different if the card you're sending is the real one and not just the "ready made" electronic cards. No matter how simple and redundant your greetings and messages would be, still it gives out a special feeling of love and affection to the one reading it... thanks for the response, by the way.. :)
1 person likes this
@Dolcerina (3376)
• Hungary
20 Feb 07
Good discussion ! +
I have to agree with you. I would choose the conventional greeting cards. What's more if I receive an electronic greeting card I can not be happy at all. I feel that the person who sent it to me was too lazy to go to a shop, and choose a real one. A virtual greeting card means only virtual feeling to me.
Anyway what should I do with an electronic flower, I can not put it into a vase, I would even like a hand-drawing flower, because I know the person took the rest to make me glad.
So dear my friends please do not send electronic greeting cards to me :P
2 people like this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Many thanks for your response... Yeah, the feeling we have when we get an electronic greeting card is just way different to the feeling we have when we get the real greeting cards. It does make us feel real loved and cherished. And your right, somehow the virtual stuffs we receive would give us an inkling that what the sender has for us is nothing but virtual also... I myself don't even care so much about those e-cards I got coz of the thought that the sender might have just received it from somebody else and felt like forwarding it to me and a couple more friends :)
1 person likes this
@ladyjava (1184)
• Malaysia
20 Feb 07
I honestly don't mind both. I always say it's the thought that count. While the traditional greeting card is nice to hold and smell (like you say some are scented), if you take the time to choose a real e-card it can hold the same sentimental value. Besides I kinda like the idea of savings tress :)
2 people like this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for replying...yeah, electronic cards help a lot especially to those real busy people out there. And you're right...it's the thought that counts. :)
2 people like this
@astroo13 (963)
• India
20 Feb 07
I treasure the greeting cards I have got from my friends and family. They remind me of the past and moments of happiness I felt when I received these cards. I love sending and receiving conventional greeting cards. I send e cards only if I am not sure of the current location of the person. Both conventional and e cards have their upsides and downsides. An ecard is relatively easy to find and can be send to people who are constantly on the move or peoples whose current address is not known to us. The conventional card stays with us forever and reminds us of the glorious times we had while receiving the card.Regards
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Wow...very well said! thanks for dropping by and the wonderful ideas...i do appreciate them..yeah, everything you said here are nothing but true...many thanks for replying... :)
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I appreciate it so much when people take the time to find a suitable card to mail or give. To me it shows some care and thought. My grown children no longer send any cards, either electonic or paper. All but one would rather call then send a card or give a gift. Then I have one who does nothing at all. She doesnt call or write...
2 people like this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yeah, it happens at times. Things don't usually go our way but if only we can tell them straight that we want this and that..then i guess they would..but the feeling of surprise would surely be lost... and i believe your children has probably gotten real busy but it doesn't mean you have gone out of their minds..it's just that they haven't found ample time to show their feeling unto you.. :)
1 person likes this
@greengal (4286)
• United States
20 Feb 07
It is true that e greetings are more popular nowadays because not only are they free, they can be sent anytime the sender wishes. I personally have been using both e greetings as well as the conventional cards for a long time now. When it comes to very close family and friends I mail them regular greeting card and call them to wish on whatever the occasion. If its a so-so friend then e-cards work best. I think both convey the same message though the actual card is a little more personalized than the e-card. It doesn't bother me that one is being replaced by the other, as long as I think it is necessary to send cards, I will use both:)
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for replying..yes, e-card would just be fine to our casual or what you call so-so friends..but for me, sending an e-card to my parents, grandparents, aunts, and boyfriend is just not that okay...I'd rather take the effort and grab a real one for them... :)
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Exactly! We can clearly see the effort the sender or the giver of the paper card has for us while he did little sacrifices of going to the store, writing his notes and greeting down, and even mailing the card for us...Just the thought of it makes us feel more loved, right??? and that's aside from the fact that we can keep the real cards so we can re-read them over and over again... by the way, thanks for sharing your thoughts.. :)
1 person likes this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
20 Feb 07
Oh yes electronic greeting cards are taking over the personal gift of greeting cards, as they take up so much of ones times and expense that people prefer to send electronic greeting cards, but when it is for a special event in either my family or friends lives then I will personally go and buy one at my newsagents but the things is when you have family that live overseas it is a lot cheaper for us to do it via electronic as long as they have a computer.
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for replying..yes, i got your point..though most of us if not all would love to receive and send out the real paper greeting cards, there are just some cases that the least we could is to resort to the ones we can grab over the net. Oh well, am pretty sure the loved ones that we are sending those electronic greeting cards overseas would understand why we do so...and they'd at least appreciate the thought that we remember their special days.. :)
1 person likes this
@vijaya_a12000 (22)
• United States
20 Feb 07
yes. From the past few years I too had the same ambiguity. Electronic expressions are of some kind where we can copy to many people at a time and its ofcourse easy way to express. But it lacks the real inner feelings that we want to express. Of course they may contain a number of quotes, but we miss the happiness that we find while searching the conventional cards from shop to shop until we get the correct one. we can cherish them years togather may be till our blood turs blue where its not possible in electronic cards.
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
You said it right! there's just some things an electronic greeting cards can't give us or the person we're sending the card for which we rightfully get from the old-fashioned paper greeting card--- the personal touch...it always feels great to receive a paper greeting card rather that the one we get through email. :) thanks for the reply
1 person likes this
@smilingurvashi (1151)
• India
20 Feb 07
its a human psychology that people simply love receiving gifts and greetings and that too when they are delivered at their doorsteps. even i don't get much joy from receiving a greeting through e-mail. if someone gives me greetings cards in a conventional way, i feel delighted!
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for the reply..yeah, we all feel great if we receive any sort of present...a lot more if they are real..not just the virtual ones... :)
1 person likes this
@mixey62 (305)
• United States
20 Feb 07
E-cards are okay, but only for occassions where you wouldn't send a paper card. I often get Valentines and St. Patricks ecards from my friends, but they wouldn't normally send a card at all so I don't think it's inappropriate. However if people were going to send me a paper card and instead send an e-card I would find it unacceptable.
People that I send paper cards to- my parents, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and what not- are people that probably aren't up to speed on email anyways so this would not be a good option for them. However, even if they were computer savvy I wouldn't rely on e-cards for truly special occassions that deserve paper cards only.
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yes, there are some people close to us whom we think are just fine if we send out just the e-cards( but make sure it wouldn't show that you sent the card to many people on your list...LOL). But we must also consider the people REAL close to our heart like the ones you mentioned above..they are worth every little sacrifice we do to get that real paper greeting card for them. :)
1 person likes this
@moumitamazumder (817)
• India
20 Feb 07
I don't like electronic greetings cards. I don't think them as a good supplement to paper greetings cards. Afterall it doesn't shows that care and affection, which a paper greetings card brings with it. Think when you send someone a ecard. I will tell. When you don't have much time to buy a paper card, or the person is far away, and it will take both time and money to send him/her a paper card,--- these are the two situations. This means, in both the ways, you are not affording either enough time, or money to send him/her a paper greetings card. This itself is self explanatory.
We all demand a bit of special attention in our special days or achievements. Therefore the paper greetings card always serves as a good medium to send your concern, affection, and care for that person. Afterall if we can buy a smile in this way, then why not !
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for your wonderful ideas. You do makes sense...yeah, there are times that is seems considerable if we just resort to e-card but if still can make it to grab a real paper greeting card from a store, imprint our greetings and love notes, and send it to the one we love personally or by mail..then why not??? It feels really great to bring out a smile from the person we care about as you hand him your card... :)
1 person likes this
@aRiSdGrEaT (621)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
I still go to the traditional paper greeting card.. For the same reason, I find it sweeter and we could keep it and may also serve as our collection... I t even feel me that im more important for the efforts within the preparation of the card. And it is more expensive which shows that the sender would like to spend a big amount just to greet you on a special holiday.. you will feel more needed and important.. Not to mention if the card is own made, how sweet!
Electronic greeting cards may be seen effortless... that's it...
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yes, you said nothing but true!!! there's really a special feeling in the paper greeting cards compared to the ones we get via email. And yeah, an own made paper greeting card is real sweet...and I received some from my students before...it really makes us appreciated and loved. :)
1 person likes this
@sunita64 (6469)
• India
19 Feb 07
I agree with you the conventional ones are stored and at times when you look at them you really feel good. Regarding electronic ones, they take lots of space on net so after reading ones the mail containing them is usully deleted.Conventional forms are more personal and I prefer them.
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
19 Feb 07
Yes, it does rekindle the feelings when you go over the cards you received and have been keeping all along. thanks for replying, by the way. :)
1 person likes this
@imranwajid (741)
• Germany
20 Feb 07
I also think that physical cards and flowers have a lot more meaning in them. it feels much better. These e-cards no one take care of. It does not show the warmth.
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for the reply...yes, I think so too. There's really this special feeling you have if you get to receive a paper card with the sender's handwriting in there. The effort is really evident... :)
1 person likes this
@Lady_Vincy (1538)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think it depends on the situation. If you have forgotten about a perso's special ocassion (like a birthday) then it is a good idea to send a virtual card. It is also good when you are a little short on cash. It is not a good idea if you and that person are very close. It doesn't really matter to me which one I get but it really is the thought that counts to me.
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yeah, I got your point...it is indeed a good resort to send out some e-greeting cards especially in cases you mentioned above. Thanks for the reply. :)
1 person likes this
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
I prefer the one's you buy in the store . Like you said we can keep them if we want and they are nice to display up for awhile .
I know a lot of my friends are into the one's you send online but I am not into those one's at all . I think they are cute for the children as the younger children like to get them with the music and the funny things they will do but for me , I will be sticking with the one's you buy in the store .
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Thanks for replying..Yes, there are really some people who loves collecting the cards they receive, most especially if the giver is somebody close to their hearts. And I for one has done that. I've collected even the simplest cards I got since I was a grader. :)
1 person likes this
@myworld_and_you (1223)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Electronic cards are good for people who are away from each other. It costs less if I will just send my relatives in the US some electronic cards than sending them the conventional ones through mail. But, I still appreciate a lot the conventional paper greetings though. It's nice that somehow, it can be kept and you can read them all over and over again. Though, electronic cards can also be kept by printing them, there's still a slight difference with the conventional especially if the paper card has the person's handwriting, isn't it? In general, I can say both ways are helpful and useful to me.
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
Yes, both has it's own ways of expressing feelings in our behalf and bringing us closer to the people we care about. But if there's no odds at all that it's pretty hard to receive or send out the old-fashioned paper greeting cards, them I'd still stick with the conventional. :)
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
I share the same views with you and I find the electronic greeting cards with less personal touch. It always feels great to receive the conventional paper greeting cards. Thanks for replying... :)
1 person likes this
