The Missive Maven
June 20, 2009 1:22 PM Subscribe
The Missive Maven. Extolling the virtues of snail mail: old-fashioned postal letter-writing and all of its yummy accoutrements
Joe, gimmie your address. You'll get my comment in about 3-5-business days.
posted by The Whelk at 3:10 PM on June 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:10 PM on June 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Although I don't get quite as excited about it as Missive Maven does, I too like dead-tree mail when I have time to write it. I've always been partial to a typewriter though — no need to make anyone getting mail from me try to decrypt my scribbles. I like the concept of handwriting and nice fountain pens with various inks and everything else, but the realization of it has always fallen short to me.
But even typed on a Selectric, there's a slight irregularity and texture that you don't get on a laser-printed letter. It's not worth the work when the recipient is just going to scan whatever you're sending and shred the original (which is what many corporate mail rooms do today), but occasionally I'll break it out. Sometimes it's just to feel the keys and smell the light machine oil, though.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:38 PM on June 20, 2009
But even typed on a Selectric, there's a slight irregularity and texture that you don't get on a laser-printed letter. It's not worth the work when the recipient is just going to scan whatever you're sending and shred the original (which is what many corporate mail rooms do today), but occasionally I'll break it out. Sometimes it's just to feel the keys and smell the light machine oil, though.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:38 PM on June 20, 2009
Sweet, I signed up with some letter writing/penpal finding things thanks to the links on this blog. Thanks!
posted by kkokkodalk at 11:24 PM on June 20, 2009
posted by kkokkodalk at 11:24 PM on June 20, 2009
I collect postcards and stuff. I have too many, if you'd like some, drop me a MeMail.
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on June 21, 2009
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on June 21, 2009
They have email on paper now!
posted by TheophileEscargot at 1:37 PM on June 20
Oh, Monsieur Escargot, I thought you of all people would know about snail-mail.
posted by eatyourcellphone at 11:04 AM on June 21, 2009
posted by TheophileEscargot at 1:37 PM on June 20
Oh, Monsieur Escargot, I thought you of all people would know about snail-mail.
posted by eatyourcellphone at 11:04 AM on June 21, 2009
I think letter-writing, like math and reading, was ruined for a lot of folks by the way it was handled in compulsory education. All that heading crap and formal vs. informal and the rules and whaaaaa. I mean, I'm a grammar nerd and love obscure rules but it was just painful. It was especially asinine to my generation when what seemed like next there was suddenly Word with its templates that took care of all that idiocy for you (wait, where does the address go again?) and it's like REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT WE SAID THAT WOULD BE? WE WERE WRONG!
I could have been working on my enrichment math workbook during that time, jerkholes. THEY HAD A CHAPTER ON MAYAN NUMERALS, DAMN YOU! Oh well. I'll e-mail you "told you so" in 2012 when I can't save your asses because I'm unable to do the math in my head and there's no scratch paper available.
posted by Eideteker at 8:35 AM on June 22, 2009
I could have been working on my enrichment math workbook during that time, jerkholes. THEY HAD A CHAPTER ON MAYAN NUMERALS, DAMN YOU! Oh well. I'll e-mail you "told you so" in 2012 when I can't save your asses because I'm unable to do the math in my head and there's no scratch paper available.
posted by Eideteker at 8:35 AM on June 22, 2009
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posted by TheophileEscargot at 1:37 PM on June 20, 2009