Letters for all
First thing, I’m not going to refer to it as ’snail mail’… it’s such a derogatory term both towards the physical mail system and the gastropods named. It will be called ‘real mail’.
I suspect everyone prefers real mail to the electronic variety, though presumably for different reasons.
Maybe it’s the tactile nature of the paper or perhaps knowing that someone has spent a reasonable amount of time and effort to contact you… or it could be that you appreciate the massive logistical triumph that it is.
I doubt it will die out. Indeed, I think email is a temporary intermediate.
Eventually, I hope, you will be able to send real letters via a small box that you can carry (the box will get smaller in time, eventually it will be a keyring). You put the letter in the box and it is immediately transported to its target box. With further advance in technology it could be possible to send parcels too.
The instant nature of email with the physical benefits of real post.
Incidentally, I sent a letter with the address of a specially created email account written instead of an address. Untypically, from the system that replies to letters addressed to ‘God’ and ‘Father Christmas’, I have yet to receive a response.
PS.
Only now, after clicking on ‘Publish’ do I realise that what I meant to talk about was how much about someone you could tell from their choice of email address, just as much as you can from their real address… I was going to talk about population statististics for mail providers… It was either going to be really interesting or terribly boring.
Oh, really? Then what does my email say about me? You should be able to see it in your admin tools somewhere…
/b
Well, without wanting to broadcast you email adress…
Your email address suggests that your some sort of sleeper agent, possibly working for the kremlin, maybe just a rich industrialist hell bent on taking over the world… indeed, you may actually be the rich industrialist.
Furthermore, your address insinuates that you operate from a secret base lodged somewhere within the cliffs of Dover.
You clearly know too much and must not be “disappeared”.
/b
Must NOW be “disappeared”! Must NOW!
…crap.
/b
I’m afraid I have to take your first answer…
just as well really.
Damn the Geneva Convention’s gameshow clause!
/b
I’ve always thought that the postal service’s biggest mistake was not jumping on email. Every community has a post office. Use them as the centers of a high power wifi network. Give each person with access an email box and charge a small tax, which would likely be less than what a regular high speed internet provider would charge.
Wow, that would have been a good idea, wouldn’t it?
To be perfectly honest, if the mail system refused to deliver anything smaller than a parcel, I wouldn’t shed a single tear. I find e-mail much more convenient and I have no trouble keeping myself spam-free. (something snail mail can’t boast… and I use that term completely on purpose)
The only thing I use the mail system for these days is buying hard-to-find used books without having to pay rip-off couriers for delivery. In fact, one of my goals for the next year or two is to scan and throw out every piece of paper in my room that is neither a novel nor a reference book or textbook.
I do try to understand your viewpoint, as there are people I know who share it, but I’m not sure I ever will. I suspect it’s because I’ve always valued the content over the media. Give me IM any day. It allows me a real-time intellectual discourse that I find far more stimulating and satisfying than even e-mail can match.
Of course, given that I have Asperger’s Syndrome and value chat logs highly, it’s no big surprise that I prefer IM to telephone calls.
I haven’t sent a real letter since I was like six and even then I didn’t care for it. But I don’t care for e-mail communication either. Anything where I have to actively engage someone is generally bad for me. I prefer passive modes of contact…for instance…commenting on blogs and comics…
I’ve just read through the process on your blog… If it were that much trouble for me I’d never send one either.
http://thegreatjoebivins.blogspot.com/2008/08/comic-comments-incorrect-titles-edition.html
I’m waiting for a package from home now. It should be here soon- maybe today. My parents are sending some things for the baby and some tetley tea for me. Package teleportation would be great. It would open the possibility of ordering takeout from across the world. Just imagine- being able to dine on authentic English fish and chips without having to endure English weather… not that Korean weather or Canadian weather are anything to brag about themselves.
I managed to read that they were sending a baby and some tea…
Imagine how bad the tea would taste after being packaged with a baby?
Some english cricket fans were visting Perth, WA, for some match and they got drunk and wanted an authentic English curry.
So they ordered take away.
It got delivered.
Cost a few grand.
I’d rather not imagine what that would taste like… but if I ever get a few grand that I don’t particularly need and a hankering for something spicy, you’ve given me a wonderful idea.
Us deafs quite like email and IM, especially over the telephone…
Still, you plan to go paperless? Top stuff, you’ll have to let us know how you get on…
I think the device you refer to is called a “fax machine”.
Also, Oh, recent GTH point winner, expunge that apostrophe! You know which one I mean …
I can’t find that superflous (sic) ‘ anywhere.
I don’t I’m afraid… I leave them all over the place, a lot of the time.
However, if we do have a spare, perhaps we could put it somewhere in this comment:
“I know why your nervous: ever seen a pig’s heart give the blue screen of death?”
…and this ‘fax machine’ you speak of, is it some highly advanced alien technology? Does it use toner?
“it’s target box”
y’know it’s mistakes like that which will eventually spoil it for everyone…
Corrected, thanks.
Zing! You got me!
I should really stop drinking, taking comments and leaving comments after midnight.
i don’t know, i don’t think email should be a temporary intermediate because it has its advantages too
a mail system entirely separate from the real mail system allows me to communicate with internet weirdos like ben here in a much safer manner than making sure he knows where i live
i kind of like the idea that its seperate from (and doesn’t rely on the consistency of) the physical place one is based at
until now ive never thought about how weird mail is…
and oh my goodness ive started calling it ‘mail’ when i’ve always called it ‘post’. what have you done?!
Hey, that’s the answer to the “real mail” vs. “snail mail” debate… just call it “post” instead! So we can send emails, and the arrive instantly, or post, and it arrives in 7-10 business days, soggy, withe the corners crushed, and crumpled nearly in half.
That’s exactly how I sent it!
why do my bills always arrive in a timely manner,
but my payments sometimes get lost?
i think companies love to charge late fees
by holding onto my payments for a couple of days
and insinuating it’s my fault or delayed postal delivery.
Actually I saw a documentary about credit companies where they did exactly that. Those people are jerks.
All I think of with letters is – what about the cheery postmen! What happened to them! Now they are grumps! No fair!
I decided to comment with my other email address here, so that you could tell me what it says about me – to be honest, even I don’t know what the hell it means.
My other one only tells you my name and website. A tad boring, really.
(philippa@ethereal-imaging.co.uk, if anyone’s interested. Which they’re not.)
oh man! i HATE when that shit happens. I cant even like girls who dont use the internet as much as me! is that sad? i hope not…
I enjoy the wonderful simplicity of your thoughtful work. Keep it up.
Thanks Joe, I’ll try my best.
I was just admiring your comics too… pretty accurate, especially the wife/mother thing with your latest strip.