Queereaders discussion

"When did we all get so busy?

Over the years we have found ways to pack more activities and tasks in the 24 hours we call a day. To keep up with our fast-paced lifestyles, we also have advanced in technology. E-mails, text messages and cell phones make connection instant, efficient and almost too easy.

With all this easy access communication, what is happening to personal letters?"


http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa...

I love sending letters and cards - I have quite a collection and lots of friends get them for me. I love sending them, although I don't receive them as often as I send them - but I am really happy when I get them.

It is annoying that it keeps getting more and more expensive - post office announced rates will go up again.

At one time, I had nearly 100 penpals from lots of different countries, and some in the US. This very enjoyable hobby lasted a few years until I got "penpal burnout" and stopped writing altogether. Perhaps it would have been better to write to just a few, but that would mean having to choose and I had a hard time with that.

I know what you mean about postage costs, Scott. A few of my penpals liked to exchange gifts. Even though it was just birthdays and Christmas, sending packages internationally can get quite expensive.

I still remember my dad complaining about postage rates when the stamp went up to 13 cents in 1976. :)

Personally, I think letter 'writing' is making a comeback via e-mail and social networks and even texting. It is different from the flowery Victorian letters that can approach literature. I think the e-(r)evolution has revitalized writing. It has for me— I hope.

I still love writing letters. Actually, just writing in general. My girlfriend and I keep a "double diary" while we are in school, and we pass it back and forth, writing notes, and just whatever comes into our heads, and then we take a look back, and see how far we've come in such a short time. It brings out the best and worst in us, but it's definitely worth the time and effort.

Kernos wrote: "Personally, I think letter 'writing' is making a comeback via e-mail and social networks and even texting. It is different from the flowery Victorian letters that can approach literature. ..."

Actually I believe that e-mail and texting have contributed to the demise of "the art of letter writing." The golden age of letter writing was before my time but when one wrote a letter and had to wait until tomorrow or longer for the postman to collect it or for the writer to walk to the post office, one had time to reconsider and revise.

While it's true that the sheer volume of communication has incresed, the quality has fallen off, almost to nothing.

Just as a case in point take a look at this letter written by a soldier to his wife on the eve of battle. http://www.jayandmolly.com/balloulett...

And as to texting... :-( l8trz!

That's a very moving and beautiful letter. I am very familiar with it, having listened to it numerous times on The Civil War (TV soundtrack).

Since my recent trip to Gettysburg, I appreciate the music even more.

Nancy wrote: "That's a very moving and beautiful letter. I am very familiar with it, having listened to it numerous times on The Civil War (TV soundtrack).
..."

Yeppers, that's the same letter. One of Ken and Ric Burns's best talents is their ability to find good writing. The Burns Brothers found some great writing to use in their documentary on New York.

Try this one... Most of the big shore places were closed now. And there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of the ferryboat across the sound. And as the moon rose higher, the inessential houses began to melt away till gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes, A fresh green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams. For a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent. Face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to its capacity for Wonder. - F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I just love the imagery and the phrase commensurate to its capacity for wonder They say that words are the tools that thinkers use to form ideas. It's phrases such as this that make us all better builders.

Stephen wrote: "...Actually I believe that e-mail and texting have contributed to the demise of "the art of letter writing..."

I disagree, from my own experience, and, as I said, I'm not talking about the masterpieces written during the Victorian era or pre-telephone 20th century. I've seen many examples of great writing from this period, but have no idea what an average letter was like, esp those from the middle classes.

Personally, after college, in the late '60s, I wrote very little other than business related correspondence, which is not the topic. I've never considered myself a very good, non-technical writer. But, I think I've improved since the early days of the net, from BBSs to AOL to modern forums and emails. I do more writing today than ever before. I exclude texting, since I don't use it and the difficulty of creating long texts, makes it a different form altogether. Texting is not about writing, but about communicating as much as possible with the fewest possible keystrokes. I certainly spend a lot of time editing and finding just the right word. (What's that Mark Twain quote, about the right word...?)

I have seen many emails and forum posts that are as good as any published letter I've read. There are cultural and verbiage differences of course. But, I really do think many have been writing more and talking less, because of the the internet, at least in the various forums I haunt.

I don't tweet much, but Twitter is actually interesting, as the limited characters forces one to be as clear and concise as possible.

What is the real point of correspondence? Communication or elegant prose?

"The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." —Mark Twain

I actually have three penpals to which I regularly write. Two of them are people I met, got to know and we write each other in the "old fashioned" way. We do send emails with quick updates, but for more serious topics or certain other times, we write each other. Certainly it takes longer, and with my handwriting, it can be difficult to interpret, but there is something special about receiving such. We send photos and gifts also.

The other penpal I have is one I began communication with from a LiveJournal group where people actively seek written letters. It is...hard to describe. This is a person I've never met, and may never meet. She tells me what's going on in her life, how she's feeling, her triumphs, her disappointment and broken hearts. We send each other little gifts also when we feel like it or have seen something we think the other might like.

I value this especially because it gives me insight into another person, but it also gives her an outlet to say things to me she might never say to someone around her. It's over a year now since we've began writing one another. I am due to send her one soon, but there is no obligation felt in either of us. We've gotten to know each other, and there is always a "good feel" between us. I wish her the very best, and I feel she can experience my good well towards her in my words.

The written letter is a lost art. It requires you formulate and express your thoughts in a different way. It requires patience and understanding which tossing off a quick email cannot encompass or explain. You know when you receive a written letter they've taken a certain amount of time and devoted just to you. That is what's special.

I very much enjoy written letters, and will continue and hopefully expand my correspondence with others. Emails, social networks and texting, although a good way to communicate in some ways, cannot reach the level of depth letter writing can and does. Those things cannot touch the long history of the written missive.