Paper prints

When was the last time someone said to you: “It is not worth the paper it’s printed on?” It probably has not occurred recently, since most of our interpersonal communication has now gone digital. If our thoughts and ideas and, perhaps, a short thank you note are not “worth the paper they are printed on,” then what does this say about digital correspondence. I suspect it says quite a bit, but not in the way you would suspect.

I own a stationery store and am quite proud of my engraved personal stationery from Crane & Co. If one were to be tactless enough to question my judgment by suggesting that my “pearls of wisdom” were “not worth the paper they are printed on,” I would quickly do a little math to validate this harsh claim. At two to three dollars for an engraved note and envelope, one could perhaps assign a “value” to the simple act of sending a thank you note, a congratulatory note or a sympathy note to a friend or business acquaintance. And, do not forget to add the cost of the postage. While I am not prone to do so, I could theoretically place a dollars-and-cents value on this somewhat antiquated, but still very elegant form of social correspondence.

Frankly, I have no way to determine the “value” one attaches to the exchange of personal correspondence; however, it strikes me that e-mail, text messaging and social network correspondence has no basis for comparison: it’s free! Does this mean that digital social communication have no value? The answer is probably yes, since most social communication tends to be one-sided as Twitter actively promotes: “What are you doing?” I had always thought that communication involved at least two people.

I guess the central argument is that if everyone already knows “What we are doing” there is no need for additional correspondence. Other than the banal commentary or chat that passes as communication, the end result is a one-sided post that seeks affirmation or acknowledgement from “followers” who in most cases don’t even know the sender.

While there is certainly merit in the speed and facility of digital correspondence, I plan to communicate the old-fashioned way. Expressing one’s thoughts or feelings by way of personal stationery is simply more elegant and displays a level of empathy and respect that is often missing in much of today’s social communication.

Richard W. May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair and a Founding Member of the Stationers Guild, an organization dedicated to preserving the craft and civility of fine stationery.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_W._May