I've been sending a lot of mail lately. It's something I enjoy. My goal for this year was to send two pieces of mail per week, and so far I have exceeded that mark. It occurred to me that I might like to share things about mail with the internets and the people at the other end of the tubes, which as I understand the internets are made of. I asked a friend or two what they thought of blogs, and of my starting a blog about mail. I got interesting comments from all, but a conversation Paul was particularly illuminating. I've posted it below, and I believe it states in a way the purpose and the limits of this blog.
me: what is your opinion of blogs and people writing them?
Paul: blogs...aaaaah....that's a long answer.
some are good and legit. most suck. some are written for legit reasons. most are written because we've created a generation of self-centered exhibitionist morons.
me: yeah
I've been writing lots of mail
Paul: on paper? excellent.
me: and was thinking of blogging about mail and mail related issues
Paul: you know, for someone who studies literature, i have to say that the genuine letter is an undervalued form. people used to put real thought and effort into composing letters to friends...not for a public audience like a blog, but to communicate real ideas. i consider it a literary form as much as poems or novels, but it's at least as marginalized as poetry, now.
the question is, do you see value in "style" as much as in content? if so, then a well-written letter is superior to a fast, but poorly written, email. i place great emphasis on style, which might be a reaction to living in a fast, cheap, disposable culture.
me: I agree.
that's the kind of thing I would like to put on my blog.
Also I think there is an intimacy in a physical object being transferred from one person to another. Even if it just three lines there's an effort, a journey of the object, and then a physicality of the exchange that all our hyper connectivity through electronics cannot replace.
Paul: as long as you maintain a critical perspective on what you're doing and why, i think you're justified. it just needs to be a blog that realizes it's a blog, and one which emphasizes that blogs are often symptomatic of a decline in just those things - material exchange, interpersonal communication, genuine social skills, privacy, etc.
me: yes
i think i will make this blog
and i would like to post what you've said on it
i like the things you've said
i only wish they'd been in a letter
I hope to live up to Paul's standards. I also hope that I can entertain, and possibly connect with, a few people who enjoy a nice piece of mail.
