Since the dawn of email, "snail mail" as it has been affectionately coined, has no doubt declined in popularity. Snail Mail is slow, and not nearly as free as email is- but email notably lacks the charm and personal touch that comes with a handwritten letter (and pretty much all forms of instant communication). Hence the dawn of the adorably geeky-chic (and non-profit!) organization, Snail Mail my Email.
According to the website, users can simply "Type a message to a friend, family member, pet, Politician, or lover and email it to snailmailmyemail@gmail.com. Then sit back and relax while your email is handwritten, sent out, and delivered to the recipient of your choosing, completely free of charge!"
And while the creator of the project, Ivan Cash, anticipated only a handful of responses , "I originally thought I'd get five or 10 letters a week-- and I was hoping I'd even get that many" he has been overwhelmed with requests, with more than 2,300 handcrafted, perfume spritzed, doodled, and even lip-stick- kissed letters sent out within the first two weeks.
While "snail mail" may not have speed on its side like email or texting does, a good old fashioned letter tugs at the recipients heart strings. People can see how much effort went into something, and they always appreciate a little extra thought- maybe that is why people still have an attachment to the contents of their mailbox.
No doubt a greeting card is charming, and a handwritten letter trumps an email as far as personal touch, but the real draw? People want to be creative.
No doubt a greeting card is charming, and a handwritten letter trumps an email as far as personal touch, but the real draw? People want to be creative.
Cash claims that "Snail my Email" was created as a way to get people to remember the joys of putting pen to paper. A good old fashioned letter is no longer meant as a mere form of communication, but now it can also be a form of artistic expression. "Snail my Email" has already inspired fans to send Hogwort's Admission letters, proposal speeches, even a letter to the president.
Even in the midst of the communication revolution, it seems the sweet tradition of letter writing has whittled itself yet another niche. Perhaps not quite as mainstream as in the past, but no doubt mail is stubbornly holding onto its place in out hearts.
