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Post by penguy on Nov 8, 2020 20:45:35 GMT
I was browsing to see if there were any interesting letter related apps to be found on my iPad. I thought a correspondence tracker of something or the sort. I came upon one that was a different approach to anything I had seen before. It is called 'SLOWLY-Connect to the World': www.getslowly.com/en/. It is rather an interesting idea. What do you think the advantages/disadvantages of this app over our snail mailing? What would be the advantage of the app over just messaging or emailing and just taking a long time to reply? Would you want to use the app? I thought some of the reviews were interesting. The website really didn't say as much as on my iPad app store. You have an avatar and user name and make connections. Depending on how far apart you and your Pen pal are apart the app determines how long it will take for your letter (email) to get to your pen pal and how long on the response. You have to buy stamps, which I guess defrays the cost of running the site. Personally it seems like something for the electronic age person who has never known the joy of getting a real letter in their mailbox.
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Post by although on Nov 9, 2020 2:23:48 GMT
I suppose there is a place for such a system in the world. It seems to me that this idea leaves out the best parts of physical correspondence, and accentuates the worst parts... Now, when they come up with an app that can send hand written letters instantaneously and for free I think they will have come up with a winner!
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Post by distractedmom on Nov 9, 2020 2:54:47 GMT
The app would be convenient and potentially provide a wide pool of pen pals. But I would be concerned that it would be too much like a dating site. Or invite dating site kinds of behaviors.
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Post by penguy on Nov 9, 2020 3:25:58 GMT
Although, you can do that now. You can scan your letters and send them as an attachment in an email, but it is hard to put a tea bag that can be enjoyed when writing the next letter to go with it, or a special clipping, or any of the enclosures that creatively enrich the exchange. Then there are the beautiful and unusual stamps, the personally created stationery, and the decorated envelopes, and all of the other elements that make snail mail so enjoyable. I doubt I would use the app but I thought it was interesting and wondered what others thought.
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Post by Catida on Nov 9, 2020 6:11:53 GMT
I've heard of it before, and I think it's a fun idea. But since one of the reasons I started to write letters was to reduce the time I spend on my laptop/phone, I haven't tried it. Besides I enjoy using my stationery and pens. But it might be a fun way to correspond with someone in a country with unreliable postal system. And now that postal connections aren't working normally due to corona (I haven't been able to send to Australia since March...), this app could offer an alternative if you have a penpal you're unable to send to.
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Post by Mia on Nov 9, 2020 13:12:17 GMT
I have used the app. Just occasionally and nothing long lasting. Current new letters from Africa all seem to want something else. Same sort of thing on other penpal websites, clearly not having read what little profile I've had.... I haven't checked on the Boredom Research snails - I'll check now. link
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Post by eefa on Nov 10, 2020 17:36:14 GMT
It's an interesting idea but I'm not sure that I really see the point of it, at least not for me. Similar to what although said I'd find myself missing out on the best parts of letter writing which is using my stationery, fountain pens and no technology. Not for me I think.
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Post by filpot on Nov 11, 2020 16:09:16 GMT
As soon as I see the word "app", I know it's not going to be for me. It already does my head in trying to Instagram from a laptop because I don't get on well with smartphones, so I'll stick to my pens and paper!
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Post by hoyabella on Nov 11, 2020 19:25:53 GMT
This makes me think of the following quote from Terry Pratchett's fantasy novel "Going postal", where the "clacks", a sort of telegraph, have replaced the post, and where the main character has to reopen the post office and make the old system work. Here are his words:
"But can you write S.W.A.L.K. on a clacks? Can you seal it with a loving kiss? Can you cry your tears onto a clacks, can you smell it, can you enclose a pressed flower? A letter is more than just a message."
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Post by ginny on Nov 11, 2020 22:41:13 GMT
I think it's a good idea for those who are new to the whole letterwriting business. Many people have got used to living in an instant gratification society and have forgotten what it means to wait when it comes to communication, so it's a novelty for them. As far as I'm concerned - if I need an app for it, I'm not going to do it *lol* In that context, you might want to have a look at this link: www.nationalreview.com/2019/03/handwritten-letters-meaningful-delightful/I quite enjoyed reading this article (you can also listen to it, if you want to). However, I wouldn't go as far as saying that 'musings about life must be handwritten as typing would be sacrilegous' - I have penpals who have health issues that make it hard or almost impossible for them to hold a pen, so they type their letters, and their letters are every bit as personal as a handwritten missive.
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Post by penguy on Nov 12, 2020 5:33:11 GMT
I'm getting so far behind on emptying my inbox that I don't need anything to slow down a response, I don't need an app to do it . I think I am going to have to write shorter letters. I am not apt to go for the app I enjoy the leaves, tea bags, sayings, zines, photos and postcards I find falling out of the letters I receive...the things that make letters very much personal. I very much appreciate the quote hoyabella mentioned from Going Postal.
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Post by ginny on Nov 12, 2020 9:09:35 GMT
I enjoy all the things that make a letter very much personal, too, so I fully understand where you're coming from, penguy . However... the main thing for me still is the letter. In that context, I have been observing a trend that apparently puts more emphasis on what I call extras and kind of neglects what I call the main thing. I have a few (less than a handful) relatively new penfriends who tuck in goodies with literally every letter - and I'm not talking about a little sticker sheet, a teabag or a postcard. They send notebooks, stationery samples and little bags full of die cut stickers, and they call that 'compiling a snail mail'. Their letters are relatively short - which is a bit of a shame since they are really nice people that I'd love to get to know better, but it's hard because their letters are so short (1 sheet A4, front and back, average length, give or take half a page). While I do enjoy receiving goodies, I also find that it puts pressure on the recipient. I'm sure these penpals mean well, and they enjoy giving material things. For me, it's the gift of time that counts more, though. I'd rather have a longer letter than a sticker sheet, if given the choice. I send little things along with my letters, too, but not with every letter, and I'm afraid that these penfriends might be disappointed with me in the long run *sigh*.
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Post by ginny on Nov 12, 2020 9:10:56 GMT
The app would be convenient and potentially provide a wide pool of pen pals. But I would be concerned that it would be too much like a dating site. Or invite dating site kinds of behaviors. Not having any experience with dating sites whatsoever, I have to admit that this makes me wonder: What do you consider 'dating site kinds of behaviours', distractedmom?
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Post by hoyabella on Nov 12, 2020 13:02:34 GMT
While I do enjoy receiving goodies, I also find that it puts pressure on the recipient. Me too. I have been also wondering if it is correct to "forward" to someone else the goodies I have received. I am keeping all the stickers (sharing them with my daughter) because sometimes I use for decorating my letters but I am not really into crafts and "ephemera" are not my thing. Also, even if I like postcards, I don't keep them all and I would like to send some, I have enjoyed them long enough.
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Post by radellaf on Nov 12, 2020 14:12:47 GMT
As soon as I see the word "app", I know it's not going to be for me. It already does my head in trying to Instagram from a laptop because I don't get on well with smartphones, so I'll stick to my pens and paper! While it makes me feel "old," I guess I'm just an early curmudgeon. Anything app-y that doesn't have a matching (and fully functional) website is something I tend to dismiss. Why use a tiny screen instead of the nice 21" desktop? I guess 10 years ago when I didn't need reading glasses that was less of a consideration. I could hold the phone 8-10 inches from my nose and see even small stuff on it. The main thing that kills is any idea of playing games on it, especially 3D games. S'OK, all I played 10 years ago was an asteroids-like arcade game and The Deep pinball. The second reason is that my phone is 5 years old (I like my headphone jack) and running the original iOS 9 since I've heard nothing good about 10-12 and don't care about any of the new features in them. Maybe 1/4 of apps will even install and work? Eventually a critical app will die and I guess I'll upgrade phone and/or OS at that point. Or the temptation to just get a new shiny thing will win out. Especially with the new SE at $450. I love my iPhone, but mostly as a walkman for podcasts, audiobooks, and SirusXM on-demand shows (essentially another podcast). Mail & texts are handy. The browser is useful, though sites like Patreon now just load as a blank page because they have a bad attitude and overcomplicate things to the point older browsers won't work (I'm sorry, 4 years is way too recent to have your site fail with). KISS, guys. As for the app mentioned, assuming I was technologically and attitudinally fine with it? Eh, no. An app to keep up with paper letters could be useful vs the table in a google doc I use now. That holds together names, board handles, addresses; but, it's inadequate for keeping up with notes about letters, dates of send/receive, photos of envelopes (or whole letters), plus any active logic to say "you're now 5 months behind on replies - get it in gear, man". Maybe reminders like "you said you wanted to write for an hour Saturday 4pm - you done that or you watching TV again, slacker?". I could do all that with a few separate things but it ain't worth the trouble. As for the paperless penpal idea, err...no. Half the reason I write is to keep my pens from drying out, and to give myself some small excuse for having them all. A lot of my penpals seem the same, which gives a nice ready topic to talk about. The ballpoint pals (or non-handwriting pals) aren't going to likely be into the fun of me showing off ink colors or nibs, so much. Maybe some of them. If the letter says anything about pens, I'll usually put in more color. Either way, for me, the idea is to use pens and send and receive paper thingies in the mail. As for enclosures? I might one time apologize about or clarify my style and timing, but after that you know what kind of letters I send and can take it or leave it. I _appreciate_ mail art and enclosures, but I'm rarely gonna put in more than one picture or a spare sticker.
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