Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 12:25:26 +0200
From: Hugh Rodwell <m-14970-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se>
Subject: M-TH: The art of letter writing


Yoshie writes:

>This is a vicious cycle in that canned messages stunt imagination, which in
>turn will sell more canned messages. After the revolution, I hope the art
>of letter writing will be resurrected.

No need to wait, we're doing it here and now on the Net!

And my daughter makes her own cards with great enthusiasm. When I was her
age I neither made my own nor sent readymades.

What we're seeing is a commercial drive to get people to buy readymade
cards etc and celebrate readymade events (Mother's Day, Valentine's Day
etc) that is dialectically related to a mass popular need for celebrations,
present-giving and supportive contact with people you don't see on a daily
basis. Capitalists cheapen everything, but I think it's too much to give
them the credit for *creating* this kind of thing. Come the revolution,
we'll see a lot more new reasons for celebration and a lot more creative
and interactive ways of exchanging greetings, congratulations etc.

Cheers,

Hugh




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