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Boxed InApril 22, 2004 I realized recently that nearly every time I need to drop outgoing mail into a blue metal US Postal Service mailbox, I hesitate uncomfortably for a second or two. I inspect my mail, doublechecking return addresses, the adhesive on the stamps and envelope. There's something a bit intimidating about the finality of US mail, in contrast to nearly all other routine dealings I have with objects in the real world. Most of the time when I put something somewhere, I can take it back if I want, I can pick it up again. But mail is final; with mailboxes, it's like I'm dropping a ring into Mount Doom.I suppose part of the reason it's a big deal is that I only use snail mail for important stuff these days, like big checks and letters home. But it's funny that over the web, transactions and communication rarely seem so final. If I pay a bill, PayPal someone, or order from Amazon, I can usually take it back easily. I can edit or remove blog posts that don't come out right. Clicking the SEND button makes email final... but I never feel that same hesitation. It's like... staring at a bright screen full of 1s and 0s just doesn't drum up the same emotional reactions as that BLUE METAL BOX OF NO MAIL RETURN. I am a creature built for physical space. « prev | April 2004 | next » 17 Comments
So how did the MMP gig go? Or was that a joke? Posted by: Judas on 22 Apr 04 at 01:06PMNo, that was real. There will be a slide show and commentary about the trip on MMP.com soon. But thanks for reminding me! Posted by: Ryan on 22 Apr 04 at 01:08PMit feels helpless but, it's mostly safe. i totally feel you on this one. i do the exact same thing. i think i live in fear of getting an envelope back with "insufficient postage" or "no such address" stamped on it. Posted by: peter on 22 Apr 04 at 05:20PM(Almost typed blogspit?,,,does this figure.) This is sophisticated stuff (technically) compared to mine but the sentiments ..Ah. Email is the notepad - the hasty dropped love/hate note. The horror of the tattymailbox (my Canarian one) Dear Sir/Madam, you owe us. yours sincerely (you bet)...or faithfully (worse) Posted by: Anonymous on 24 Apr 04 at 06:47AMStill, I feel much safer sending important things(resumes and proposals and the like) via snail mail than via e-mail... ...for exactly the same reason that you hate it, because it feels more real. It's much harder to delete a piece of paper than an e-mail. Posted by: Anonymous on 24 Apr 04 at 12:54PMOn the other hand, anything sent through the regular mail can be destroyed. Burn it, throw it in the garbage or tear it up into little pieces and eat it - you can get rid of it. But with electronic communication, it always feels like its still there, no matter how many times you trash the thing. Posted by: Reuben on 29 Apr 04 at 04:47AMYeah, until a virus or a Microsoft product destroys my hard drive and I lose the last 10 years of my life. Lately I've been feeling more and more paranoid about the fragility of all of my data... so I try to back up regularly. And I worry that even if I do back up, that a fire or theft might kill my backup DVDs and my computer... so I've been planning to send a copy to my parents house, or put it in a safe deposit box, etc. Real objects do feel more real. Things we can hold in our hands are supposed to. Posted by: Ryan on 29 Apr 04 at 12:00PMhey, and now you have a copy of my post. Sorry about that, I don't know what I did. Posted by: Reuben on 29 Apr 04 at 06:31PMsore subject. Posted by: Tonya on 2 May 04 at 07:23PMI'm the same, I always check the address and stamps. We have red mail boxes here, so it makes it just that bit more scary. The red box of doom. Posted by: Kitta on 4 May 04 at 12:31AMDear god ryan.. please post another message... this one is so old and you public misses you. Posted by: concerned fan on 3 Jun 04 at 03:18PMinsert instead of you Posted by: typo on 3 Jun 04 at 03:23PMwow, this IS old. hey....i used to read your blog ages ago, starting with the car tests in plymouth. I myself become nervous before sending out snail mail. What if something goes wrong? Ehhh... :( Posted by: Stacy on 29 Jun 04 at 09:15AMintensely pleasing! Good work and helpful with nature. Posted by: jenny on 21 Jul 04 at 09:29AM |
Pulp InsideKeeping BusyThis sidebar showed Ryan's upcoming events and activities circa 2004.
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