I was shocked by this headline in the Chicago Tribune last week…“Emily Post Institute says holiday e-cards OK in their book.”
Mrs. Post, I respectfully disagree.
“Holiday traditionalists, prepare to be shocked.” Indeed! I continued to read… “Electronic greeting cards are now considered acceptable by an old and influential etiquette authority: the Emily Post Institute.”
So says Daniel Post Senning, the author and spokesman for the institute.
Senning is quoted saying “ the world is changing, and etiquette needs to change with it.””I think that’s entirely acceptable,” he said, “particularly if that’s the difference between (the sending of cards) happening or not happening.”
According to the article, holiday cards are being sent less and less the old-fashioned way. U.S. Postal Service statistics show a 7.5 percent decrease in holiday greeting cards sent in 2009, compared to 2007 statistics. General correspondence saw a 6.9 percent drop over the same period, according to the USPS.
Suni Muhammad, of Chicago, was interviewed for the article saying he’s not in favor of electronic cards. “It’s not the same,” Muhammad said, adding that you can’t put an e-card on the mantle or affix it to the refrigerator door like the old-fashioned kind. “It’s always good to get something surprising in the mail.”
Suni, I wholeheartedly agree! Technology makes automation easy, receiving a traditional card is worth so much more. It says you are important enough for me to take the time to do it personally.
Days after the article, Anna Post tweets:
Here is what I think @AnnaPost, I am of the opinion that E-cards are not cards at all. They are emails, which I think we can all agree, we get way too much of. Perhaps e-cards do have an appropriate time and place but let’s keep the holidays sacred and just say no to e-cards.
If you are too busy to send a paper holiday greeting card, please just skip the gesture all together… there is always next year!