Letters did not evolve into email
Many of our earliest written records focused on economic transactions and approved histories.
Personal records didn’t begin to be treasured until paper and school made such enterprises easy, perhaps the best known diary and letters were kept by Samuel Pepys in 17th century London.
Letters were being sent between individuals during these times: often to make arrangements or to make agreements in business but also the personal correspondence between family and friends. The penny post in 1840 made this as easy possible but the first postal service in the UK relied on the receiver paying the delivery service… unwanted mail just didn’t get get revenue hence wasn’t an issue.
When the telegraph came in the 19th century, many heralded that as the end of the humble letter. But many still sent personal letters well beyond the introduction of the telephone. Email did end many business letters but having invaded the work place, many do not wish to use email outside of work hours, especially for short messages. Text messages seem to fill the personal gap – dedicated, personal and easy to send.
The film, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, featured a major contender to the personal correspondence: the blog. As Judy Dench’s character leaves England and her family for India, she doesn’t promise to write or email but they can follow her on her blog.
And blog she does, providing her audience with an entry a day – that’s a lot of paper and stamps. Like a postal letter, the response is not required though it is always welcome.
The killer of the personal letter was not email, it’s going to be the blog.
Posted: March 25th, 2012 under 42, Social Networks.