Snail Mail Vs. Email
We live in a fast-paced society that is accustomed to things' happening quickly. The Internet and email are just two of the inventions in the past few decades that illustrate this point. There is no doubt that email makes life easier in many ways. It's inexpensive and fast--two things we like. However, while email has its positive aspects, snail mail (mail sent through the postal system) has a more personal feel to it and is much more private than email.
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The Facts
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There is no doubt email is faster than snail mail. When communicating with someone in another state or country, email is the practical route because most of the time email is immediate. Snail mail takes days and can be costly and sometimes impractical. Mailing a document that is several pages long costs more than one stamp; emailing that same document costs very little, if anything.
History
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Benjamin Franklin appointed the first Postmaster General in 1775 and stamps were first issued in 1847. Mail has been delivered Monday through Saturday since 1863. Rural delivery for mail did not begin until 1896.
Email emerged shortly after the Internet became a medium for public consumption. Email can be traced back to the 1960s, when those working with computer networks discovered a way to communicate with one another. In the 1980s, those with personal computers were among the first to communicate with other users on the same server.
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Considerations
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Handwritten notes and cards still carry some weight in society. Some events require a little more effort than needed to send an email. For example, holiday greetings, birthdays, invitations to special events, thank-you notes and other special occasions may deserve more formality than an email. One of the most important aspects to consider when deciding on the proper medium is the recipient of the email. If he spends very little time online, it may take him awhile to get his email message. If she doesn't like computers, it's best to avoid electronic communications.
Benefits
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The most obvious benefit of email is that it is immediate. In an office setting, it is much easier to send an email to an entire department. Email is also relatively cheap if not free in most cases.
However, while snail mail is slower than email, it is more personal. Though you can say the same things in an email that you can say in a letter, a letter is something someone can touch and keep. Cards and letters can be filed away and saved as mementos.
Warnings
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While we like to think of our email accounts as belonging to us, they don't. Email accounts can be hacked; individuals emailing sensitive material are somewhat at the mercy of hackers. Emails can also be forwarded to literally hundreds of thousands of people. Many have suggested that when sending an email it is best to think of it as a postcard rather than a letter in a sealed envelope.
Moreover, emails sent from work do not actually belong to the sender. In fact, employees can break company laws regarding email if they don't know what they are.
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