Bear in mind the cellphone sales space stationed on corners round large cities and small nation cities?
Some nonetheless exist, right here and there, however they’re used extra as prompts for folks to inform tales of the previous days.
The landline is a relic too; a reminder of its position now consigned to a few holes within the wall, and a patch of lifted paint that many people have not discovered time to repair.
The sound of a newspaper, laden with ink, thrown over the entrance fence at daybreak. Friday evening journeys to seize a video earlier than cranking up the VCR for a household film evening. Wrist watches that inform the time, not our coronary heart charges and sleep patterns. Dial-up modems and floppy disks, overhead projectors and street maps that have been a part of a guide.
All gone, trodden on by the march of progress.
CDs. Actual picture labs. Answering machines. MP3 gamers. Pagers. Even checkout operators and non-electronic cigarettes.
Gone. And now, the letter.
And maybe that is the place we should always draw the road. As a result of a lot of the different modifications have largely been directed at creating larger comfort.
A wise cellphone permits us to reply a name with out working from one finish of the home to a different, or between conferences, or whereas we’re out for a stroll. On each measure, it trumps the landline.
On-line information supplies an immediacy a paper crammed with information can not.
Streaming delivers a library of films, not one which must be delivered again to the shop in 24 hours. All these innovations present us time, and that is how they’ve been bought.
The displays we put on on our arms inform the time, but additionally test our well being; it is a well timed bundle of kinds, and cheaper than an excellent costume watch.
Digital checkouts even permit us to buy, with out speaking to somebody, and many people discover {that a} bonus too.
However the letter?
That is as large because the removing of the service station attendant, who allowed us to remain within the automotive, as they stuffed the petrol tank and washed the windscreen.
Perhaps even greater.
And the distinction with different technological advances is obvious.
These different modifications supplied a feel-good issue and an enormous dose of comfort. They empowered us. And in some instances, improved our well being and gave us again hours within the day.
Not so with the service station attendant. However we have misplaced that case. Eternally extra, if we will afford it, we’ll be filling our personal petrol tanks.
However that is why we have to rail in opposition to solutions that Australia Submit would possibly quickly dispense with delivering our mail.
Customized pleasures
Sure, we will ship and obtain emails. And it’d even save a little bit of time. However what about that little pop of shock while you go to the letterbox to discover a actual letter?
Not one from the actual property agent canvassing for a sale. Or the electrical energy invoice.
One which makes you’re feeling like one million {dollars}. Written on white paper, in an envelope, along with your identify plastered throughout the entrance. Not typed. Written.
Final 12 months, it was my New Yr’s decision; to ship a letter to somebody, each week. It solely lasted just a few months, however in each single case, the recipient later described that sense of exhilaration upon opening it, and studying it.
Not every little thing quaint is dangerous. And never every little thing new is sweet.
We will nonetheless save the letter, and never simply because a bit of our inhabitants should not electronic mail customers. As a result of in a world of dangerous information, it provides a smile.
Like every little thing, it comes right down to economics. We’re not sending or receiving sufficient of them – and that is behind a call by the federal authorities to evaluate the position of Australia Submit.
Australian houses solely obtain 2.four letters every week now, down from 8.5 every week 15 years in the past.
But when we will elevate that letter writing charge, and make the financial system work, we’ll cement its future.
The answer merely requires a crisp white piece of paper, a pen, and a dedication to make another person really feel good the subsequent time they go to their letterbox.
Maybe the primary one does not even must be that feel-good sort; take into account it a observe put up.
And why do not all of us write that one to the Finance Minister, who could have a key say in whether or not the letter is killed off.
Pricey Katy Gallagher…
