No Christmas cards to people with an internet connection?

[FrostyMoanyWind]

Just receiving the first round of Christmas cards. Mine will be going out Friday. Haven't printed them yet and having an internal debate between what is generally accepted as the "polite thing to do" and what is environmentally responsible. Or is it just that considered a cop out?

Sending cards to elderly relatives who don't have computers and who would be upset not to hear from us. Ok.

But to people who we usually receive cards from and have always sent cards to but are in computer contact throughout the rest of the year?

The friends of my parents who send my DC birthday presents. Rude not to send a card?

My godparents who have email/facebook but to whom we have always sent cards and who send us cards?

I'm wary of e-cards too, you never know if it is a legitimate link!

You're supposed to write "news" in Christmas cards? I've only ever received ones which are signed, maybe a "we're all well, hope you are too. Love to the DC " kind of message. Ours go Dear Great Uncle X, [printed message] lots of love Frosty and family. Family hears my parents version of news on the family grapevine, anyone else from my generation who might have scant interest in our lives knows already from Facebook.

I think it's lovely that so many posters still love sending cards and receiving them. It's only a small effort but shows you've been thinking of someone, even if you don't see them often (or at all). Simon Jenkins' erstwhile collections of the most cringeworthy Christmas round robins were funny, though

Yes, I write news, personalised depending on who I am writing to, not a Round Robin letter . Just a few lines and I love reading other people’s news, but then I don’t use FB so I am not in constant touch with people.

Sorry but I've always sent Christmas cards and will continue to do so. Anyway, I still have cards from last year to use up.

I send E-Cards to people who I'm close friends with online.

I've discussed the giving of Christmas cards to friends and colleagues and most say don't like sending any cards . I think it's something that will be phased out with the older generation. I only send to whoever sends to me and immediate family .
I'd happily send e cards but what's the point . People put cards up on the mantle piece etc you can't do that with e cards .

I like sending them but I only send them to people who are genuine friends, I don't send them for the sake of sending them (e.g. to people I haven't seen for 10 years out of habit like some people seem to). I don't want to waste paper or resources, but there are some people I really like sending them to.

I don't send cards partly for environmental reasons (and yes, I try to be environmentally concious in other ways.

But mainly I don't send them because I can't see the point of sending a piece of card saying "To Sarah and John from Redsky and family" to people I see on a regular basis. And I equally can't see the point of sending a card to people I don't see on a regular basis, because frankly if we can't be bothered to get in touch otherwise, then a card is hardly staying in contact.

That's how I feel too. If I get a card from someone I see or have electronic contact with on a regular basis, then I'll already know they care regardless of whether they send one. And if sending a card out once a year would be the only way we'd be in touch, then actually it isn't a sign of them caring much at all. Which might be perfectly fine, maybe we're just not close any more: if we aren't in regular physical or electronic contact that's my responsibility just as much as theirs. But sending a Christmas card doesn't seem to me like a demonstration of anything much.

I still send and receive quite a lot - I enjoy receiving them - they form part of our decorations, but then I'm fairly ancient. I know a few couples of around the same age who've stopped sending, and say they're donating to charity instead.

Fair enough, except that I know they could perfectly well afford to do both. I'm sure they just CBA, which is also fair enough, so I don't know why they don't just say so.
All the cards I send are charity ones, and all the ones we receive are recycled.
I love the Jacque Lawson type e-cards but IMO they're not a substitute for the real thing.

I say this every year on these threads...people who don't send cards and give to charity instead, never give up turkey or presents or alcohol or parties (or anything that is important to them personally) but it's "cards"...something that might actually mean something to someone else.

Well, I wouldn't put a holier than thou message declaring I'm giving to charity. No one believes anyone who writes that anyway. Charity donations are not something you should broadcast imo.
My list stands at 11 elderly relatives, potentially 4 godly relatives and 4 good friends who will also get gifts.

I only send cards to the people in my family who think not sending cards is an abomination. The rest get e cards. It does feel wasteful and we need to do away with the whole tradition TBH

I love sending and getting cards and the letters enclosed in them .They are all reused in craft activities. I hate e-cards cluttering up my already over full inbox, just adds to my workload and are usually deleted without viewing. Same with FB messages for birthdays I choose not to display my date of birth to keep my Timeline clear of them. I also dislike all the claims about givng to charity instead, just a means of showing off. I give to charities a lot but I don't feel the need to broadcast it to the world. I particularly dislike those people who guilt trip you into donating to their fundraiser. They are usually those you wouldn't normally dream of giving a gift but feel obliged as the names of everyone you know appears on the list of donors.

I love Christmas cards & people may send less but they're certainly not dying out. Not only can you not print an email or a text, I love seeing people's writing each year, it's a really connecting thing.

We stopped sending cards about 6 years ago. Gradually, the numbers we receive has dwindled.

Don't send an email instead either.

I think Christmas cards will be unheard of within 10 years.

Any we do get go straight into the recycling.

Realistically fuzzy, people who give up sending cards are also very likely to be doing some of the people they send a favour, because those people will be glad to no longer feel obligated to participate in card exchanging. Really, we'll all know people who like the tradition and would be sad if it stopped, and also people who regard it as a wifework chore and would be pleased never to be included in it again. Those are both common enough positions to be unremarkable, as well as everything in the middle.

People should just do what they want and be honest about it, not make out like they're doing it for the greater good either way. I'm not saying nobody ever chooses based solely on environmental or belief they're tackling loneliness grounds, but I doubt most people do.

I send lots.

I love Christmas cards and will continue to send them (and recycle any I receive, or turn them into gift tags). You can't display e-cards on the mantelpiece.

If you want to save the environment, have few children, don't fly longhaul for your holidays, minimise your car use, reduce your consumption of animal products and try to avoid single-use plastics. I doubt the production of cardboard greetings cards is a major factor.

I love seeing people's writing each year, it's a really connecting thing

Exactly. Especially people who live at a distance, who you don't see very often.

They give people jobs! Like postmen....and I don't think Christmas cards that are recycled make a huge impact on the environment.

Of all the wasteful things that go with Christmas, cards don't really seem to be one of them. As long as you make sure they recyclable then I don't see that much wastage in a few cards. Why don't we stop wrapping presents, christmas crackers, plastic toys with mountains of packaging, paper plates, gift bags, paper hats, polyester christmas jumpers, sequins, plastic confetti, christmas trees, decorations, tinsel, and excessive displays of lights which are on constantly for about 6 weeks in every town and city in the country!!!!!

My handwriting is very neat, if I say so myself. Maybe I should start sending cards just to show off!

We’ve sent out 70 already

I looooove getting them and sending them is so much fun. I love putting on the Christmas tunes and writing out the cards with a baileys. I like thinking of the person as I write them out and I love getting them too.

Wrt the environmental thing, I think it's as much the sending of them as the paper itself that people are thinking of. Transporting hundreds of millions of anything by post uses a lot of resources. Although yeah, hardly the only example of Christmas related unnecessary consumption!

I havent done cards in years, its just to much headf**k