Boxed In

posted 22 Apr 2004, 10PM | 17 Comments

I realized recently that nearly every time I need to drop outgoing mail into a blue metal US Postal Service mailbox, I hesitate uncomfortably for a second or two. I inspect my mail, doublechecking return addresses, the adhesive on the stamps and envelope. There's something a bit intimidating about the finality of US mail, in contrast to nearly all other routine dealings I have with objects in the real world. Most of the time when I put something somewhere, I can take it back if I want, I can pick it up again. But mail is final; with mailboxes, it's like I'm dropping a ring into Mount Doom.

I suppose part of the reason it's a big deal is that I only use snail mail for important stuff these days, like big checks and letters home. But it's funny that over the web, transactions and communication rarely seem so final. If I pay a bill, PayPal someone, or order from Amazon, I can usually take it back easily. I can edit or remove blog posts that don't come out right. Clicking the SEND button makes email final... but I never feel that same hesitation. It's like... staring at a bright screen full of 1s and 0s just doesn't drum up the same emotional reactions as that BLUE METAL BOX OF NO MAIL RETURN. I am a creature built for physical space.

There are 17 Comments

1

22 Apr 04 at 01:06PM Judas said:

So how did the MMP gig go? Or was that a joke?

2

22 Apr 04 at 01:08PM Ryan said:

No, that was real. There will be a slide show and commentary about the trip on MMP.com soon. But thanks for reminding me!

3

22 Apr 04 at 02:32PM wah said:

it feels helpless but, it's mostly safe.
try sending postcards, it's fun.

4

22 Apr 04 at 05:20PM peter said:

i totally feel you on this one. i do the exact same thing. i think i live in fear of getting an envelope back with "insufficient postage" or "no such address" stamped on it.

5

24 Apr 04 at 06:47AM Anonymous said:

(Almost typed blogspit?,,,does this figure.) This is sophisticated stuff (technically) compared to mine but the sentiments ..Ah. Email is the notepad - the hasty dropped love/hate note. The horror of the tattymailbox (my Canarian one) Dear Sir/Madam, you owe us. yours sincerely (you bet)...or faithfully (worse)

6

24 Apr 04 at 12:54PM Anonymous said:

Still, I feel much safer sending important things(resumes and proposals and the like) via snail mail than via e-mail...

...for exactly the same reason that you hate it, because it feels more real.

It's much harder to delete a piece of paper than an e-mail.

7

29 Apr 04 at 04:47AM Reuben said:

On the other hand, anything sent through the regular mail can be destroyed. Burn it, throw it in the garbage or tear it up into little pieces and eat it - you can get rid of it. But with electronic communication, it always feels like its still there, no matter how many times you trash the thing.

8

29 Apr 04 at 12:00PM Ryan said:

Yeah, until a virus or a Microsoft product destroys my hard drive and I lose the last 10 years of my life. Lately I've been feeling more and more paranoid about the fragility of all of my data... so I try to back up regularly. And I worry that even if I do back up, that a fire or theft might kill my backup DVDs and my computer... so I've been planning to send a copy to my parents house, or put it in a safe deposit box, etc.

Real objects do feel more real. Things we can hold in our hands are supposed to.

9

29 Apr 04 at 06:31PM Reuben said:

hey, and now you have a copy of my post.

Sorry about that, I don't know what I did.

10

2 May 04 at 07:23PM Tonya said:

sore subject.

11

4 May 04 at 12:31AM Kitta said:

I'm the same, I always check the address and stamps. We have red mail boxes here, so it makes it just that bit more scary. The red box of doom.

12

3 Jun 04 at 03:18PM concerned fan said:

Dear god ryan.. please post another message... this one is so old and you public misses you.

13

3 Jun 04 at 03:23PM typo said:

insert instead of you

14

3 Jun 04 at 03:31PM ryan said:

wow, this IS old.
i'll see what I can do.

15

24 Jun 04 at 05:23AM renee said:

hey....i used to read your blog ages ago, starting with the car tests in plymouth.
i recently found my way back here to find out your wit is still as brilliant as ever.
keen.
(:3

16

29 Jun 04 at 09:15AM Stacy said:

I myself become nervous before sending out snail mail. What if something goes wrong? Ehhh... :(

17

21 Jul 04 at 09:29AM jenny said:

intensely pleasing! Good work and helpful with nature.

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