Summary

The author expresses a dislike for generic greeting cards, preferring personalized messages that convey genuine sentiment.

Abstract

The article titled "Greeting Cards" delves into the author's aversion to the impersonal nature of greeting cards, despite acknowledging the kind intent behind them. The author argues that greeting cards often feel like a perfunctory task, lacking the sincerity of a personal call or text. They suggest that the act of sending a card can be more about the sender's sense of duty than about a thoughtful exchange. The piece reflects on the possibility that for some, particularly older generations, pre-written cards offer a safe and less vulnerable means of communication, contrasting with the openness facilitated by modern technology. The author notes a trend among younger people to send fewer greeting cards, attributing this to their comfort with expressing emotions through various digital channels. Ultimately, the author advocates for the inclusion of a sincere, hand-written message to transform a generic card into a meaningful keepsake.

Opinions

Greeting cards are seen as an obligatory gesture rather than a heartfelt communication.
A personal message added to a card can make it feel more genuine and thoughtful.
The act of sending greeting cards may stem from a desire to complete a task rather than a genuine interest in connecting with the recipient.
The preference for personalized communication over generic greeting cards is linked to the ease and habit of digital communication among younger generations.
The author perceives the reliance on mass-produced cards as an indication of discomfort with open communication and vulnerability.
Despite the author's general dislike for greeting cards, they acknowledge that a sincere hand-written note can make a card worth keeping.
The author believes that the choice of communication

Greeting Cards

Make them stop. Or at least elevate them with a personal message.

I’m grateful any time someone thinks of me kindly- especially long enough to display their thoughts via a kind gesture.

But I hate greeting cards.

I know this sounds petty, but hear me out.

It takes all but a few minutes to grab a card during an already-planned outing, sign your name to it, and stick it in the mail.

Again, a kind gesture is better than no gesture.

But I’ve always wondered upon receiving one of these generic well-wishes, why not just call or text me a more personal message if you’re genuinely interested in wishing me well?

To me, a greeting card has always felt like an obligatory chore to be completed. A tick off the ol’ To Do list. Not an actual thoughtful message, but a self-satisfying, virtue-signaling sigh of relief.

There. I’ve completed that task, now I can move on to the more important stuff.

It feels thoughtless. It feels mandatory. It feels cheap. And It feels insincere.

It makes me wonder- why some people choose greeting cards as a way to communicate.

Perhaps for those habitual greeting card senders, the cards themselves feel like a safe form of communication. Not everyone grew up communicating their thoughts and feelings as openly as people do today.

Grabbing a card off the shelf, pre-written by somebody else feels safe because it’s a less vulnerable way to communicate.

My parents, for example, seem to feel uncomfortable discussing basic topics I deem uncontroversial, yet delight at giving and receiving mass-produced cards written by an unknown third party.

This strikes me as odd.

However, technological advancements have ultimately affected the way we communicate. My parents’ generation didn’t grow up communicating online. Whereas today, we have social media, text messaging, email- you name it.

We all communicate publicly and it’s easier than ever before.

And it’s the younger generations who tend to send less greeting cards. Why? My guess is because they’ve had a lot of practice communicating thoughts and feelings openly through various channels, thus greeting cards have become obsolete.

I hate to say it, but most of these cards, with very few exceptions, end up in my rubbish bin (sorry, Mom).

It’s one thing to receive a mass-produced card with only a signature attached. But if the card has a thoughtfully constructed, hand-written message from the sender and seems genuine, I’ll most likely keep it forever.

It only takes a smidgen more thought to produce something meaningful.

In this lonely world we live in, I’m all for reaching out via whichever channel you feel the most comfortable communicating in.

But if you choose to send a greeting card, at least scribble a quick message at the bottom, in your own words, before signing your name. Bonus points if the personal message is sincere and heartfelt.

Because nothing makes me feel lonelier than receiving a mass-produced, generic card reeking of pity and obligation.