Writing

I do like the end-of-year custom in Japan according to which people exchange postcards with friends, colleagues, and family members to inform each other of the year past and celebrate the year to come. Many of the young generation in Japan, however, find it tiresome, environmentally unfriendly, and unnecessary. Messages through mobiles, or social networks, are believed to be more up-t0-date and convenient.

I have been a big fan of handwriting, a practitioner of letter-writing, and a faithful supporter of postal system. Therefore, there is no single sign of cultural shock for me when I was initiated to this.

Due to the late closure of the term in December, my scribal activity finally started with hand-making postcards in January 2011. At first, I came up with a design that was supposed to facilitate easy reproduction making use of Japanese colored papers and a rubber stamp of a backward-looking bunny (for the year of rabbit). There were several variations of the same pattern in my mind, and I was convinced that it would only take less than an afternoon to finish. In the end, it took me three days to measure, cut and paste papers, write messages, sort out postage, and have them sent.

It feels just like a ritual for me to stop everyday routine, sit down, open my handwritten address book, and spend time writing to friends. Sometimes messages would (accidentally) get lost somewhere in the communication and fail to return to me, and which can be quite heart-breaking. I do admit that it is anxiety-making when waiting to be heard and replied. And sometimes, the thought of being forgotten looms lalrge and eventually becomes the reality. Nevertheless, this old-fashioned means of communication is still much preferred for me to online messaging tools.

Last year, I was advised by an acquaintance on the disadvantages of not joining any instant messaging networks online. The drawbacks, according to him, are mainly that the informality of messaging tools makes communication more transparent and efficient, problem more easily solved, and interaction more actively conducted; conversely, the bureaucratic formality of email, or mail in general, often delays the clarification of problems and postpones to an unseen end any solutions.

To be honest, I do not agree with any single point that he made.

Of course, it is undeniable that email is less popular than any current messaging tools these days, and unfortunately I have lost contact with some people since I withdrew from the scene of MSN messenger. However, in a world dominated by fast-food communication like the current one, all can be said, but most are forgotten. The fragmentary nature of the communication that the current messaging software provides really confuses me. I do wonder if the communication by such means is really more efficient or sincere. Or, it actually uncovers the fact that communicants nowadays care nothing but the result, nothing but the informal fun, and nothing from their communicating partner but the bits and pieces of their own thoughts.