The Evolution of Handwriting

hedonist

Random cards are the best and among my most cherished.  It matters not to me if it's bought or looks like something a three-year-old would make.  The intent and warm energy are there, regardless of the conduit (and for that, I'm thankful).

Oh, and circling back to the cannibalism issue, while I've never had a hankering for it, I hope I'd do what's necessary to survive.  Long-term hunger can do a number on the mind.  I remember my dad telling me when he was fighting in WWII, starving and hunkered in a foxhole for lengths of time, he and his mission partner would describe in detail the most delectable meals.  Probably played a huge part in his - and now my - need to not waste food, or anything in general.

PJ_Soul

Meltdown99 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

Go to $$$$ store...pay a buck for your card.

Those are garbage. Why would anyone want one of those?

If someone sends me a greeting card, I appreciate the gesture...I was raised to appreciate small gestures...but that comes from having grandparents growing up in the depression and having parents who saw sacrifices of Mom and Dad during WW2. 

Oh yes, you're very special to appreciate small gestures, lol, just like millions or billions of other people, including me. My point was absolutely not that the recipient wouldn't appreciate the card. Only an asshole doesn't appreciate getting a card. My point was why would you spend even $1 on a crappy low quality card, when making your own would be so much more special, and still cheaper?

And my overall point was stated at the beginning - the greeting card industry RIPS PEOPLE OFF.

oftenreading

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

Go to $$$$ store...pay a buck for your card.

Those are garbage. Why would anyone want one of those?

If someone sends me a greeting card, I appreciate the gesture...I was raised to appreciate small gestures...but that comes from having grandparents growing up in the depression and having parents who saw sacrifices of Mom and Dad during WW2. 

Oh yes, you're very special to appreciate small gestures, lol, just like millions or billions of other people, including me. My point was absolutely not that the recipient wouldn't appreciate the card. Only an asshole doesn't appreciate getting a card. My point was why would you spend even $1 on a crappy low quality card, when making your own would be so much more special, and still cheaper?

And my overall point was stated at the beginning - the greeting card industry RIPS PEOPLE OFF.

Honestly, knowing my artistic abilities, it’s better for everybody if i just purchase cards. 

PJ_Soul

oftenreading said:

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

Go to $$$$ store...pay a buck for your card.

Those are garbage. Why would anyone want one of those?

If someone sends me a greeting card, I appreciate the gesture...I was raised to appreciate small gestures...but that comes from having grandparents growing up in the depression and having parents who saw sacrifices of Mom and Dad during WW2. 

Oh yes, you're very special to appreciate small gestures, lol, just like millions or billions of other people, including me. My point was absolutely not that the recipient wouldn't appreciate the card. Only an asshole doesn't appreciate getting a card. My point was why would you spend even $1 on a crappy low quality card, when making your own would be so much more special, and still cheaper?

And my overall point was stated at the beginning - the greeting card industry RIPS PEOPLE OFF.

Honestly, knowing my artistic abilities, it’s better for everybody if i just purchase cards. 

I think that would make homemade cards even better, haha! Laughing at a horribly made homemade card seems like so much more fun, lol.

HughFreakingDillon

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Meltdown99 said:

Go to $$$$ store...pay a buck for your card.

Those are garbage. Why would anyone want one of those?

If someone sends me a greeting card, I appreciate the gesture...I was raised to appreciate small gestures...but that comes from having grandparents growing up in the depression and having parents who saw sacrifices of Mom and Dad during WW2. 

Oh yes, you're very special to appreciate small gestures, lol, just like millions or billions of other people, including me. My point was absolutely not that the recipient wouldn't appreciate the card. Only an asshole doesn't appreciate getting a card. My point was why would you spend even $1 on a crappy low quality card, when making your own would be so much more special, and still cheaper?

And my overall point was stated at the beginning - the greeting card industry RIPS PEOPLE OFF.

well, not really. if people are willing to pay it, they're not really getting ripped off. it's not a necessity of life. like has been said, they can easily make one or get a cheaper option at the dollar store. 

while i have made homemade cards in the past, one of the small pleasures I get in life is going to the greeting card aisle, reading and laughing at the cards and choosing the perfect one for the person I'm buying it for. it's no different than buying a gift that fits the person. and my family tends to put a lot of pressure on me since I always tend to find the funniest card that fits the person. it's actually a lot of fun. yeah, $7.99 for that seems a bit much, but if it brings pleasure to me and those around me then it's worth it.

and what's funny is that my wife I have this policy of not buying expensive greeting cards for each other, as she hates how much they cost as well. she shops exclusively at the dollar store for all cards. 

PJ_Soul

People who choose to pay for something most definitely can still be getting ripped off. Very easily. Especially with greeting cards, since most people are made to feel that it's rude in certain situations to NOT buy a nice greeting card.

HughFreakingDillon

"being ripped off" is entirely subjective, though. if the person is aware of the cost for something to be produced is far lower than the cost to purchase it, and is still willing to do so, they aren't getting ripped off. an outsider's opinion of what a person is willing to pay for is irrelevant. 

PJ_Soul

HughFreakingDillon said:

"being ripped off" is entirely subjective, though. if the person is aware of the cost for something to be produced is far lower than the cost to purchase it, and is still willing to do so, they aren't getting ripped off. an outsider's opinion of what a person is willing to pay for is irrelevant. 

Yes, well obviously this is my opinion. IMO, it's a rip off, and IMO, people can still be ripped off even when they choose to buy something. When someone feels that they have to buy something and spend money that they don't want to spend, they can be getting ripped off by industries that are charging way too much, with insane, ridiculous markups that take advantage of people's emotions, 100%.

mcgruff10

PJ_Soul said:

People who choose to pay for something most definitely can still be getting ripped off. Very easily. Especially with greeting cards, since most people are made to feel that it's rude in certain situations to NOT buy a nice greeting card.

To me it isn’t rude but looks awfully cheap. IMO

PJ_Soul

mcgruff10 said:

PJ_Soul said:

People who choose to pay for something most definitely can still be getting ripped off. Very easily. Especially with greeting cards, since most people are made to feel that it's rude in certain situations to NOT buy a nice greeting card.

To me it isn’t rude but looks awfully cheap. IMO

Either/or. Social pressures/expectations have a strong influence on people.

hedonist

This is hilarious!  It's just a fucking card, sent with good will and hopefully received as such.  And I love when someone sends me one that reminded them of me.

I've never been concerned with the quality or price of a card.  That's icing to me.  The cake is within.

PS - fuck pressures and expectations.  At some point, we have to let that shit go.

HughFreakingDillon

hedonist said:

This is hilarious!  It's just a fucking card, sent with good will and hopefully received as such.  And I love when someone sends me one that reminded them of me.

I've never been concerned with the quality or price of a card.  That's icing to me.  The cake is within.

PS - fuck pressures and expectations.  At some point, we have to let that shit go.

I was going to say the same thing. we can't let pressures like that (that basically amount to meaninglessness) dictate our financial or social choices. 

PJ_Soul

hedonist said:

This is hilarious!  It's just a fucking card, sent with good will and hopefully received as such.  And I love when someone sends me one that reminded them of me.

I've never been concerned with the quality or price of a card.  That's icing to me.  The cake is within.

PS - fuck pressures and expectations.  At some point, we have to let that shit go.

For the record, I'm happy to receive any card, because of course it's the thought that counts as the recipient. I'm not a jerk, lol. I'm only speaking from the perspective of some buyers. The gift card industry is a racket. I'm sticking to that perspective, haha, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. I know people IRL who feel the same. I'm not even the one with the strong feelings about it, among those who agree. But yeah, nobody is ever annoyed when they receive a card - that is not part of the argument!

As for bowing to social pressures... I am better than most and not doing that. But in general, I think that is MUCH easier said than done for most people. Social expectations and pressures dictate a LOT of behaviour for a LOT of people. For the vast majority of people IMO.

njnancy

PJ_Soul said:

mcgruff10 said:

PJ_Soul said:

People who choose to pay for something most definitely can still be getting ripped off. Very easily. Especially with greeting cards, since most people are made to feel that it's rude in certain situations to NOT buy a nice greeting card.

To me it isn’t rude but looks awfully cheap. IMO

Either/or. Social pressures/expectations have a strong influence on people.

If I go into a card store in order to find a perfect card for someone because it gives me pleasure sending or giving it & the recipient will get pleasure from receiving it, then I'm not being ripped off. I am making a conscious decision to enter that store. I have my choice of type of card and price of card. I am not feeling pressure. It is an enjoyable experience. If I don't buy the card for the person, the world will not end. But the right card can have a strong emotional reaction between you and the recipient. I buy cards on random days more than on holidays, just because I'm thinking of someone. It is different than a text or a gif or comment on-line. 

It's the same as saying someone going to Starbucks is getting ripped off because society says coffee is better there even though it is cheaper elsewhere, or you can make it at home. It's a choice. People who purchase organic goods, expensive cars, eco-friendly products,  name brand clothing, high end electronic and technological equipment could all be considered being ripped off by someone who doesn't value that choice. One could say that the price is worth the health value, environmental benefit or superior enjoyment of use from the product, but it could still be seen as a rip off by someone who finds those items to be ridiculous, unnecessary, peer driven and over priced.  

If you don't value greeting cards, then buying one would be a rip-off to you. We all make purchasing decisions based upon our particular value system and what gives us the most enjoyment.

Some of my most prized possessions are greeting cards that I have received. And on topic with the thread, when someone writes something personal in the card, it makes it even  more special. I've lost many family members so cards that I have saved from them are very dear to me. Being able to see their handwriting on the cards is like having a piece of them still alive. You cannot put a price on that for me. Someone else may throw out every card they receive as soon as they look at it.  Neither is a correct or incorrect reaction. Different strokes. 

A good example is about a week ago, when my dog died. Several days later, I received a sympathy card from the vet where we had brought her body. We had only been there once before when my mom's dog had an infection, so this was completely unexpected. Actually, when my last dog died, the vet we used regularly who put her down didn't send us anything afterwards. And I didn't expect anything. The card had a very sweet sentiment and was on recycled parchment type paper which was very pretty. This could be cynically looked at as just an advertisement, but I was touched.

Even more,  on the inside of the card,  they had pressed impressions of Chelsea's paw prints with her name underneath. There was no way they could have known but my son wanted her paw print to use for a tattoo but it was just not feasible for several reasons. The card was so special and brought both joy and tears. I think it was very kind of them, and to have Chelsea's paw prints is a gift. Though it may be their practice whenever this situation occurs, it does not take away from what it meant to us. This is the power of a personal message and a card. 

I do agree with your argument in two instances, but I'm teary eyed after my last paragraph, so I'll 'save it for later'. 

PJ_Soul

I think anyone paying that much of a markup on anything is being ripped off (and I don't think I need those making the purchases to feel like they are being ripped off to think this). I do not automatically think someone who is simply paying more at one place than at another is.

njnancy

PJ_Soul said:

I think anyone paying that much of a markup on anything is being ripped off (and I don't think I need those making the purchases to feel like they are being ripped off to think this). I do not automatically think someone who is simply paying more at one place than at another is.

I don't understand why you are so dismissive sometimes. You are a pleasure to have discussions with but when you take a stance sometimes, you refuse to think anyone who disagrees can possibly be making decisions on their own.

Your statement is basically saying that anyone who thinks differently than you is brainwashed by the greeting card industry and isn't really thinking for themselves because, unlike you, we have not opened our minds wide enough to realize what societal pressures are forcing us to do. I reject that sort of thinking. I could accept your opinion as different than mine if you were not so insulting to my intelligence. I'm not being led about by the mind police and you are not more enlightened than me. We have a different opinion, we don't have different levels of consciousness. 

So much for where I agree with you. So stubborn sometimes, Alli. Definitely a Taurus, for sure.

PJ_Soul

njnancy said:

PJ_Soul said:

I think anyone paying that much of a markup on anything is being ripped off (and I don't think I need those making the purchases to feel like they are being ripped off to think this). I do not automatically think someone who is simply paying more at one place than at another is.

I don't understand why you are so dismissive sometimes. You are a pleasure to have discussions with but when you take a stance sometimes, you refuse to think anyone who disagrees can possibly be making decisions on their own.

Your statement is basically saying that anyone who thinks differently than you is brainwashed by the greeting card industry and isn't really thinking for themselves because, unlike you, we have not opened our minds wide enough to realize what societal pressures are forcing us to do. I reject that sort of thinking. I could accept your opinion as different than mine if you were not so insulting to my intelligence. I'm not being led about by the mind police and you are not more enlightened than me. We have a different opinion, we don't have different levels of consciousness. 

So much for where I agree with you. So stubborn sometimes, Alli. Definitely a Taurus, for sure.

I'm not being stubborn or dismissive. I'm just stating my own opinion about greeting cards being a rip off. I also never said that someone disagreeing isn't making decisions on their own - I'm actually not sure why you're saying that. Of course people are making decisions on their own - I don't see how that has anything to do with what I've said though!

I am also absolutely NOT saying that anyone who thinks differently than me is brainwashed, and if that is how you've interpreted my perspective, I suppose I'm doing a bad job of expressing myself. And for the record, I buy greeting cards, lol. I do not think I am brainwashed! And your hyperbole in your post tells me that you are taking everything I said with MUCH more weight than it was intended. Finally, I never said I think everyone who buys greeting cards are doing so because of societal pressures. Those who don't want to buy them and buy them anyway are.

I feel like the real confusion is simply coming from different ways of defining what a rip off is TBH (and also you've made some logical leaps from what I actually said to the meaning you got out of it).

oftenreading

njnancy said:

PJ_Soul said:

mcgruff10 said:

PJ_Soul said:

People who choose to pay for something most definitely can still be getting ripped off. Very easily. Especially with greeting cards, since most people are made to feel that it's rude in certain situations to NOT buy a nice greeting card.

To me it isn’t rude but looks awfully cheap. IMO

Either/or. Social pressures/expectations have a strong influence on people.

If I go into a card store in order to find a perfect card for someone because it gives me pleasure sending or giving it & the recipient will get pleasure from receiving it, then I'm not being ripped off. I am making a conscious decision to enter that store. I have my choice of type of card and price of card. I am not feeling pressure. It is an enjoyable experience. If I don't buy the card for the person, the world will not end. But the right card can have a strong emotional reaction between you and the recipient. I buy cards on random days more than on holidays, just because I'm thinking of someone. It is different than a text or a gif or comment on-line. 

It's the same as saying someone going to Starbucks is getting ripped off because society says coffee is better there even though it is cheaper elsewhere, or you can make it at home. It's a choice. People who purchase organic goods, expensive cars, eco-friendly products,  name brand clothing, high end electronic and technological equipment could all be considered being ripped off by someone who doesn't value that choice. One could say that the price is worth the health value, environmental benefit or superior enjoyment of use from the product, but it could still be seen as a rip off by someone who finds those items to be ridiculous, unnecessary, peer driven and over priced.  

If you don't value greeting cards, then buying one would be a rip-off to you. We all make purchasing decisions based upon our particular value system and what gives us the most enjoyment.

Some of my most prized possessions are greeting cards that I have received. And on topic with the thread, when someone writes something personal in the card, it makes it even  more special. I've lost many family members so cards that I have saved from them are very dear to me. Being able to see their handwriting on the cards is like having a piece of them still alive. You cannot put a price on that for me. Someone else may throw out every card they receive as soon as they look at it.  Neither is a correct or incorrect reaction. Different strokes. 

A good example is about a week ago, when my dog died. Several days later, I received a sympathy card from the vet where we had brought her body. We had only been there once before when my mom's dog had an infection, so this was completely unexpected. Actually, when my last dog died, the vet we used regularly who put her down didn't send us anything afterwards. And I didn't expect anything. The card had a very sweet sentiment and was on recycled parchment type paper which was very pretty. This could be cynically looked at as just an advertisement, but I was touched.

Even more,  on the inside of the card,  they had pressed impressions of Chelsea's paw prints with her name underneath. There was no way they could have known but my son wanted her paw print to use for a tattoo but it was just not feasible for several reasons. The card was so special and brought both joy and tears. I think it was very kind of them, and to have Chelsea's paw prints is a gift. Though it may be their practice whenever this situation occurs, it does not take away from what it meant to us. This is the power of a personal message and a card. 

I do agree with your argument in two instances, but I'm teary eyed after my last paragraph, so I'll 'save it for later'. 

The vet we used to see when my dog was alive made a practice of taking paw prints in plaster, for those dogs and cats that were euthanized or died in the clinic or animal hospital. When the plaster was dry, they painted it in a lovely way, sealed it, and put a ribbon on, and it became a Christmas tree ornament if you wanted to use it as such, or just a little memento. It meant a lot to receive it a few days later. 
 

PJ_Soul

I just lost my cat, and they offered me that paw print in plaster thing, and I turned it down because it cost $80, and I thought that was a huge rip off, even though I wanted it. I just reminded myself that I have photos of her.

njnancy

PJ_Soul said:

njnancy said:

PJ_Soul said:

I think anyone paying that much of a markup on anything is being ripped off (and I don't think I need those making the purchases to feel like they are being ripped off to think this). I do not automatically think someone who is simply paying more at one place than at another is.

I don't understand why you are so dismissive sometimes. You are a pleasure to have discussions with but when you take a stance sometimes, you refuse to think anyone who disagrees can possibly be making decisions on their own.

Your statement is basically saying that anyone who thinks differently than you is brainwashed by the greeting card industry and isn't really thinking for themselves because, unlike you, we have not opened our minds wide enough to realize what societal pressures are forcing us to do. I reject that sort of thinking. I could accept your opinion as different than mine if you were not so insulting to my intelligence. I'm not being led about by the mind police and you are not more enlightened than me. We have a different opinion, we don't have different levels of consciousness. 

So much for where I agree with you. So stubborn sometimes, Alli. Definitely a Taurus, for sure.

I'm not being stubborn or dismissive. I'm just stating my own opinion about greeting cards being a rip off. I also never said that someone disagreeing isn't making decisions on their own - I'm actually not sure why you're saying that. Of course people are making decisions on their own - I don't see how that has anything to do with what I've said though!

I am also absolutely NOT saying that anyone who thinks differently than me is brainwashed, and if that is how you've interpreted my perspective, I suppose I'm doing a bad job of expressing myself. And for the record, I buy greeting cards, lol. I do not think I am brainwashed! And your hyperbole in your post tells me that you are taking everything I said with MUCH more weight than it was intended.

I feel like the real confusion is simply coming from different ways of defining what a rip off is TBH.

Perhaps I have read you wrong. Perhaps we think a rip off is different. I really don't know and it really doesn't matter in the long  run.