Why do people send Christmas newsletters?

[Anonymous]

I wonder about the photo holiday cards with peoples kids. Are you supposed to keep them. I feel bad throwing them into the recycle bin. I don't really want to keep the pictures. It seems redundant with social media. It's seems like a waste of money and paper.

[Anonymous]

They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love these letters! We get a few per year from good friends who live out of town or abroad.

Far more people did them before social media. It was typical in my parents' circle of relatives and friends.

Postage is so expensive especially from abroad. It's outdated and bad for the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder about the photo holiday cards with peoples kids. Are you supposed to keep them. I feel bad throwing them into the recycle bin. I don't really want to keep the pictures. It seems redundant with social media. It's seems like a waste of money and paper.

We put them up for Christmas as a decoration and then throw them away. It's nice to have friends and family who aren't close around for the holiday, even symbolically.

[Anonymous]

We love them! This one guy sends a two page, size 11 font single spaced letter and even details every medical issue they had and everything they ate on trips and every animal they saw on hikes. We do a dramatic reading of it once we get it - it kicks off Christmas for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

That is my thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

If you don't want to know what family members or friends have been up to, then don't read them before you throw them away. Just toss, unopened. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love them! This one guy sends a two page, size 11 font single spaced letter and even details every medical issue they had and everything they ate on trips and every animal they saw on hikes. We do a dramatic reading of it once we get it - it kicks off Christmas for us.

That's nice of him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

If you don't want to know what family members or friends have been up to, then don't read them before you throw them away. Just toss, unopened. Problem solved.

That's rude. You need to at least send a card back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the age of social media, why do people send a multi-page, type written newsletters with photos embedded? I don't know what to do with this mailed paper newsletter or even why the family sent it. There was no 'news' that we didn't know, maybe some humble bragging in the pages. If they send it to people who don't know the family's 'news', then they probably don't care about the family 'news'. What is the purpose of end of year news letter? Why do people still do this? What are we supposed to do with it? How do we respond? Should we send a letter or card back? Text or email?

Can someone explain this? How do we respond?

Why would anyone want to send people their family's picture just to be thrown in trash next day? Do people clutter their home saving other people's random Christmas newsletters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

If you don't want to know what family members or friends have been up to, then don't read them before you throw them away. Just toss, unopened. Problem solved.

If the people you send these notes to are so out of the loop you might need to ask yourself why they are still on your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love them! This one guy sends a two page, size 11 font single spaced letter and even details every medical issue they had and everything they ate on trips and every animal they saw on hikes. We do a dramatic reading of it once we get it - it kicks off Christmas for us.

We get one from a family who is pretty upfront about their struggles, which is kind of refreshing. It'll begin something like "after a difficult financial start to 2024, things were on a better footing by spring" or we'll get "[Name] is thankful for his therapist." I like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my friends and family aren't on social media, so a lot of it is news to me. I like getting them, I read it, learn some things, and then throw it away. What else would you do with it?

Usually when someone sends a holiday card, you are supposed to send one back? Maybe you are supposed to write a newsletter back to the sender.

No. You don't.

[Anonymous]

I like the sentiment behind it but its a moot point in today's world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They seem to be answering questions nobody asked. Nobody asked what every member of their family is up to.

If you don't want to know what family members or friends have been up to, then don't read them before you throw them away. Just toss, unopened. Problem solved.

If the people you send these notes to are so out of the loop you might need to ask yourself why they are still on your list.

Exactly. If you care, you must send something back to them. They spent the time to write a multipage letter and stood in line at the post office to buy a stamp.