Penpal(s) wanted!

June 4, 2022 6:14 AM

As above - I enjoy writing and receiving handwritten letters and looking for one or more Mefites to exchange handwritten letters with.

I tried a website for supposedly finding penpals but it was sketchy and weird. It seemed like people there were looking to start a romantic relationship or something. For clarity this would be a platonic penpalship. Any gender fine! Memail me if interested!

posted by Saucywench to MetaFilter-Related at 6:14 AM (10 comments total)

I am, for reasons of both eccentricity and accessibility, in the habit of typesetting my personal letters. As I have no experience with the penpal thing or the community expectations around it, is that generally or specifically unwelcome? I can certainly understand why people would find great sentimental and personal value in preferring to send and receive handwritten notes in preference to something LaTeX-typeset (even in the lovely TNY Adobe Caslon Pro) of course!
posted by majick at 7:09 AM on June 4, 2022 [3 favorites]

Don’t forget about MeFi Card Club
posted by Monochrome at 10:13 AM on June 4, 2022 [3 favorites]

Re: majick - I welcome typewritten letters as as well as handwritten! I just am not looking for email penpals. Send me something!
posted by Saucywench at 1:07 PM on June 4, 2022 [3 favorites]

MeFi Card Club is a blast, come join us!
posted by lazaruslong at 2:46 AM on June 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

I am, for reasons of both eccentricity and accessibility, in the habit of typesetting my personal letters. As I have no experience with the penpal thing or the community expectations around it, is that generally or specifically unwelcome? I can certainly understand why people would find great sentimental and personal value in preferring to send and receive handwritten notes in preference to something LaTeX-typeset (even in the lovely TNY Adobe Caslon Pro) of course!

Speaking from my own experience, the joy is in receiving a letter in the mail! I would not mind the form in which that letter took. I have a few friends who have disabilities and chronic pain, and they type letters -- totally normal and cool thing to do.
posted by lazaruslong at 2:47 AM on June 5, 2022 [4 favorites]

I am officially in on this penpal thing. MeMail me if you'd like a mailing address (or infer it from my globe icon) or to offer one of your own. I am likewise interested in Card Club but am not crafty nor card-y or Making Nice Things-y. Were I to participate I'd probably just send more letters.
posted by majick at 1:23 PM on June 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

Card Club is by no means just for crafty cards; postcards or letters are fine! And if you’re looking for penpals, it’s a great way to find some. You can even mention you’re looking for penpals in your signup form notes. It is totally opt-in, which is great for when you’d still like to get some mail, but don’t have the time or energy to send anything out that month. I highly encourage giving it a try!
posted by obloquy at 1:43 PM on June 5, 2022 [6 favorites]

I believe there are programs that set people up with pen pals who are in prison, but I don’t know the names of any. You do have to be clear on your boundaries, from what I have heard.
posted by Comet Bug at 5:37 PM on June 7, 2022

I've participated in @paulgb's Plotter Twitter Postcard Exchange (#ptpx) a few times and really enjoy it. There's usually no words to go with them, just drawings, and they are, sort of by definition, not hand written. It's a fun way to justify having a plotter on the wall and it is always exciting to receive miniature art pieces in the mail.
posted by autopilot at 12:51 PM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]

Don't tempt me to buy a Commodore 1520, because you're tempting me to buy a Commodore 1520.
posted by majick at 8:14 PM on June 20, 2022