Emails.

[Alex]

I recently realised that in the past several years, there has only been one person I've emailed in terms of having a conversation. The rest of it is just buying stuff online and spam.

Does anyone out there still regularly use emails for actually talking to people (outside of work)?

[Leah]

I only do that when I send my family my birthday/Christmas wish list.

[Trevor]

Work related matters only.

[Rev. Powell]

Email is my preferred method of communication, but I don't chit-chat by any electronic means. I guess text is most common. But I prefer conversations to be in person.

I'm old enough that I used to write letters as a youngster, and there was something cool about it, but obviously it wasn't cool enough to counteract the inconvenience.

[claws]

I used to email with a few online friends back in the 2000s. Communication these days only happens on WhatsApp.

[RCMerchant]

No. Never.
The last time I even wrote to someone was to our ex-forum member Sister Grace. I sent her a book and a letter.

[indianasmith]

I frequently write long emails to faraway friends, and send them lots of pics.
Not everyone is on social media.

[Paquita]

Oh I have opinions.  Maybe it's my Victorian heart that marvels at how amazing it is to be able to write a letter and have it instantly delivered to its recipient. No worrying about posting the letter, potential hazards the courier will face compromising it's arrival, and no chance of a nosey family member getting their hands on it first. Then I can receive a response just as swiftly.  The problem is finding people that have the same enthusiasm.

I prefer email and text over phone calls.  If we're going to chat for a considerable period, I'd rather hang out in person, or do it over e-mail.  I struggle with being articulate on-demand sometimes and I like to be able to put more care into my words and writing allows for that.  In some ways it's better than conversing in person because you can get your thoughts out completely without interruptions or people talking over each other.  I know there seems to be this general consensus that important information should be relayed in person, but I disagree, I'd rather give and receive it in writing.  This way the recipient can get the full message while also being able to run through all emotions it generates without missing details or interrupting the messenger.   

Also, I can't be the only person that notices that cell phones are inferior to land lines when it comes to actually making a phone call and hearing and speaking to the other person effectively.  Reception is often spotty, the person on the other end is usually preoccupied with some other activity or in some kind of transport, background noise comes through more clearly than the person speaking, and getting disconnected is common.

Normally, I'm a bit of a grouch about technology, but email, I think, is a wonder of the modern world.

I do enjoy actual letter writing too, but it is hard to keep up with on a regular basis.

[Alex]

I did used to have several pen friends and we'd all write to each other regularly pre-internet days. Even when I did use emails to communicate with people I don't think we ever used it as much as we had written to each other. I do miss those days. Such is time though.