Ever.
Just so my position is clear right out of the gate.
I understand that we have evolved into the mecca of social media; however I would like to point out that facebook is not a vehicle for sending thank you notes.
I’m a stickler on this.
I was schooled in Etiquette in the house of Donna (my mother). I have my own copy of Emily Posts Guide to Etiquette. I have used it often. There are very specific rules about thank you notes and I don’t care that facebook is the whiz bang new thing. Facebook is not a vehicle for a thank you note even if that note is a “private message”.
I sent some baby gifts to extended family members. Two of the three “thank yous”, I received were via facebook. Uh, really? I didn’t post a picture of the gift on facebook. I actually picked something out, wrapped it, shipped it and included a card. The receiver of said gift should sending a HANDWRITTEN thank you note, putting a stamp on it and dropping it in the mail.
I can’t bend on this one. There is a protocol for the formalized hand-written note and I don’t care what kind of technology is in place today. Technology is not a replacement for etiquette; although I am finding it is eroding it and lowering our collective standards for acceptable behavior in polite society.
As a refresher…gifts given for weddings, baby/bridal showers, confirmations/graduations deserve a HANDWRITTEN thank you note. Birthday gifts that the receiver is unable to the giver in person (such as a card that includes cash/check) also deserve a HANDWRITTEN thank you note.
Not a text message.
Not an email.
And not a facebook post.
A thoughtful gesture deserves a thoughtful HANDWRITTEN response.
No exceptions.
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