Christmas Newsletters--Bah! Humbug!

[MichaelB]

Interesting article in this weeks The Economist on newsletters. One category, clearly unappreciated here is “Brag and Gag”, a label that seems to be both accurate and descriptive.

 

[harllee]

Interesting article in this weeks The Economist on newsletters. One category, clearly unappreciated here is “Brag and Gag”, a label that seems to be both accurate and descriptive.

"Brag and Gag"--that is the category I would put many of the newsletters I receive. Maybe I need different friends.

 

[FIYes]

I enjoy Christmas newsletters. I like to see what far flung, seldom seen friends are up to these days. Yes, the letters focus on the good things, but hey “accentuate the positive “

I have only attempted a newsletter a couple of times over the years, but I do like receiving them.

 

[Amethyst]

I'm curious - what sort of brags make everyone "gag"?

Some of my FB friends have more money than we do, or are more successful at work; not that we are poor or were failures, but still. I still enjoy reading about their activities, trips (well, back when people took trips), things they've made, food they've carefully created, new toys, awards. How wonderfully their kids and grandkids are doing. I know enough to be aware that they have their troubles, too...but who wants to read a newsletter about those?

One lady in her late 60s has lost 100 pounds through low-carb dieting, and is running several miles a day - in the photos, she could pass for one of her own daughters. I suppose some people call this "bragging," and it is, but I like watching her progress and admiring how well she is doing.

 

[easysurfer]

I never have much liked the Christmas "Newsletters" I receive from friends (you know, the letters that detail all the great things they have done this year, all the stuff they bought, all the great awards the kids and grandkids have won). This year I seem to be receiving more than usual--I guess people have more time to write out these jewels. It is especially grating to me this year--when we are suppose to be staying home and being safe to see people brag about all the traveling they have done, all the parties and family get togethers, all the restaurant meals, etc.

Thanks for letting me rant. I say Bah! Humbug! to Christmas Newsletters.

But, but, but ... you don't have to read them .

For me, the newsletters depend on the source.

There are those who I know will brag, so I have that expectation and my skim over. Then there are those who send more heartfelt touching updates.

I'm one of the "Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" type of card senders. Which is a faux pas too. But at least I send a card to some .

 

[REWahoo]

I'm a big fan of science fiction, so I get a kick out of hearing about kids/grandkids that are on track to find a cure for cancer or came "that" close to winning the Nobel Prize.

 

[mountainsoft]

We used to receive a family newsletter from my wife's uncle every Christmas, but he died last year so we probably won't receive any more newsletters.

Actually, we really don't even get Christmas cards anymore. So far we only have three this year, one of which was from our daughter.

I don't do Christmas cards or newsletters, but at the end of each year I put together a short "looking back" slideshow video. I do it mostly for our own memories (I'm more likely to watch the video than to thumb through our folders of photos). However, I do share them with friends and family on Facebook and post them on my personal web site. Responses are generally positive, but I'm sure others simply ignore the video. That's fine too, we're not bragging, just sharing. For example, here is my looking back video from last year:

Dec 31, 2019 - Looking Back at 2019

It's almost time to put together a new video for 2020. Obviously, there will be far less travel and recreation photos, and more project photos.

 

[youbet]

The very worse newsletters are those that mention (brag) about their favorite college or professional sports teams doing well.

 

[ProspectiveBum]

I think I’m in the opposite camp. I enjoy getting newsletter updates. We try (but don’t always succeed) to send one out ever year, though nowhere close to 3 pages. I’ve never felt that my friends’ cards were braggy, and sometimes we get ideas for trips we might like to take, etc. I find this useful since I’m no longer on social media.

The ones I find mildly annoying/pointless are the generic cards that are simply signed, with no note at all. Why bother?

 

[harllee]

I'm curious - what sort of brags make everyone "gag"?

Some of my FB friends have more money than we do, or are more successful at work; not that we are poor or were failures, but still. I still enjoy reading about their activities, trips (well, back when people took trips), things they've made, food they've carefully created, new toys, awards. How wonderfully their kids and grandkids are doing. I know enough to be aware that they have their troubles, too...but who wants to read a newsletter about those?

One lady in her late 60s has lost 100 pounds through low-carb dieting, and is running several miles a day - in the photos, she could pass for one of her own daughters. I suppose some people call this "bragging," and it is, but I like watching her progress and admiring how well she is doing.

I think the "brags" that irritate me the most is the ones that talk about how many "things" they have bought--new car, new house, new boat, new motorhome, etc. To me that is just tacky.

This year I also was irritated at the newsletters that talked about all the trips people had made, parties attended, restaurants eaten at, I mean really, during a pandemic (especially since I have a family member who is seriously ill will the virus).

I guess it is just me but also do not like pictures of food that people have either cooked or bought at a restaurant. To me close up pictures of cooked food just don't look appetizing.

Some years I don't mind getting a few of these newsletters but this year I am getting more than ever and they are just hitting me wrong.

 

[ivinsfan]

I'm more in harllee's camp on this one. Somehow, some people think it's ok to use a card wishing you "the joy of the season" to expound on all their greatness.

Is about someone saying they are thinking of you and wishing you a good holiday and a Happy New Year, or an ode to self? Instead of taking the time to write a brag fest, why don't they grab a pen and put something personal inside the card?

For my true friends and family I already know what they have been up to in 2020. I know the good and the bad which is real life. The original point H made was that she doesn't love the letters and in year full of COVID and COVID lockdowns they seem particularly insensitive.

 

[youbet]

Some years I don't mind getting a few of these newsletters but this year I am getting more than ever and they are just hitting me wrong.

Do you own a paper shredder?

An important life accomplishment, IMHO, is developing the ability to yawn and ignore things that previously set you off. It's not easy to do (don't ask me how I know! ) but well worth it if you can develop that trait.

 

[pb4uski]

...Is about someone saying they are thinking of you and wishing you a good holiday and a Happy New Year, or an ode to self? Instead of taking the time to write a brag fest, why don't they grab a pen and put something personal inside the card? ...

We have ~95 relatives and friends on our list so "grab a pen and put something personal inside" would never happen... our letter is a compromise. Most of what is in our newletter is old news to those closest to us but designed to update people who we don't see regularly on what is going on with us and our family. The list includes siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends from our two different homes, work friends from 20-40 years ago, a handful of high school and college friends, etc. many are people who we rarely see or correspond with... like my college roommate... other than the letter we touch base once a year or so.

While I'm biased, I don't think it is brag but it certainly could be construed as such if one wants to. For example, including that I was resigning and retiring 8 years ago brag or just fact? Later, is mentioning that we bought a winter condo in Florida and planned to snowbird between Vermont and Sarasota just fact or brag? To me they are just what it is, but I could see someone with a different attitude viewing it differently.... but that is their problem and not mine. My attitude is that if something good happens to a friend is "good for them" rather than "wish that were me".

 

[ivinsfan]

pb4.. it can be a fine line..a letter like yours sounds fine..we each need our own comfort level when communicating with people we care about. Contact with relatives is important too.

My point wasn't about being envious or jealous it was more that I always thought a Christmas greeting ie card is more of a..I care about you and wish you well.

My list wouldn't be 95 strong and some of these "greetings" I receive obviously take multiple, multiple hours to put together.

 

[Dreamer]

I enjoy receiving Christmas newsletters. I love seeing what is going on in people's lives. We only receive 1 or 2 a year though.

I feel a letdown when I receive a Christmas card that says Merry Christmas and their names only with no personal message. I must admit that I have sent some of these myself. I did send out three Christmas letters this year for the first time ever.

Heck, I enjoy seeing people's pictures and what they have been up to on this site and I have never personally met any of you.

 

[ivinsfan]

I enjoy receiving Christmas newsletters. I love seeing what is going on in people's lives. We only receive 1 or 2 a year though.

I feel a letdown when I receive a Christmas card that says Merry Christmas and their names only with no personal message. I must admit that I have sent some of these myself. I did send out three Christmas letters this year for the first time ever.

Heck, I enjoy seeing people's pictures and what they have been up to on this site and I have never personally met any of you.

How come three letters?

 

[38Chevy454]

Since all of the letters seem to be above average (promotions, awards, exotic travels, new luxuries, and so on); does that men the other cards without letters are below average

 

[Lsbcal]

Recently I read about some research into the "me" era. Some mention of how search engines were used to study the use of words like "me". It appears that we as a society have grown more ugly in that respect. Or was it just always like that but now more obvious on the internet?

Anyway we only have family we used to think of as friends who send us a yearly email about the wonders of their lives.

I agree these newsletters stink. I do like to reflect that when someone shows their true colors it is a good thing as now I don't have to guess. Kind of like showing your cards in poker.

 

[pacergal]

I don't mind the newsletters. I have sent a few in past years. Have also sent cards with just signed names and no info--last time I did that, an old friend of the family mentioned it when I saw her in the store--she was disappointed I hadn't included more information!

Of course letters are going to be positive, which may seem braggy, but I just take everything with a grain of salt.
I do agree that three pages would be a bit much, but maybe they are a talkative type in person?
I have one friend who used to send letters as if she is standing there talking to me. Luckily, we have switched to face time video chats!

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Seems like a pretty simple solution is to just toss 'em in the trash.

We don't send out a lot of cards, but each one will have a short HANDWRITTEN note. Usually just noting that hopefully the recipient is doing well, and that hopefully we will get to visit/see them in the new year.

We used to get a few of the "newsletters" but I think we got two this year.

 

[Amethyst]

Try a Ouija board. Maybe he's [-]dying[/-] eager to send one, and only needs you to ask?

We used to receive a family newsletter from my wife's uncle every Christmas, but he died last year so we probably won't receive any more newsletters.

 

[Nemo2]

The only people I know that can read and write don't want anything to do with me, so there's one problem avoided.

 

[aja8888]

The only people I know that can read and write don't want anything to do with me, so there's one problem avoided.

In the future, when all of us that can actually write things down are dust, this new generation won't be sending out cards at all since most schools don't teach handwriting (cursive) anymore!

Everything will be a compilation of "1"s and "0"s. , and of course, lots of photos!

 

[Lsbcal]

The only people I know that can read and write don't want anything to do with me, so there's one problem avoided.

I could have written this too. Maybe we should start a club?

 

[Nemo2]

I could have written this too. Maybe we should start a club?

Oh, oh.....since you can read and write you have, perhaps inadvertently, hereby declared yourself ineligible.