Is it wrong to say I won’t register folded cards?

[bom_dia]

I feel this and other topics turned to a criticism of @S_Tuulia because she doesn’t want greeting cards in a postcard exchange project! Shocking!!! (sarcasm)

I know not everybody knows what a postcard is before joining postcrossing, maybe in your language postcard and greetung card have the same word (as in portuguese), but when you don’t know something (or when you join a new project) you read FAQ and look for help. There you find:

How to write a postcard

To me, that image clearly isn’t a greeting card.

And as others have already said, FAQ also mentions you can send other things, as long as you send one postcard. So easy peasy, a greeting card isn’t a postcard, shouldn’t be send alone for addresses requested at postcrossing, so in my view you don’t need to register. That said I myself received and registered greeting cards, but I can’t say I was happy to receive them.

[itamerentytar]

@Sigiriya

The rules say ‘postcards’ - “All POSTCARDS must be registered” Folded note-cards are not postcards, are they? This has nothing to do with not matching one’s personal preferences - they are simply not postcards, so it is the sender who violates the rules in the first place, not the person who doesn’t want to register this “letter on a note card” that was sent instead of a postcard

I think this sounds a bit ignorant as the meaning for “postcard” varies in some languages. A folded card is still, a card. And in Finnish for example many people use the word for postcard as a synonym for all type of cards.

I myself agree that folded cards are not true postcards but I will 100% register everything that is a card.
If they send a piece of paper or cardboard, or something that isn’t a card, that is different.

I don’t think many send them knowing they aren’t “okay” to send, we shouldn’t judge. I think it’s totally okay to say in your profile that you wouldn’t want to receive folded and greeting cards as they are not postcards. But saying you won’t register them is very harsh, ignorant and comes from a certain place of privilege even.

[satinification]

I agree. Language barriers are there. Also, some users only know the basics of English, and that’s okay. But tey may not understand the difference between postcard and greeting card, but a polite note when registering a postcard is a much better solution than writting on your profile that you will not register this or that.

[S_Tuulia]

Maybe someone thinks it can be even kind to tell it beforehand so the sender knows the receiver might not like others than postcards. If the sender don’t know the difference between postcard and folded card, maybe they start thinking it, before they buy more folded cards. Maybe the profile writer don’t know English well, and their sentence just seems not polite, because they don’t know a more polite pattern to write it?

Also, in general, I really wish people would stop pretending appearing as kind and understanding, if they don’t have kindness and understanding _here_​, in situation happening now, to the ones who doesn’t see things like them.

I was told I am totally, completely irate, and when I say I am not, they don’t obviously care. They want me to appear bad, unkind, seems to me. So does the ones who like that post. Am I wrong?

I’m sort of thinking a kind, compassionate person would feel uncomfortable, wanting to apologise when they assume such strong images of me, and write and leave them here publicly, and when they are wrong.

Also, if I or anyone else were irate, so what? Is there no kindness to such person, who feels strong emotions? Again only kindness to the ones who agree? Or is the intention to diminish such person. Maybe it’s that the one who asks kindness, gets angry, when someone doesn’t agree, and sees their own emotions in others? Very possible.

So anyone claiming kindness from others, please do the same here, or maybe do it here first. It’s more believable.

It’s so easy to paint an image one is kind to an imaginary person, but it’s harder to prove and be it to a real person. Just telling others “always be kind” is polishing one’s halo, as it’s said in Finnish. Doesn’t convince me they are.

Sender and receiver are equal. Show kindness and understanding for boths.

[RalfH]

No, Postcrossing is not about sending something, it is about sending exactly Postcards. And it is about connecting by the little text that fits on a postcard, that is part of the challenge.

[cindycrazycatlady]

I’m happy with anything anyone has bothered to send.
I have my opinion and you have yours. Fortunately, we can disagree.

[RalfH]

@itamerentytar

the meaning for “postcard” varies in some languages.

Maybe, but the postcrossing website is English and the English definition of postcard is " A postcard or post card is a piece of thick paper or thin cardboard, typically rectangular, intended for writing and mailing without an envelope." (Wikipedia)

[Ebi]

@postmypost

True, in Dutch ´postkaart´ (postcard) is the collective name for ´briefkaart´, ´ansichtkaart´ en ´wenskaart´.

Ansichtkaart, briefkaart, postkaart of wenskaart: de verschillen

gives a clear description of the differences between them. Short free translated summary:

A ´briefkaart´ is a single card without image, with the senders adress o one side, the recepients adress on the other, and space for a little note. ´Brief´ means ´letter´, ´kaart´ means ´card´. It was used earlier but not so ofen anymore these days.
A ´ansichtkaart´ is a single card with a picture of a town, famous building, landscape,… of a certain area, mostly send or bought as a souvenir of a holliday. ´Ansicht´ is derived from German and means ´view´. At first ´ansichtcards´ were only these viewcards, later there came also single cards with other pictures, ilustrations, art,… and these are nowadays also called ´ansichtkaart´.
A ´wenskaart´ is a dubble folded greeting card, ´wens´ means ´wish. In daily language we also use the word ´wenskaart´ for a card you send to wish someone a happy birthday or happy New Year, so that can also be a single card ( but mostly in an envelope, because it is more ´chique´, and for a long time it was more expensive to send).

[itamerentytar]

@RalfH

Maybe, but the postcrossing website is English and the English definition of postcard is " A postcard or post card is a piece of thick paper or thin cardboard,

I absolutely agree, but someone might not stop to think that, if they already think they know the meaning of a “postcard”.
That’s my point!

[S_Tuulia]

Off topic a little, but if you translate this page to Dutch, it says postcrossing is about "ansichtkaart"s. (But I know people use the English version too.)

But yes, it’s understandable to mix these words earlier mentioned, if you don’t know that there is a difference. Still, we don’t need to carry on pretending they are right, when there is a difference. I can’t see anything bad in correcting them. No one is judging, no one is mean.
And like earlier said, if it’s a newbie, the car gets registered too.

@itamerentytar

someone might not stop to think that, if they already think they know the meaning of a “postcard”.

Maybe they stop if someone mentions about not wanting greeting cards
so there are benefits in having that in the profile.

[itamerentytar]

@S_Tuulia

Maybe they stop if someone mentions about not wanting greeting cards
so there are benefits in having that in the profile.

I also absolutely agree with this, but the “problem” was about mentioning they won’t register other cards than postcards which I see as a problem and an ignorant statement no matter what postcard actually means.

[S_Tuulia]

If they tell it beforehand, what’s ignorant in that? If they would receive it, not register, not tell anyone, that would be ignorant. But telling it in their profile, taking into consideration not everyone are sure what to send, in my eyes it’s thoughtful.

Would it sound better, to add I won’t register other than postcards at once, and only when Postcrossing team decided I should? (And maybe link to guidelines: If you’ve received an item that you feel is unsuitable for the project, you should report it to Postcrossing and we’ll look into it.)

In ideal world, such text would not be needed and everyone knew what is sent here.
Some think repeating rules in their profile is rude, some see it considerate.

Last time I got a greeting card was I think December/January. It looked like used, because someone had signed the card, with different name than the sender. I didn’t register it. I contacted the Postcrossing team, it was old enough member to know what to send. (Now I am thinking, is this from someone who here demands these should be registered If is, you can message me and I think I can register it!)

Once I registered a greeting card, because I thought it was from a child, and even though they should be supervised by adult, I thanked about it, and thought I’ll look their profile and maybe mention to their carer. But it was old member, adult. Only “happy postcrossing” and id. It didn’t leave me feeling good.

[anon30754624]

Yes that is wrong because it is against the rules

[itamerentytar]

@S_Tuulia

If they tell it beforehand, what’s ignorant in that? If they would receive it, not register, not tell anyone, that would be ignorant. But telling it in their profile, taking into consideration not everyone are sure what to send, in my eyes it’s thoughtful

What’s ignorant is assuming everyone knows the English definition of a postcard and “punishing” or “warning” people by not registering those cards.
Yes we can argue that they should know the “real” definition and they should know English because it’s the language here, but there are many things people don’t know especially when they start. Many people have profiles in another language, have demands on profiles or misuse the forum. But we can always kindly inform them especially when in many cases I’ve noticed that they are new accounts.

(And now I don’t mean people who are aware of this and send them just because they don’t care. Many people break the rules knowingly or unknowingly and that sucks but we can’t always assume, especially beforehand.)

I agree that if you don’t want to receive them you can say you don’t want folded or greeting cards. I’ve seen many people saying they “want to receive postcards” or “want to receive real cards” and I can see how confusing that could be.
And sure, I guess you can say you won’t register them but I just find that a negative way of experessing something you could say nicer.

[S_Tuulia]

@itamerentytar

What’s ignorant is assuming everyone knows the English definition of a postcard and “punishing” or “warning” people by not registering those cards

Ok. (Interesting that we see this from so different view, this didn’t even come up to my mind.)
I see it that way, that the ones who mention not registering are aware people don’t necessarily know, and that’s why they mention it.

I don’t see any punishment or warning, to me it is neutral.
I can’t even think of a nicer way to say it. I know the “not registering” can sound negative because of the no, but… “Greeting cards are passing my registration process.”? (Not seriously thinking this.)

[EVillalba]

If they cut off one side of it, it would be a postcard. It is just more material. Here, folded cards cost more anyway.

I would recommend putting a note in your profile stating you would like true postcards, not folded. I’m sure they will follow that as long as they are able to. Afterall, we want our recipients to feel happy when they get the card in the mail.

Yesterday, I sent someone a folded card instead of a regular postcard because of the size. I made a homemade envelope with her favorite animal. It took time and effort. I try my best to send what i believe my recipient will enjoy. On profiles with lists of dislikes or rude demands, I just try and send the closest postcard to what they like, less effort, shorter message and keep it moving. I know rude people tend to stay rude and it’s part of it.

[RalfH]

But “I don’t register” sounds unfriendly.

[S_Tuulia]

To me also rest of the profile affects how I read it.
Because I know this place is about postcards, it sounds almost the same as “I register only postcards.” I would probably just read and forget it, because I’m not sending anything else.

So how to say it friendlier? Do you know?
(This doesn’t concern me as I don’t have this in my profile, but out of curiousity )

I think this type situation can be common, when one don’t know English, and it’s ok to say that in your own language, it can turn unfriendly when translated to different language.

[RalfH]

I do not mention that at all. I just mentioned something like “no envelopes please”.
And I think a simple “No folded cards, please.” also sounds friendlier.

[S_Tuulia]

Then again, the “No folded cards, please.” can sound like only a wish, which we don’t have to follow.

(This reminds how my boss is often too polite, it’s hard to understand, and I don’t get what I should do or shouldn’t, and then he eventually gets mad because he thinks he said it clearly, and I think he was only talking
He can say: “I do that so and so”
To me: “He does it so, doesn’t matter how I do.”
He thinks he said" Please do this like I do."
And now when I know him better, I sometimes remember to ask “do you mean you want me too to do it that way” )