Physical Mail Penpalling Ring

[Memory]

Hey there!

As many people on this site will also probably share an interest in traditional and more personal methods of communication, I have been thinking about organizing a penpals' ring for physical mail: in other words, people sending each other actual letters as communication, becoming friends, chatting about their lives, or even customizing their little letters with stickers and drawings!


The obvious problem of course is sharing one's physical mailing address publicly: for one nobody wants to doxx oneself, some people also live with their parents and/or in unsafe situations and cannot receive mail, and some others might feel queasy with the idea in general.
I don't know how to absolutely solve any of these issues, but I have ideas as how to limit these problems and I have come up with this club as a result.

Guideline 1) If possible, get a post office box ("Postfach" in DACH countries) to receive mail in. It's usually pretty cheap. With a post office box, nobody knows your home address, only the anonymous number.
Guideline 2) Either way, with or without a post box, do not post your address publicly in the forum. Anyone can see it that way. Instead, post an introduction like detailed below and wait for people to contact you in private; you can then choose whether you give out your address to them.
Guideline 3) Consider who requests your contact info. If it is a very new member without much information attached, or anyone who gives you bad vibes, think twice before sharing your address. It's always okay to say no.

I'd recommend following the format below to post an introduction in this topic's replies; and then just wait for people to hit you up:

Name: Elliot Example

Country/Region: Example Country, Europe

Topics I'd like to talk about: I want to chat about video games, anime and floristics. Serious emotional topics make me sad, so not those please.

People I'd like to meet: I prefer to talk to adults only because I feel uncomfortable talking to minors. I'm excited to meet people from countries outside Europe too!

So, TL; DR: Post a reply in this thread if you're up for penpaling with people on this forum using the introduction format above, and then just wait for people to hit you up! Happy penpaling! =)

[Memory]

I'll begin:

Name: Lian
Country: Germany, Europe
People I'd like to meet: I like making connections to all kinds of people. Anyone is welcome!
Topics I'd like to talk about: Other than our common interest, the retro web, I am also up for or talking about your hobbies or mine (linguistics, retro tech, music, languages, world-building, writing, fan-fiction, ...), deeper topics, our day to day lives, relationships, friendships, and anything that might be shared only with a sixth grade diary. Honestly I'm up for anything!

[SilkSkull]

This seems super cool, I'd love to get involved especially if a proper webring gets set up!
Name: Dahlia
Country: Canada, North America
Topics I'd like to talk about: Zines, retro gaming, art, music, cool creatures, anime, tech, TTRPG's and of course, the old web!
People I'd like to meet: Anyone! It would be cool to chat with someone outside of Canada but I'd love to talk to anyone!

[Cobra!]

I love this idea! I’m in!

Name: Marco
Country: Scotland, Europe
People I'd like to meet: I’d preferably want to meet someone I can practice Italian or Gaelic with, but I’m up for meeting anyone!
Topics I'd like to talk about: Retro tech & media, languages, cultures, the 80s and 90s, robotics, friendships, relationships, robotics, anything really!

[Commodorn]

Name: Carl

Country/Region: United States (East Coast), North America

Topics I'd like to talk about: Places we've been and/or currently reside within-- even if it's simple things like a neat shop you've gone to or the types of cars you usually see. Besides that, some of my most general interests include 80s & 90s-era media, unusual video games, and interior decorating.

People I'd like to meet: Anyone; I've got a letter vault and I'd like to fill it!

[lilibellule]

Hello !
I'm looking for penpals, i often send mail to my friends (but they only answer me by mail like 4 to 6 months later so ...)
here are some informations about myself :

Name: Lili
Country/Region: France, Europe
Topics I'd like to talk about: Anything. I enjoy talking about movies i've watched, books i've read or musics i love. U can check my website if u want to know me better (even tho, there are not a lot of personal informations about me on it, i'm quite private on the internet)
People I'd like to meet: Adults that live in Europe (outside europe = very expensive stamps)

I can write in French (ce que je préfère !) or English (that's okay) or Spanish (entiendo español pero lo hablo muy mal ... pero puedo experimentar ! y tal ves voy a aprender esta idioma)

So ... if you're interested, email me and i will mail u back :)

[Y2KStardust]

    Name: Yoona/Y2Kstardust
    Country/Region: Melbourne, Australia
    Topics I'd like to talk about: Anything! Mail makes me happy. I'm chronically ill/disabled, play lots of video games, I love kpop and finding new music too. I'm autistic and one of my special interests is space! https://y2kstardust.neocities.org has lots of info about me :)
    People I'd like to meet: I prefer to talk to adults only because I feel uncomfortable talking to minors - ironically, part of the pre-filled one is true! Aussies will generally get more mail bc I can get cheaper stamps, but I'm not above splitting my conversation up into multiple prepaid postcards to send my thoughts overseas >:)

(Also, full disclosure - I don't have a PO box because they're pretty pricey over here, so I might be mildly picky. If you have a postcrossing account, though, I exist there too and generally trust their mods to vet people!)

[Eunice]

Great idea! I already write to around 300 people all over the world though, so I'm not really looking for new ones. Also, guideline 1? Post office boxes are not universally cheap. They are expensive in some countries, UK for one. And living in a rural area when we only go to town once a week, not really convenient. Not nitpicking, just sweeping statements are not always valid for everyone. It's a good idea if you can afford it, and if you live in or near a town.

[atari]

    Name: Atari
    Country/Region: South Africa
    Topics I'd like to talk about: I love talking about people's original characters / anime or cartoon stuff. I'm also a big fan of gardening! ^_^
    People I'd like to meet: Adults only! Other than that I'm pretty open to meeting new ppl! Would be really cool to see what other countries cultures are like too!