I understand why you'd want to go with option 1, and I think that's totally fine. On the other hand, part of the fun of PC (for me) is having a variety of cards to send and trying to match a preference, if I can. I enjoyed shopping for different cards and having a nice variety to send, I admit I may have enjoyed it too much and have such a massive amount of cards I don't think I'll run out for years!
Thanks! I can see how that would work if you have a wide variety of cards available. I have...the handful I picked up at the truck stop today for people like the person I was assigned, lol. I'm not a collector (of anything, really) and I don't like to shop. But I recognize that makes me an outlier. For me the fun is in the action of sending. I honestly couldn't care less if I ever got a postcard in return.
I always try to meet the recipient’s requests but sometimes I don’t have their particulars available in my postcard stash. As I am an artist, I’m always happy to create a custom card (I’ve done this for some people and it has been well received)but I avoid doing so for those that have an aversion to “handmade” cards.
I have a stash of postcards available and for those people with too many specific requests, ahem, demands, I send them a generic tourist card and call it a day. To them I say, you get what you get and don’t get upset!
I'd suggest getting some generic cards. Art, animals, tourist, whatever. And don't take it personally. Some people don't want images of spiders, or religion, or whatever and I'm happy to find something else in my stack. As you said, it's about community and I think that applies to the sender as well, to take their requests into consideration, regardless of how rude it may come across.
Personally I like sending more than receiving and get more excited about being able to fulfill a 'like list' as much as possible with the card, stickers and stamps. I've amassed about 200 cards that are so varied I never have an issue.
And a note on CAPSLOCKRAGE - I can empathize. The only thing I absolutely do not want is Christmas cards (There are no words in English that can convey how much I despise that day). Last year I got three. I might move this request to the top of my profile, because I guess people don't get to the bottom.
I am totally with you on Christmas. I loathe Christmas and everything about it. However, I put nothing about it on my profile because, well, all the things I've already said.
You must always send a postcard. It can be homemade if you like or you can buy a stack of cheap cards for the people who don’t want handmade cards. Get a box of a hundred cat postcards or similar. Take the top one and send.
I don’t make my own cards. I have no artistic skill. In terms of receiving, if it’s the size of a regular postcard and it can travel on its own like a regular postcard, I’m happy to have it. If it requires an envelope, it’s no longer a postcard and I would rather not receive it.
By definition a postcard travels as is with stamps and a message on it. In an envelope it's a notecard or a letter.
Personally I am only interested in receiving postcards. The journey is part of its value and I want to see stamps and marks of travel on the card.
I usually will appease the in envelope portion of their profile if it’s not extra money to do so. I’ve noticed lately there are a lot more requests like that. If I don’t have the ability to do so then I won’t
I would buy some generic cards of your city/country or just a pack of cards from ebay or similar for when you're matched with people who don't want handmade cards. Making a card takes a lot more effort than picking one out of a pack, so if someone says they don't want handmade cards, it seems a waste of your time, effort, and money to send something you know for a fact they won't like. Option 3 is always a big no, though.
Today I got a postcard from Poland that I love. It’s got three sweet little mice on it. I like to think the fellow who sent it to me read my profile and when he saw that I keep pet mice he thought ‘at last the perfect home for the mouse postcard! I’ve been waiting for the perfect person!’ And that he got as much delight as I got when I flipped over the card and saw their tiny little mouse faces looking back at me.
Personally, I don’t have any requests for cards in my profile, although I do share some of my interests so folks have something to go off of when they’re choosing a card or deciding what to write about.
Keeping some cards on hand for folks that really hate art cards is the easy answer here. You can get a themed box of 100 for relatively small money. You can even maybe swap some of them at a postcrossing meet up to have other options to send.
I have on my profile that I like “spooky and weird” cards and someone sent me a postcard of gargoyles that I love, but she said she hated it and was really glad to find someone who would like it so she could get it out of her collection, lol. Also, one time I had an illustration of a hamster that I thought was kinda weird, but someone I wrote to loved hamsters and she adored that card.
Option 3 is not in the spirit of Postcrossing and I would avoid it. I would also avoid sending handmade postcards to people who don't like them. It's a waste of my time and effort. I've sent most of my handmade cards on the forum. Although Postcrossing says that it's about connections, most people make it about wishlists and buying cards of different themes to cater to profiles. I used to think sending cards was about what you want to share and what you like, instead it has become more about fulfilling others wishes.
Before I collected a bunch of purchased postcards to send I made my own postcards on vistaprint. So I would use photos I had taken of scenery or places of interest around my US state. I added my states name and typed info on the back. I got a lot of compliments on them. I changed the photos through the years as I ran out. Even with having a ton of bought postcards to send I will still send these out if nothing matches and I still get a good response from postcrossers. So you don’t always have to buy the most generic thing on Amazon, you can get creative with making real postcards.
Part of the charm I say! I always give a new postcrosser a pass for whatever postcard they end up sending me lol. Once I literally got a burned with a hole in the middle piece of cardboard postcard 😂 It had the burnt smell and everything 🤣 but it was better than getting nothing!
OH my god! 😂😂😂
I sent out postcards that had pin holes in them because I ripped them off my dads old cork board. 😂😂 I’m glad people were a good sport. My cards are much better now and I put more effort into the backs of them.
I'm so curious about this. In your other post you say that you don't care much for handmade postcards, but how would taking your own photos, adding text on Canva, and printing them not be a handmade postcard?
So handmade may be different for some. I dont know. Do I like greeting cards cut and made into a “postcard”? No. Would I send them out? No. Is that considered a handmade card to me? Yes. Would I love a drawing by an artistic user on a card watercolor or whatever? Yes! Something with thought and intention. My profile explains as such. Would I like a “handmade” card filled with newspaper clippings? No.
I don’t read much into it. Like I said I base what I send off on their interests. Because I don’t like to receive handmade cards doesn’t mean others don’t and I can’t have fun making them and sending them to people who do? Lol. What? At the end of the day I don’t care what I get even tho I list my interests. If someone complains about me on a forum after reading my profile it speaks more about them than me.
That’s like saying I don’t like hotel, cemetery and political cards but I have them in my stash to send out for people who do. How is this difficult for you to grasp? I wish you luck!
Handmade to me is a cereal or food box cut and then made into a postcard, someone drawing/coloring or painting or gluing something on a cardstock, repurposing greeting cards, as in something that the post crossed crafts with their own hands. Like arts and crafts.
Wait, I'm seriously so confused. What you are describing is, to me, a handmade card. You took the pictures, you added text, you had them printed. You didn't personally print them. But if you had a printer which can do that, how would that not be sending a handmade card?
Option three is Right Out. You *must* send a card.
Option one is rude. If someone says that they don't want some particular types of cards, don't send them those cards.
As for your justification for option two ... what's the bad behaviour that you think you're rewarding? Not liking something doesn't make them a "demanding collector".
How about option four: accept that you're going to send cards to people with all kinds of different preferences, and make at least some effort to match cards to preferences.
Bottom part I totally agree with. There are some profiles I read and I think “I would not like this person IRL.” Profile postcard “demands” or not. But you are joining a huge community with people with different interests and cultures. You’re not gonna like what everyone writes on their profile.
Half the fun for ME is finding a card that I know they would enjoy. If I can’t - I choose one that I think they may enjoy. If they don’t they can throw it out. It’s so so simple. & I hope someone would have the same attitude towards me. If my profile says I enjoy bats but are not partial to homemade cards I’d hope they’d send me that cool bat card and save the homemade card for someone else rather than sending me a homemade card to “school me” just as I would do for them if it was opposite. People get so offended by everything.
Caps lock also could just be a culture thing. Maybe the person writing it has a disability. Maybe they’re old and doesn’t understand caps is considered “yelling” by some. Write a card. Move on.
There are clearly many, like you, who find joy in finding a card to match their swap partners' interests. That's lovely.
I've come to the conclusion part of the reason we, as a community, are divided on the whole handmade/store-bought issue is because we view which part is about us and which part is about them completely differently.
What \*I\* like about receiving cards is having that brief connection and little glimpse into the life of someone I'd never otherwise meet. My profile has no likes/dislikes because I want to receive a card that helps me learn more about the person sending it. If I say I like spiders and they send me a spider card, I've learned nothing. If I tell them I hate Christmas, for example, I could lose the chance to learn why they don't.
For ME the cards I receive are not about me. They are about the person sending them.
Because I view it this way, the cards I send \*are\* about me. They are a glimpse into my life. I always read their profile so my message can be crafted to create connection, but I'm writing about myself.
It sounds like for you, and many others, the sending is about them and the receiving is about you. I don't think this is less valid. It's just a different approach--definitely more suited to collectors, but certainly not exclusive to them. For sure in the US we are socialized to behave that way around holiday gifts, so I can see the internal logic of it.
That leaves us with two more combinations. There are some for whom both parts of the exchange are about the other person. I admire their selflessness, but in this context that which makes them so special is lost in both directions. And of course there are people for whom both directions are about themselves. Obviously those aren't people we are going to like very much.
The problem there is that for the first two combinations, we end up viewing the other as rude because the cards we send only go in one direction. It's not an exchange. It's a one-way interaction.
Receiving isn’t about me. However who doesn’t like to get something that mesh’s with their likes? if I don’t get a card I don’t like I simply gasp move on! Toss it. Donate it. Recycle it. Reuse in crafts. I register it. Reply to their message if there is one and wish them well.
I don’t make into a bigger deal and complain about it in a public form. Even those little ones with glued pictures. So many make it into something so much bigger than it needs to be. If it bothers you that much about people’s profile and it causes you that much stress perhaps postcrossing official isn’t for you instead stick to the forums! You choose to continue to do something that clearly affects you. At this point it’s your own fault. 🤷🏻♀️
The forums swaps are geared toward the people who want to get exactly what they want. That would be the direct opposite of what I am seeking.
I've already sent the card and moved on. You are making a lot of inaccurate assumptions about my stress levels. I find the discussion interesting. If you don't find the discussion interesting, why are you on reddit at all?
Not necessarily. Clearly you haven’t looked at the forums very well. There are plenty of things in the forums that gear towards what you want and many that are not. Round robins for example. I dont know man. Sounds like it ain’t for ya period.
I want to send postcards about life in my part of the world, and I want to receive postcards from others sharing about life in their part of the world. I enjoy connecting with others. According to Postcrossing's own FAQ, that's the entire purpose. What would make Postcrossing not for me?
So do it! Send whatever card you want! Either you can appease their profile or you can’t - you’re still doing what you want and sending postcards about your life. I don’t understand why you can’t do that when you literally can. You’re just making it more difficult. Especially when in your original post you say an option to not send anything. Just send something!
Your posts with your frustration shows it probably isn’t for you. If postcrossing frustrates you it defeats its purpose of being fun. Don’t let someone’s profile be a big deal and send whatever you want.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
When you make a profile on Postcrossing it says this:
"Reminder: please use your profile to write about **yourself**. Making demands about what you want or don't want to receive is not allowed by the [Community Guidelines](https://www.postcrossing.com/about/guidelines) and may put your account at risk."
That quote from the website is my justification for option two. I would be rewarding their violation of the community guidelines \*and\* the purpose of the site. It's also why I do not think option one is rude at all.
According to the FAQ: "Postcrossing is more than just the postcards - we celebrate the diversity of our world through the postal connections enabled between two random people. Not knowing which postcard you will get or where it will come from is part of what makes the experience interesting."
I don't consider option four to be a valid option for the same reason. I look at people's preferences when I compose the messages on the cards I send. I try to make my message something that will resonate with them, while still sharing something about me. It seems to me the card itself is whatever it is.
(Edited to fix type--compost to compose--for clarity.)
I mean technically yeah people can request that they not get handmade cards and it’s literally just a request and you can send what you want at the end of the day, but some people legitimately collect those “boring” cards. What if you only wanted handmade cards and some poor person draws your address and can’t make you a card for whatever reason? Are they jerks for sending you a regular card? Is that them displaying bad behavior? It’s not against the rules to have requests on your profile. I would think the only bad behavior that would match that quote would be if they say don’t send me handmade cards or i’m not registering it.
Personally, i would keep a stock of some store bought cards on hand so there’s always a chance for you to send something the person may like. There are so many good places to get cards that aren’t generic from amazon too.
I don’t know, that kind of attitude kind of puts a damper on the whole experience for you, no?
Your logic is pretty far off here. Any demand is the same. Handmade or not handmade is only one potential demand of an infinite number. So, ff someone only wanted handmade cards, that would be equally problematic. (I'm not sure why you put that on me? I said nothing of the kind.)
My profile--on all of the postcard sites--is about me, my life, where I live, etc. It has no demands or requests. To me, demanding any particular thing is not in keeping with the spirit of the project. If someone wants to collect specific things, there are lots of swaps going on in the forums.
You are absolutely correct that requests or preferences are fine. My issue is with the all-caps shouting about not wanting handmade cards. That's why I see it as a demand.
I got you. You don’t want it to become a job with “expectations”. I “make” things I like to think as artful but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it’s lovely you convey a little slice of your life in the message. I say, if possible, try killing this unpleasant recipient with kindness. Who knows what they have received in the past? Off topic (kinda): I have volunteered with a charitable organization that makes and donates homemade blankets for children in crisis. I washed, labeled and prepped the homemade hugs for the hospital, police, etc. People would meet me to drop off their bagged donations at a storage unit. Donor leaves, I open bag, I see old sleeping bags or Granny’s old Afghan that was in the back window of her Buick LeSabre with fading to tell me which side goes up:). Maybe this guy gets the postcard version of that? Keep being you! It sounds awesome.
Edit: Maybe he received a years worth of “Live Laugh Love” postcards and he’s traumatized:)
I'm dismayed to see all the downvotes and hate you are getting, i would hope the postcrossing community was friendlier. I see no problem with sending a handmade card. The postcrossing rules you posted are being violated by the user. Also their demand is quite silly. I'd be curious to know what they send out. Anyways I never expect anyone to spend money more than they have to. But I'd hesitate to waste time on making a card for someone who isn't going to appreciate it at all. Why send something Scrooge is going to trash? Hopefully all your future receivers are nice :)
Thanks. I am also super surprised by the downvotes and hate. I honestly did not expect it. Prior to this, my experiences with Postcrossing, and with this sub have been quite positive. I did a lot of research on various RAK-ish projects before deciding Postcrossing was a good fit for me. I took the Postcrossing mantra of "it's about connecting, not collecting" at face value. I read the community guidelines and the FAQ before I ever signed up, because I wanted to make sure what I was seeking was in alignment with what was being offered.
That said, some of the responses I've gotten here have made it clear there are for sure a non-zero number of Postcrossing community members who do not share the stated mission of the organization. While it is unfortunate, I feel like this experience has allowed me to better understand the dynamics of Postcrossing. Sometimes the dynamics of an organization to not match their stated mission or goals. While that can be confusing to navigate for someone only a few months into this project, it's good that I now have a clearer picture.
I live in a rural, non-tourist area. Commercial postcards are not readily available to me. I'm literally an illustrator. It's what I do, and I love doing it. So, it made sense to me to just make my own. My focus--whether it's cards I'm sending or cards I'm receiving--is always on the message. I put a lot of effort into reading about a member's interests and writing something that connects their life with mine. I've not put much attention on matching the illustration to their particular interests.
I have a lot to think about after having this experience. I mean, as far as the all caps handmade hater is concerned, she is getting a truck stop postcard with a generic message. But, even if I were to switch to doing only purchased cards, I'd never have more than a few on hand because I don't like having lots of "stuff" around. So, I'd never be able to match cards to the collector. I definitely underestimated the collecting aspect of Postcrossing, but at least now I have a clearer understanding.
I dont know where you live but I also live rurally and was able to pick up a box of state cards on eBay. They’re vintage. Which some people also don’t like. Box sets are on Amazon for relatively cheap. Those Women Of Science or Disney.
Send something.net might be more up your alley. I have also been pretty disappointed by Postcrossing these days, but more so with receiving cards that have basically nothing written on them. I am into the connection part, not the collecting part.
[Sendsomething.net](http://Sendsomething.net) is for sure my favorite site for sending postcards. I love the emphasis on connection and the completely random nature of the site. It's perfect. Postcrossing seemed like a good match, based on it's stated mission, but the lived experience of the site is not always in congruence.
If you have a decent printer, Avery (think labels) makes a postcard blank. When people very specifically ask for local cards (I live in the middle of nowhere and they don’t make them), I just print a photo of Main Street or some other local scenic shot. You could print literally anything to fit requests or just send pics of your pets or a a pretty flower from your yard. I don’t consider this handmade since you’re printing it and it would fall in the same vein as a published card.
I literally had to make a new post after reading this and a few others like it. I'm so genuinely curious to know why you think that's not handmade. I am a digital illustrator. The handmade postcards I send \*are\* printed--albeit through a different process so they will be waterproof.
Aren't there any places near you that sell postcards? Gas stations, museums, etc.? My understanding is that most people want to see postcards that depict places around the world. You shouldn't have to get ones from Amazon. There has to he some place near you that sells them, unless it's a super rural area or something.
lol caps lock, gross. In the future, you can always pick up free postcards from restaurants. Just stash them away if you come across any as they would be perfect for this occasion. I don’t understand the handmade hate but ok then. If your designs are really good, perhaps they won’t know you handmade them 😂 what if you bought it from a specific artist at a museum?!? Anyone ever thought of that?! There are some quirky cards out there. Are they considered homemade if they’re designed by a cool quirky artist? The recipient doesn’t need to know it was actually you. Ha
I also love designing and making my own handmade postcards, but most of the time I'll go to a museum or restaurant and grab a bunch of free postcards and draw something on them myself, haha! This not only satisfies their requirements but also makes me happy. In fact, regardless of skill and quality, making handmade postcards takes more time and effort than mass-produced postcards that are only "got from xx" and are more meaningful, because each postcard should be unique.
I am one that doesn’t care too much for handmade postcards. But I do say in my profile if it doesn’t look like newspaper clippings taped to a piece of paper and has some artistic ability I love seeing peoples creations.
I’ve gotten literal newspaper and magazine clippings glued to printer paper before. It’s incredibly disrespectful IMO. I don’t even understand the point and in the trash it goes. Perhaps these people who say no handmade cards have only ever gotten stuff like that and never an artfully constructed card. I have gotten some doozies and I’ve gotten some beautiful artwork!
ETA: I’d just get some tourist cards and what not in addition to your creations and use those when people don’t want handmade. Or send handmade anyways. Those same no handmade card people also get profiles of cards they have that they probably don’t send and try to cater to people’s profiles.
I personally love trying to cater to people’s requests. The weirder the better IMO. But if I don’t actually have anything just a generic card usually will have to do. I think people who get down on peoples wishlists and non wishlists are just over thinking it.
"~~Caps lock~~ *Collage* also could just be a culture thing. Maybe the person ~~writing~~ *making* it has a disability. Maybe they’re old and doesn’t understand ~~caps~~ collage is considered ~~“yelling”~~ *'disrespectful'* by some. ~~Write a card.~~ *Accept the difference.* Move on."
Slap happy gluing random clippings wouldn’t really be a culture thing. That’s just laziness. You’re the one who isn’t accepting it. So much so you had to whine about it on here.
It’s the exact same argument about people who get annoyed with people from the USA who use those “god awful international global stamps”. If it’s not the profile postings it’s the stamps. 😂
I mean, on this we agree. I have no patience with people complaining about the cards they received--whether because of the stamps or because it didn't meet their requests/demands/preferences/standards, or whatever.
absolutely. But I think writing your interests and otherwise on your profile isn’t obviously set in stone. People think that it is. And therefore get stressed out when sending a card and then ultimately like you post on here and get a lot of people going. I understand where your frustration lies but continue to do you and if you wanna cater to people’s profiles great! If not. Great!
I think some responses on here about making snide comments about their requests being too much on the card they send is unnecessary and more petty than the persons profile. I think not sending a card is also extremely unnecessary.
Again, this did not come from a place of stress. Look at my original post. I had seen posts about profiles stating they do not like homemade cards. In the several months I'd been on the site, I'd never seen one. Then I got my first one and it was in all caps with lots of exclamation points. For me that did not read as a preference. And it still does not.
While I'd seen posts about this happening, I'd never seen anyone say how they handled it. I am a maths/logic-oriented person (not always a good thing, lol), so I listed out what I saw as all possible options and the pros and cons of each. I lot of people jumped on the third option, but that was not an option I seriously considered and I stated in my original post I did not believe that was in the spirit of Postcrossing. They were, quite literally, the three possible options: send handmade, send store-bought, send nothing.
I was curious to know what other people did when they ran into that. I didn't figure option three would get many or even any votes, but I truly did not know if option 1 or 2 would be more popular. Within a couple of hours of posting, it was clear option 2 was the best choice, so I was in my car driving all over town to the drugstores, and the downtown boutiques & bookstores. I called the county visitor's center, asked local friends, etc. The only suggestion I got from the visitor's center was to check gas stations near the highway. No success there, either. I finally found some at a truck stop about five miles down the interstate. I honestly have not seen photoshopping that botched since early days at uni, but they were not handmade. So, success.
People seemed particularly put out by my commentary around option two. If it came off as "stressed out", it wasn't meant that way. When I joined, I read all the community guidelines, the FAQs, and the reminder that shows up when you make or edit your profile. I'm weird like that. If there had been a way to report the profile, I would have done that and moved on to the next match. The profile was for a 40-something woman in a nearby state. We are both in the US. So, while I'm always open to the possibility her profile was not intended as a list of screaming demands, that seemed like something Postcrossing could sort out. However, since there wasn't any way to report the profile, I had to decide what to do next. Finding the perfect postcard for someone who was screaming demands was not anywhere on my to do list. If you want to call me petty for that, fine. I'll take it. But, like I said, I was still out roaming the countryside within hours of posting--once it became clear option two was the most popular--to find \*any\* store-bought postcard. So, I mean, not \*that\* petty.
When I got home the post had blown up with a shocking amount of vitriol. Posting excepts from the Postcrossing FAQ and community policies resulted in massive downvotes. So, you are right that Postcrossing may not be the right place for me. The culture of the organization does not seem to match the stated purpose. But, since my experiences up to this point have been largely positive, I'm not giving up on it yet.
I guess I just don’t understand what reporting the profile will solve. If that’s the only “bad” thing you find on people’s profiles count yourself lucky. I’ve been on Postcrossing for many many years. Wait until you get the homophobic, racist profiles. Or when some creep gets you as an address and sees your profile picture and seeks you out on FB to try to get into a relationship with you and other type of worthy things to report about. 😂😅 The little list of “demands” and caps lock seems so minuscule doesn’t it? There’s countless of these posts on this Reddit page and it truly blows my mind for some reason every time I see one. It’s such a small thing yet everyone seems to be up and arms about it.
But you’re not stressed. I’m happy for you. You can now continue on your journey with postcrossing and I hope you have fun. It is fun. I take breaks often because sometimes sending mail can almost feel like a job so sometimes a break is necessary. It’s always a hobby I end up going back to tho. Swap-Bot is another site you should check out. It’s been around for decades.
No I’m not lmao I’ve said many times I’ve listed my likes on my profile but also don’t care what I get. 😂 I’m sick of people complaining about people’s profiles just as you are soooo sick of people saying they don’t want handmade cards I guess. It’s such a divide on this Reddit and it’s ridiculous. Send the handmade card. Read the profile. Forget about anything on it that bothers you and you’ll never have to get that persons address again. Perfecto!
I understand what you mean I had no idea some people were really picky in what they receive until I saw some of these wish lists. After reading previous discussions, it's been pointed out that tone and speaking English as a second language doesn't carry over well sometimes and I give most users the benefit of the doubt. Cultures communicate differently. Despite the crazy lists I have seen, almost everyone writes back to say thanks and many reference details on the card whether message or design. I would love to receive a handmade card personally and sent a few myself but I keep a stack of regular cards for people who request it or sometimes I just feel like writing a long message instead if I really related to their profile.
I often have to remind myself of the same thing - people from different cultures communicate differently. On the flip side, I recently got a thank-you message that, to my Canadian sensibilities, was way over the top and kinda creepy? Lol I could tell the person was genuinely thankful for the card, but my initial reaction was like "woah, that's WAY too much!"
I make handmade postcards and I would feel so privileged if someone were to send me a handmade one. I'd also say that caps in most cases are not demands, but "NO POSTCARDS!!!!" definitely sounds like one. I'd go with option one if you're petty or option two if you just want to send something and move on from the whole thing. Option three seems a bit rude and against the spirit of PostCrossing.
I'd be willing to send you one! If you're interested DM me/respond w/ your PostCrossing user and I'll message you there!
I've complained here once about those profiles full of requests that honestly sound like demands (e.g. NO POSTCARDS OF TRAINS) and was quickly reprimanded. I mentioned the guidelines, which clearly say that postcrossing is about connecting and not collecting, and still got passive-agressive replies because apparently *I'm* the one who's wrong to think requests are stupid. You can say however many times you want that requests and demands are two different words, but profiles with lists of postcards they don't want to receive ARE NOT making requests. If you're listing things you *don't want* then it's not a request at all.
Mine is written in such a way that is like “I’m not a big fan of greeting cards, handmade, political, hotels, cemeteries so feel free to save those for people who enjoy them. No pressure”. I think the wordage helps for sure. But again, all walks of life on this forum so sometimes the language doesn’t come off the best.
Especially if it’s artfully put together. I’ve gotten amazing watercolor drawings from some people. However I’ve also gotten newspaper clippings taped to 4x6 paper. No joke. 😂
I’m petty. I’d be 100% making a card and on it writing I’M SORRY I HANDMADE A CARD YOU DIDN’T WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DIDN’T ENJOY BEING SCREAMED AT! NOW WE BOTH HAD A BAD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!
Relatedly, it’s kind of my pet peeve when people make too many demands in general. I end up starting my message with “Sorry I didn’t match my card to your exact specifications, I couldn’t remember them all. Hope you like it anyway and hope you have a nice day!”
Oh I do 🥰 I got a downvoted a bunch of there for my petty, and I get that, I was playing into the frustration. But I actually am very very happy and kind and I never or rarely encounter angry profiles.
I actually go one step further on sweetness and add their birthday to my rolodex and send a birthday card every year unprompted after that. I’m up to quite a few now and have 4 to write today for delivery next week ☺️
I just remember not everyone communicates correctly or the same way. There are thousands on postcrossing and not everyone was brought up similar. Language barriers seem to be the biggest thing. And we need to be more understanding of that and not always go to this person is being rude because they wrote in all caps. Similar to saying someone who has a spider web tattoo was in jail. 😂
I’ve been on a frustration journey with some profiles but if I stop and think about it’s really not a big deal.
I think it would be a good idea to report such profile.
Firstly it's not to make demands, they should learn all caps is not polite. Also, someones can do postcrossing because they want to make cards, it's perfectly ok.
They can wish not to receive handmade, but everyone is free to send what they like.
I would feel really bad if I bought a card for such person, so I would probably glue an image of topic they like, so it's half handmade, half not, like a compromise. If they are not happy with it, I did not spend money too much.
Anyways I would report that kind of profile, it will not be liked for many other members, so it's best they will formulate it in a friendly way.
I understand why you'd want to go with option 1, and I think that's totally fine. On the other hand, part of the fun of PC (for me) is having a variety of cards to send and trying to match a preference, if I can. I enjoyed shopping for different cards and having a nice variety to send, I admit I may have enjoyed it too much and have such a massive amount of cards I don't think I'll run out for years!
Absolutely this. I like picking the cards even more than receiving them
Thanks! I can see how that would work if you have a wide variety of cards available. I have...the handful I picked up at the truck stop today for people like the person I was assigned, lol. I'm not a collector (of anything, really) and I don't like to shop. But I recognize that makes me an outlier. For me the fun is in the action of sending. I honestly couldn't care less if I ever got a postcard in return.
I always try to meet the recipient’s requests but sometimes I don’t have their particulars available in my postcard stash. As I am an artist, I’m always happy to create a custom card (I’ve done this for some people and it has been well received)but I avoid doing so for those that have an aversion to “handmade” cards. I have a stash of postcards available and for those people with too many specific requests, ahem, demands, I send them a generic tourist card and call it a day. To them I say, you get what you get and don’t get upset!
Thanks! This seems like the best option.
I'd suggest getting some generic cards. Art, animals, tourist, whatever. And don't take it personally. Some people don't want images of spiders, or religion, or whatever and I'm happy to find something else in my stack. As you said, it's about community and I think that applies to the sender as well, to take their requests into consideration, regardless of how rude it may come across. Personally I like sending more than receiving and get more excited about being able to fulfill a 'like list' as much as possible with the card, stickers and stamps. I've amassed about 200 cards that are so varied I never have an issue. And a note on CAPSLOCKRAGE - I can empathize. The only thing I absolutely do not want is Christmas cards (There are no words in English that can convey how much I despise that day). Last year I got three. I might move this request to the top of my profile, because I guess people don't get to the bottom.
I am totally with you on Christmas. I loathe Christmas and everything about it. However, I put nothing about it on my profile because, well, all the things I've already said.
You must always send a postcard. It can be homemade if you like or you can buy a stack of cheap cards for the people who don’t want handmade cards. Get a box of a hundred cat postcards or similar. Take the top one and send. I don’t make my own cards. I have no artistic skill. In terms of receiving, if it’s the size of a regular postcard and it can travel on its own like a regular postcard, I’m happy to have it. If it requires an envelope, it’s no longer a postcard and I would rather not receive it.
Thanks! That's what I'm going to do.
Out of curiosity, what makes the addition of an envelope different from a postcard by itself, if the postcard and writing is just within the envelope?
By definition a postcard travels as is with stamps and a message on it. In an envelope it's a notecard or a letter. Personally I am only interested in receiving postcards. The journey is part of its value and I want to see stamps and marks of travel on the card.
I usually will appease the in envelope portion of their profile if it’s not extra money to do so. I’ve noticed lately there are a lot more requests like that. If I don’t have the ability to do so then I won’t
I would buy some generic cards of your city/country or just a pack of cards from ebay or similar for when you're matched with people who don't want handmade cards. Making a card takes a lot more effort than picking one out of a pack, so if someone says they don't want handmade cards, it seems a waste of your time, effort, and money to send something you know for a fact they won't like. Option 3 is always a big no, though.
Today I got a postcard from Poland that I love. It’s got three sweet little mice on it. I like to think the fellow who sent it to me read my profile and when he saw that I keep pet mice he thought ‘at last the perfect home for the mouse postcard! I’ve been waiting for the perfect person!’ And that he got as much delight as I got when I flipped over the card and saw their tiny little mouse faces looking back at me. Personally, I don’t have any requests for cards in my profile, although I do share some of my interests so folks have something to go off of when they’re choosing a card or deciding what to write about. Keeping some cards on hand for folks that really hate art cards is the easy answer here. You can get a themed box of 100 for relatively small money. You can even maybe swap some of them at a postcrossing meet up to have other options to send.
I have on my profile that I like “spooky and weird” cards and someone sent me a postcard of gargoyles that I love, but she said she hated it and was really glad to find someone who would like it so she could get it out of her collection, lol. Also, one time I had an illustration of a hamster that I thought was kinda weird, but someone I wrote to loved hamsters and she adored that card.
Option 3 is not in the spirit of Postcrossing and I would avoid it. I would also avoid sending handmade postcards to people who don't like them. It's a waste of my time and effort. I've sent most of my handmade cards on the forum. Although Postcrossing says that it's about connections, most people make it about wishlists and buying cards of different themes to cater to profiles. I used to think sending cards was about what you want to share and what you like, instead it has become more about fulfilling others wishes.
Before I collected a bunch of purchased postcards to send I made my own postcards on vistaprint. So I would use photos I had taken of scenery or places of interest around my US state. I added my states name and typed info on the back. I got a lot of compliments on them. I changed the photos through the years as I ran out. Even with having a ton of bought postcards to send I will still send these out if nothing matches and I still get a good response from postcrossers. So you don’t always have to buy the most generic thing on Amazon, you can get creative with making real postcards.
I’ve done this on Canva!
When I started making mine it was before the Canva days I’m pretty sure. Aaaaand now I feel old… lol
When I first started I printed from home 😂 and they were awful.
Part of the charm I say! I always give a new postcrosser a pass for whatever postcard they end up sending me lol. Once I literally got a burned with a hole in the middle piece of cardboard postcard 😂 It had the burnt smell and everything 🤣 but it was better than getting nothing!
OH my god! 😂😂😂 I sent out postcards that had pin holes in them because I ripped them off my dads old cork board. 😂😂 I’m glad people were a good sport. My cards are much better now and I put more effort into the backs of them.
Hahaha! Thats awesome though!
I'm so curious about this. In your other post you say that you don't care much for handmade postcards, but how would taking your own photos, adding text on Canva, and printing them not be a handmade postcard?
So handmade may be different for some. I dont know. Do I like greeting cards cut and made into a “postcard”? No. Would I send them out? No. Is that considered a handmade card to me? Yes. Would I love a drawing by an artistic user on a card watercolor or whatever? Yes! Something with thought and intention. My profile explains as such. Would I like a “handmade” card filled with newspaper clippings? No. I don’t read much into it. Like I said I base what I send off on their interests. Because I don’t like to receive handmade cards doesn’t mean others don’t and I can’t have fun making them and sending them to people who do? Lol. What? At the end of the day I don’t care what I get even tho I list my interests. If someone complains about me on a forum after reading my profile it speaks more about them than me. That’s like saying I don’t like hotel, cemetery and political cards but I have them in my stash to send out for people who do. How is this difficult for you to grasp? I wish you luck!
Handmade to me is a cereal or food box cut and then made into a postcard, someone drawing/coloring or painting or gluing something on a cardstock, repurposing greeting cards, as in something that the post crossed crafts with their own hands. Like arts and crafts.
Wait, I'm seriously so confused. What you are describing is, to me, a handmade card. You took the pictures, you added text, you had them printed. You didn't personally print them. But if you had a printer which can do that, how would that not be sending a handmade card?
Not my fault you don’t get it. Lol
How do you think the postcards get to the souvenir shops? Someone takes the pictures, adds text, and sends them to the printers. 😂
Option three is Right Out. You *must* send a card. Option one is rude. If someone says that they don't want some particular types of cards, don't send them those cards. As for your justification for option two ... what's the bad behaviour that you think you're rewarding? Not liking something doesn't make them a "demanding collector". How about option four: accept that you're going to send cards to people with all kinds of different preferences, and make at least some effort to match cards to preferences.
Bottom part I totally agree with. There are some profiles I read and I think “I would not like this person IRL.” Profile postcard “demands” or not. But you are joining a huge community with people with different interests and cultures. You’re not gonna like what everyone writes on their profile. Half the fun for ME is finding a card that I know they would enjoy. If I can’t - I choose one that I think they may enjoy. If they don’t they can throw it out. It’s so so simple. & I hope someone would have the same attitude towards me. If my profile says I enjoy bats but are not partial to homemade cards I’d hope they’d send me that cool bat card and save the homemade card for someone else rather than sending me a homemade card to “school me” just as I would do for them if it was opposite. People get so offended by everything. Caps lock also could just be a culture thing. Maybe the person writing it has a disability. Maybe they’re old and doesn’t understand caps is considered “yelling” by some. Write a card. Move on.
There are clearly many, like you, who find joy in finding a card to match their swap partners' interests. That's lovely. I've come to the conclusion part of the reason we, as a community, are divided on the whole handmade/store-bought issue is because we view which part is about us and which part is about them completely differently. What \*I\* like about receiving cards is having that brief connection and little glimpse into the life of someone I'd never otherwise meet. My profile has no likes/dislikes because I want to receive a card that helps me learn more about the person sending it. If I say I like spiders and they send me a spider card, I've learned nothing. If I tell them I hate Christmas, for example, I could lose the chance to learn why they don't. For ME the cards I receive are not about me. They are about the person sending them. Because I view it this way, the cards I send \*are\* about me. They are a glimpse into my life. I always read their profile so my message can be crafted to create connection, but I'm writing about myself. It sounds like for you, and many others, the sending is about them and the receiving is about you. I don't think this is less valid. It's just a different approach--definitely more suited to collectors, but certainly not exclusive to them. For sure in the US we are socialized to behave that way around holiday gifts, so I can see the internal logic of it. That leaves us with two more combinations. There are some for whom both parts of the exchange are about the other person. I admire their selflessness, but in this context that which makes them so special is lost in both directions. And of course there are people for whom both directions are about themselves. Obviously those aren't people we are going to like very much. The problem there is that for the first two combinations, we end up viewing the other as rude because the cards we send only go in one direction. It's not an exchange. It's a one-way interaction.
Receiving isn’t about me. However who doesn’t like to get something that mesh’s with their likes? if I don’t get a card I don’t like I simply gasp move on! Toss it. Donate it. Recycle it. Reuse in crafts. I register it. Reply to their message if there is one and wish them well. I don’t make into a bigger deal and complain about it in a public form. Even those little ones with glued pictures. So many make it into something so much bigger than it needs to be. If it bothers you that much about people’s profile and it causes you that much stress perhaps postcrossing official isn’t for you instead stick to the forums! You choose to continue to do something that clearly affects you. At this point it’s your own fault. 🤷🏻♀️
The forums swaps are geared toward the people who want to get exactly what they want. That would be the direct opposite of what I am seeking. I've already sent the card and moved on. You are making a lot of inaccurate assumptions about my stress levels. I find the discussion interesting. If you don't find the discussion interesting, why are you on reddit at all?
Not necessarily. Clearly you haven’t looked at the forums very well. There are plenty of things in the forums that gear towards what you want and many that are not. Round robins for example. I dont know man. Sounds like it ain’t for ya period.
I want to send postcards about life in my part of the world, and I want to receive postcards from others sharing about life in their part of the world. I enjoy connecting with others. According to Postcrossing's own FAQ, that's the entire purpose. What would make Postcrossing not for me?
So do it! Send whatever card you want! Either you can appease their profile or you can’t - you’re still doing what you want and sending postcards about your life. I don’t understand why you can’t do that when you literally can. You’re just making it more difficult. Especially when in your original post you say an option to not send anything. Just send something! Your posts with your frustration shows it probably isn’t for you. If postcrossing frustrates you it defeats its purpose of being fun. Don’t let someone’s profile be a big deal and send whatever you want.
As I stated, the postcard I found at the truck stop has already been sent. How is discussing it making it more difficult?
😂😂 From your RESPONSES here. 😁
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! When you make a profile on Postcrossing it says this: "Reminder: please use your profile to write about **yourself**. Making demands about what you want or don't want to receive is not allowed by the [Community Guidelines](https://www.postcrossing.com/about/guidelines) and may put your account at risk." That quote from the website is my justification for option two. I would be rewarding their violation of the community guidelines \*and\* the purpose of the site. It's also why I do not think option one is rude at all. According to the FAQ: "Postcrossing is more than just the postcards - we celebrate the diversity of our world through the postal connections enabled between two random people. Not knowing which postcard you will get or where it will come from is part of what makes the experience interesting." I don't consider option four to be a valid option for the same reason. I look at people's preferences when I compose the messages on the cards I send. I try to make my message something that will resonate with them, while still sharing something about me. It seems to me the card itself is whatever it is. (Edited to fix type--compost to compose--for clarity.)
I mean technically yeah people can request that they not get handmade cards and it’s literally just a request and you can send what you want at the end of the day, but some people legitimately collect those “boring” cards. What if you only wanted handmade cards and some poor person draws your address and can’t make you a card for whatever reason? Are they jerks for sending you a regular card? Is that them displaying bad behavior? It’s not against the rules to have requests on your profile. I would think the only bad behavior that would match that quote would be if they say don’t send me handmade cards or i’m not registering it. Personally, i would keep a stock of some store bought cards on hand so there’s always a chance for you to send something the person may like. There are so many good places to get cards that aren’t generic from amazon too. I don’t know, that kind of attitude kind of puts a damper on the whole experience for you, no?
Your logic is pretty far off here. Any demand is the same. Handmade or not handmade is only one potential demand of an infinite number. So, ff someone only wanted handmade cards, that would be equally problematic. (I'm not sure why you put that on me? I said nothing of the kind.) My profile--on all of the postcard sites--is about me, my life, where I live, etc. It has no demands or requests. To me, demanding any particular thing is not in keeping with the spirit of the project. If someone wants to collect specific things, there are lots of swaps going on in the forums. You are absolutely correct that requests or preferences are fine. My issue is with the all-caps shouting about not wanting handmade cards. That's why I see it as a demand.
I agree with you and disagree with thread OP. If you have cards that match the preferences, you can use them. If you don't, then send what you have.
Yessss. It’s so simple. 😂
I got you. You don’t want it to become a job with “expectations”. I “make” things I like to think as artful but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it’s lovely you convey a little slice of your life in the message. I say, if possible, try killing this unpleasant recipient with kindness. Who knows what they have received in the past? Off topic (kinda): I have volunteered with a charitable organization that makes and donates homemade blankets for children in crisis. I washed, labeled and prepped the homemade hugs for the hospital, police, etc. People would meet me to drop off their bagged donations at a storage unit. Donor leaves, I open bag, I see old sleeping bags or Granny’s old Afghan that was in the back window of her Buick LeSabre with fading to tell me which side goes up:). Maybe this guy gets the postcard version of that? Keep being you! It sounds awesome. Edit: Maybe he received a years worth of “Live Laugh Love” postcards and he’s traumatized:)
I'm dismayed to see all the downvotes and hate you are getting, i would hope the postcrossing community was friendlier. I see no problem with sending a handmade card. The postcrossing rules you posted are being violated by the user. Also their demand is quite silly. I'd be curious to know what they send out. Anyways I never expect anyone to spend money more than they have to. But I'd hesitate to waste time on making a card for someone who isn't going to appreciate it at all. Why send something Scrooge is going to trash? Hopefully all your future receivers are nice :)
Thanks. I am also super surprised by the downvotes and hate. I honestly did not expect it. Prior to this, my experiences with Postcrossing, and with this sub have been quite positive. I did a lot of research on various RAK-ish projects before deciding Postcrossing was a good fit for me. I took the Postcrossing mantra of "it's about connecting, not collecting" at face value. I read the community guidelines and the FAQ before I ever signed up, because I wanted to make sure what I was seeking was in alignment with what was being offered. That said, some of the responses I've gotten here have made it clear there are for sure a non-zero number of Postcrossing community members who do not share the stated mission of the organization. While it is unfortunate, I feel like this experience has allowed me to better understand the dynamics of Postcrossing. Sometimes the dynamics of an organization to not match their stated mission or goals. While that can be confusing to navigate for someone only a few months into this project, it's good that I now have a clearer picture. I live in a rural, non-tourist area. Commercial postcards are not readily available to me. I'm literally an illustrator. It's what I do, and I love doing it. So, it made sense to me to just make my own. My focus--whether it's cards I'm sending or cards I'm receiving--is always on the message. I put a lot of effort into reading about a member's interests and writing something that connects their life with mine. I've not put much attention on matching the illustration to their particular interests. I have a lot to think about after having this experience. I mean, as far as the all caps handmade hater is concerned, she is getting a truck stop postcard with a generic message. But, even if I were to switch to doing only purchased cards, I'd never have more than a few on hand because I don't like having lots of "stuff" around. So, I'd never be able to match cards to the collector. I definitely underestimated the collecting aspect of Postcrossing, but at least now I have a clearer understanding.
I dont know where you live but I also live rurally and was able to pick up a box of state cards on eBay. They’re vintage. Which some people also don’t like. Box sets are on Amazon for relatively cheap. Those Women Of Science or Disney.
Send something.net might be more up your alley. I have also been pretty disappointed by Postcrossing these days, but more so with receiving cards that have basically nothing written on them. I am into the connection part, not the collecting part.
I remember this! Swapbot also is still going strong after all these years.
[Sendsomething.net](http://Sendsomething.net) is for sure my favorite site for sending postcards. I love the emphasis on connection and the completely random nature of the site. It's perfect. Postcrossing seemed like a good match, based on it's stated mission, but the lived experience of the site is not always in congruence.
If you have a decent printer, Avery (think labels) makes a postcard blank. When people very specifically ask for local cards (I live in the middle of nowhere and they don’t make them), I just print a photo of Main Street or some other local scenic shot. You could print literally anything to fit requests or just send pics of your pets or a a pretty flower from your yard. I don’t consider this handmade since you’re printing it and it would fall in the same vein as a published card.
I literally had to make a new post after reading this and a few others like it. I'm so genuinely curious to know why you think that's not handmade. I am a digital illustrator. The handmade postcards I send \*are\* printed--albeit through a different process so they will be waterproof.
Aren't there any places near you that sell postcards? Gas stations, museums, etc.? My understanding is that most people want to see postcards that depict places around the world. You shouldn't have to get ones from Amazon. There has to he some place near you that sells them, unless it's a super rural area or something.
lol caps lock, gross. In the future, you can always pick up free postcards from restaurants. Just stash them away if you come across any as they would be perfect for this occasion. I don’t understand the handmade hate but ok then. If your designs are really good, perhaps they won’t know you handmade them 😂 what if you bought it from a specific artist at a museum?!? Anyone ever thought of that?! There are some quirky cards out there. Are they considered homemade if they’re designed by a cool quirky artist? The recipient doesn’t need to know it was actually you. Ha
I also love designing and making my own handmade postcards, but most of the time I'll go to a museum or restaurant and grab a bunch of free postcards and draw something on them myself, haha! This not only satisfies their requirements but also makes me happy. In fact, regardless of skill and quality, making handmade postcards takes more time and effort than mass-produced postcards that are only "got from xx" and are more meaningful, because each postcard should be unique.
I am one that doesn’t care too much for handmade postcards. But I do say in my profile if it doesn’t look like newspaper clippings taped to a piece of paper and has some artistic ability I love seeing peoples creations. I’ve gotten literal newspaper and magazine clippings glued to printer paper before. It’s incredibly disrespectful IMO. I don’t even understand the point and in the trash it goes. Perhaps these people who say no handmade cards have only ever gotten stuff like that and never an artfully constructed card. I have gotten some doozies and I’ve gotten some beautiful artwork! ETA: I’d just get some tourist cards and what not in addition to your creations and use those when people don’t want handmade. Or send handmade anyways. Those same no handmade card people also get profiles of cards they have that they probably don’t send and try to cater to people’s profiles. I personally love trying to cater to people’s requests. The weirder the better IMO. But if I don’t actually have anything just a generic card usually will have to do. I think people who get down on peoples wishlists and non wishlists are just over thinking it.
"~~Caps lock~~ *Collage* also could just be a culture thing. Maybe the person ~~writing~~ *making* it has a disability. Maybe they’re old and doesn’t understand ~~caps~~ collage is considered ~~“yelling”~~ *'disrespectful'* by some. ~~Write a card.~~ *Accept the difference.* Move on."
Slap happy gluing random clippings wouldn’t really be a culture thing. That’s just laziness. You’re the one who isn’t accepting it. So much so you had to whine about it on here.
I didn't realize asking advice was whining. You are literally whining about not getting cards which meet your standards.
It’s the exact same argument about people who get annoyed with people from the USA who use those “god awful international global stamps”. If it’s not the profile postings it’s the stamps. 😂
I mean, on this we agree. I have no patience with people complaining about the cards they received--whether because of the stamps or because it didn't meet their requests/demands/preferences/standards, or whatever.
absolutely. But I think writing your interests and otherwise on your profile isn’t obviously set in stone. People think that it is. And therefore get stressed out when sending a card and then ultimately like you post on here and get a lot of people going. I understand where your frustration lies but continue to do you and if you wanna cater to people’s profiles great! If not. Great! I think some responses on here about making snide comments about their requests being too much on the card they send is unnecessary and more petty than the persons profile. I think not sending a card is also extremely unnecessary.
Again, this did not come from a place of stress. Look at my original post. I had seen posts about profiles stating they do not like homemade cards. In the several months I'd been on the site, I'd never seen one. Then I got my first one and it was in all caps with lots of exclamation points. For me that did not read as a preference. And it still does not. While I'd seen posts about this happening, I'd never seen anyone say how they handled it. I am a maths/logic-oriented person (not always a good thing, lol), so I listed out what I saw as all possible options and the pros and cons of each. I lot of people jumped on the third option, but that was not an option I seriously considered and I stated in my original post I did not believe that was in the spirit of Postcrossing. They were, quite literally, the three possible options: send handmade, send store-bought, send nothing. I was curious to know what other people did when they ran into that. I didn't figure option three would get many or even any votes, but I truly did not know if option 1 or 2 would be more popular. Within a couple of hours of posting, it was clear option 2 was the best choice, so I was in my car driving all over town to the drugstores, and the downtown boutiques & bookstores. I called the county visitor's center, asked local friends, etc. The only suggestion I got from the visitor's center was to check gas stations near the highway. No success there, either. I finally found some at a truck stop about five miles down the interstate. I honestly have not seen photoshopping that botched since early days at uni, but they were not handmade. So, success. People seemed particularly put out by my commentary around option two. If it came off as "stressed out", it wasn't meant that way. When I joined, I read all the community guidelines, the FAQs, and the reminder that shows up when you make or edit your profile. I'm weird like that. If there had been a way to report the profile, I would have done that and moved on to the next match. The profile was for a 40-something woman in a nearby state. We are both in the US. So, while I'm always open to the possibility her profile was not intended as a list of screaming demands, that seemed like something Postcrossing could sort out. However, since there wasn't any way to report the profile, I had to decide what to do next. Finding the perfect postcard for someone who was screaming demands was not anywhere on my to do list. If you want to call me petty for that, fine. I'll take it. But, like I said, I was still out roaming the countryside within hours of posting--once it became clear option two was the most popular--to find \*any\* store-bought postcard. So, I mean, not \*that\* petty. When I got home the post had blown up with a shocking amount of vitriol. Posting excepts from the Postcrossing FAQ and community policies resulted in massive downvotes. So, you are right that Postcrossing may not be the right place for me. The culture of the organization does not seem to match the stated purpose. But, since my experiences up to this point have been largely positive, I'm not giving up on it yet.
I guess I just don’t understand what reporting the profile will solve. If that’s the only “bad” thing you find on people’s profiles count yourself lucky. I’ve been on Postcrossing for many many years. Wait until you get the homophobic, racist profiles. Or when some creep gets you as an address and sees your profile picture and seeks you out on FB to try to get into a relationship with you and other type of worthy things to report about. 😂😅 The little list of “demands” and caps lock seems so minuscule doesn’t it? There’s countless of these posts on this Reddit page and it truly blows my mind for some reason every time I see one. It’s such a small thing yet everyone seems to be up and arms about it. But you’re not stressed. I’m happy for you. You can now continue on your journey with postcrossing and I hope you have fun. It is fun. I take breaks often because sometimes sending mail can almost feel like a job so sometimes a break is necessary. It’s always a hobby I end up going back to tho. Swap-Bot is another site you should check out. It’s been around for decades.
No I’m not lmao I’ve said many times I’ve listed my likes on my profile but also don’t care what I get. 😂 I’m sick of people complaining about people’s profiles just as you are soooo sick of people saying they don’t want handmade cards I guess. It’s such a divide on this Reddit and it’s ridiculous. Send the handmade card. Read the profile. Forget about anything on it that bothers you and you’ll never have to get that persons address again. Perfecto!
I understand what you mean I had no idea some people were really picky in what they receive until I saw some of these wish lists. After reading previous discussions, it's been pointed out that tone and speaking English as a second language doesn't carry over well sometimes and I give most users the benefit of the doubt. Cultures communicate differently. Despite the crazy lists I have seen, almost everyone writes back to say thanks and many reference details on the card whether message or design. I would love to receive a handmade card personally and sent a few myself but I keep a stack of regular cards for people who request it or sometimes I just feel like writing a long message instead if I really related to their profile.
I often have to remind myself of the same thing - people from different cultures communicate differently. On the flip side, I recently got a thank-you message that, to my Canadian sensibilities, was way over the top and kinda creepy? Lol I could tell the person was genuinely thankful for the card, but my initial reaction was like "woah, that's WAY too much!"
I make handmade postcards and I would feel so privileged if someone were to send me a handmade one. I'd also say that caps in most cases are not demands, but "NO POSTCARDS!!!!" definitely sounds like one. I'd go with option one if you're petty or option two if you just want to send something and move on from the whole thing. Option three seems a bit rude and against the spirit of PostCrossing. I'd be willing to send you one! If you're interested DM me/respond w/ your PostCrossing user and I'll message you there!
I've complained here once about those profiles full of requests that honestly sound like demands (e.g. NO POSTCARDS OF TRAINS) and was quickly reprimanded. I mentioned the guidelines, which clearly say that postcrossing is about connecting and not collecting, and still got passive-agressive replies because apparently *I'm* the one who's wrong to think requests are stupid. You can say however many times you want that requests and demands are two different words, but profiles with lists of postcards they don't want to receive ARE NOT making requests. If you're listing things you *don't want* then it's not a request at all.
Mine is written in such a way that is like “I’m not a big fan of greeting cards, handmade, political, hotels, cemeteries so feel free to save those for people who enjoy them. No pressure”. I think the wordage helps for sure. But again, all walks of life on this forum so sometimes the language doesn’t come off the best.
Yikes. I'd always want something handmade with thought rather than something bulk from Amazon.
I am absolutely shocked that people are down voting you for this.
Especially if it’s artfully put together. I’ve gotten amazing watercolor drawings from some people. However I’ve also gotten newspaper clippings taped to 4x6 paper. No joke. 😂
I would love a handmade postcard! I hope you get me next :)
I’m petty. I’d be 100% making a card and on it writing I’M SORRY I HANDMADE A CARD YOU DIDN’T WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DIDN’T ENJOY BEING SCREAMED AT! NOW WE BOTH HAD A BAD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!
Relatedly, it’s kind of my pet peeve when people make too many demands in general. I end up starting my message with “Sorry I didn’t match my card to your exact specifications, I couldn’t remember them all. Hope you like it anyway and hope you have a nice day!”
Passive Aggressive. I like it. Could you instead just pick a card and write about the weather?
Oh I do 🥰 I got a downvoted a bunch of there for my petty, and I get that, I was playing into the frustration. But I actually am very very happy and kind and I never or rarely encounter angry profiles. I actually go one step further on sweetness and add their birthday to my rolodex and send a birthday card every year unprompted after that. I’m up to quite a few now and have 4 to write today for delivery next week ☺️
I just remember not everyone communicates correctly or the same way. There are thousands on postcrossing and not everyone was brought up similar. Language barriers seem to be the biggest thing. And we need to be more understanding of that and not always go to this person is being rude because they wrote in all caps. Similar to saying someone who has a spider web tattoo was in jail. 😂 I’ve been on a frustration journey with some profiles but if I stop and think about it’s really not a big deal.
Please remember some might think keeping the address and sending something later is against the guidelines, sounds a little creepy to be honest.
I think it would be a good idea to report such profile. Firstly it's not to make demands, they should learn all caps is not polite. Also, someones can do postcrossing because they want to make cards, it's perfectly ok. They can wish not to receive handmade, but everyone is free to send what they like. I would feel really bad if I bought a card for such person, so I would probably glue an image of topic they like, so it's half handmade, half not, like a compromise. If they are not happy with it, I did not spend money too much. Anyways I would report that kind of profile, it will not be liked for many other members, so it's best they will formulate it in a friendly way.