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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,075 |
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
6242 Posts |
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Bedrock Of The Community
11819 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
9825 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1119 Posts |
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What was the last generation that was taught how to even write a letter, or fill out a check, or write in cursive? |
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Valued Member

252 Posts |
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Of course, stamps are hardly even actually stamps either though....so who are we to judge? They are only called stamps because they replaced actual rubber hand stamps originally used for postage. Engraved stamps are maybe somewhat stamp like, but not lithographic or "stamps" made more modern printing techniques, there is no 'stamping' of any sort involved in their manufacture. So maybe we're the ones who need to move on to a more appropriate name? I'm not sure if this ambiguity is unique to English. |
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Valued Member
United States
273 Posts |
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Prepaid postage labels?
Naw, I'm going stick with Stamps, the term I've been using for almost 80 years. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
11819 Posts |
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Quote: So maybe we're the ones who need to move on to a more appropriate name? Ah, no. The era of redefining everything so that the majority of people need to comply with the wishes of a tiny minority is done, done and more done. It is the height of insanity. PS: I want this forum to be called a banana from now on. Just because. |
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Pillar Of The Community
Australia
3185 Posts |
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Weren't postage stamps called labels when they were first brought into use? I've read that the public called them stamps and, if you'll pardon the pun, the name stuck.
As for the last generation that was taught how to even write a letter, or fill out a check, or write in cursive, I'm still on the right side of 60 and learned all three. Now, to find the under 50s and under 40s and see if we can find out? |
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Pillar Of The Community
Netherlands
5536 Posts |
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One of the original proposals was to use labels that had been stamped. The Penny Black and Two Pence Blue, originally, were called labels.  |
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Pillar Of The Community
Netherlands
5536 Posts |
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Quote: I'm not sure if this ambiguity is unique to English. The Dutch (postzegel) and Spannish (sello postal) words mean postal seal. |
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Edited by NSK - 01/17/2025 4:14 pm |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
849 Posts |
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I've read many comments from people on this forum who call the modern, self-adhesive, stamps, "stickers". |
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Bedrock Of The Community
11819 Posts |
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Quote: I've read many comments from people on this forum who call the modern, self-adhesive, stamps, "stickers". Sarcasm: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. |
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Valued Member
United States
99 Posts |
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Unfortunately I see the use of stamps slowly becoming a thing of the past. The reality of electronics & a younger generation that has no idea. How much difference something like this web site would have made when I first started 70 years ago. I also see the "stamps" of today being a battle of who can make the prettiest & cutest. Not that they are bad but I enjoyed the education & meaning I got from older issues celebrating something or someone. Not to mention the personalized ones that drive me crazy hunting. Lol.
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
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Ha!
I work in a school, and I set up the philatelic club at my school.
A few months ago, I decided to offer the Club members the opportunity to make covers that would arrive in the mail.
The several who wanted to do it ALL knew how to set up the address, but they seemed a little uncomfortable with positionality of that address :-} I was pleased that they knew the proper format for mailing addresses. These are kids who are 17-18 years old.
However, one student told me that he had never received an actual written letter in the mail. He had received business mailings, but this would be his first "real" letter.
I think that next year, I want to try to expand the letter mailing exercise to more kids, like beyond the Club. Dunno how that will look, but maybe we can get more kids to enjoy the pleasant feeling of sending and receiving letters :-}
Josh
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
7891 Posts |
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" They don't know what stamps are " They will , but they will not be like me or you . They are growing up in a world totally different than we did .
I grew up in a world were $400 million could control the Silver market and hold the markets hostage .Today you can't do that with 5 Billion dollars . Today we have 20 times to 50 times the money out there since then ,but the classic stamp market is still the same $250 million dollar market.
THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE . |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,075 |
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