How do you feel about greeting cards?

For birthdays and holidays and such? I rarely buy them for people. The only exception is Christmas cards. The reason being is that they are usually sappy rhetoric that people just slap their name at the bottom and underline a couple key words. They are meaningless. Especially for young children. I mean they can't even read yet but everyone always buys them birthday cards! Why?





Then I have the task of deciding when is the appropriate time to throw them away. There is no personal sentiment or attachment but I feel guilty throwing them away as soon as I read them.





This sounds like a bunch of sour grapes and I really don't waste that much of my energy on the matter but still.... can anyone tell me what the deal is with greeting cards? I just don't get it, except that they are a convenient replacement for a more personal, yet time consuming, hand written note.

How do you feel about greeting cards?
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Some cards, if you spend the time to search for ther right one, can be meaninful, especially if you add your own personal note inside. But for the most part I find them a waste of time and paper too. For christmas, I usually just get those little stick on cards that say "To" and "From" on them and keep it at that. For the people really close to me, i'll either make a card or buy one and write a nice note inside.





For birthdays etc I have stopped doing that unless it's somebody I am close to. Personally, I just throw out every card I get right after the person leaves, unless it's a meaningful card from someone close to me. I used to save them, but then the pile got so big and for no reason. What am I to do with them?? They eventually get thrown out anyways, so I figure better sooner than later and save myself the mess.
Reply:You are absolutely right. I don't like sending cards to kids under 14. Cards are expensive and I don't see why people won't send e-cards more. E-cards are not that impersonal and they are free. The receiver can keep them for a few months and don't have to feel guilty thrashing them unlike the physical one.
Reply:I love them! They are a cheap and simple way to let people know you are thinking of them, that you care. Unlike a text or a phone call, they can keep it up for as long as they want. Many of them are really beautiful, and you can always buy blank cards so you can write your own message (that's what I do). Cards that people gave me as a child, my parents put them away until I was old enough to read them.





So what do you do instead? Do you send people a time-consuming personal handwritten note, or do you just ignore them on their birthdays, anniversaries and special days?
Reply:Sometimes, i get like A hundred "just Because Cards" and pick a random person out of the phone book, and send them all to that person.
Reply:Greeting cards mean so very much to me. I send greeting cards all the time and look for a long time to get the right verse to certain people. Sometimes you can't visit that person, so a card means you are thinking of them. If people take the time to send a card, I display them on my wall.
Reply:I buy Birthday and Christmas cards. My parents appreciate it because I try to look for a card that best describes our relationship and they really like that. I have brothers who will go out and pick up the first card they see which does not describe their relationship at all. You can tell there is no thought behind their choice.





Little children starting around, probably the age of 4, really start to appreciate the cards. My daughter received an Easter card this year and she looks at it over and over again.
Reply:huge waste of money unless the card really says something.. i just hate getting cards that say nothing of importance..
Reply:Waste of money
Reply:The price has gone up to buy greeting cards. :( But to answer your question...





I think greeting cards have the right words to say when it comes to someone celebrating their 5th birthday, who lost a parent or grandparent, or recovering from an illness. After all, I couldn't have said those messages any better myself They have meaningful poetry/phrases and illustrations.





It's perfectly fine not to give a greeting card. After all, after it has been read, will it be saved or tossed?
Reply:I adore greeting cards, and anyone who knows me knows that I take a great deal of time choosing just the right card for any occasion. I'm sorry you feel that they are full of sap and sentiment, but I guess you're just not a "Kodak moment" kind of person; I am.





The words written on the cards I select are usually the same "meaningless" stuff you're talking about, but they are the way I feel about my loved ones. I truly do feel they give me support, strength, guidance, and unending love, and for that, I am always going to be very thankful. I guess my love is what you would call "sappy." I'm glad my loved ones don't think the same way as you.





And when I underline those key words at the bottom or somewhere in the text, I'm giving them extra emphasis. I am not inviting the recipient to ignore the rest of the card.
Reply:It is a small inexpensive way of saying i;m thinking of you. That's all.
Reply:I personally think they're a waste of money. If I know someone will really really appreciate one, I'll buy them one. But I never feel obligated to buy them for people.
Reply:well me, i buy them, and when its time to sign them, i just add a whole new greeting card of something that i want to say..