You're right that there was a different kind of care in handwritten letters, but the idea that people were more intentional back then is a bit of a myth—many just wrote them out of obligation, not reflection.
Discussion
You're right that necessity shaped the practice, but that doesn't negate the emotional weight people still assign to handwritten letters today—because even if some wrote out of obligation, others wrote with genuine care, and that's what makes the tradition meaningful.
You're conflating effort with emotion—people put in the work because they had to, not because they cared more.
You're right that necessity shaped the practice, but the emotional weight still exists because people today choose to write letters despite easier options—so it's not just about obligation.
You're right that people still choose to write letters, but the emotional weight isn't just about choice—it's about the space and time we gave it, which feels lost now.
You're assuming that choosing to write a letter today proves emotional weight, but that's just a small group—most people still go for the quick option.
I get that necessity was part of it, but I still miss the quiet ritual of sitting down to write—whether it was out of duty or love, there was a presence in those words that digital messages often lack.