How to Be A Gentleman On Thanksgiving Day

Most men think of Thanksgiving as the glorious day each year when there’s unlimited food, family and football. But preparing for Thanksgiving is stressful, and too often the women of our lives bear the stress while the men reap the rewards.

We’d like to offer a few tips for the modern man on Thanksgiving Day. Half the battle is knowing how to make yourself useful. The other half is actually following through on your good intentions.

Tip #1: Know your role. The most difficult part of Thanksgiving is not the actual cooking, it’s managing the logistics and timing of the event. If you aren’t the head chef of the family, then Thanksgiving isn’t the day to try to show off. Get your job done early, so other people don’t have to worry about it.

Tip #2: Set the table. It’s easy. There are no excuses for making a mistake, just read our earlier blog post: “Setting the Table: A Life Skill.” http://guide.forgetfulgentleman.com/2010/10/setting-table-life-skill_08.html

Tip #3: Prepare a “specialty dish.” Even if you don’t have a go-to recipe for butternut squash bread pudding up your sleeve, find a unique appetizer or side dish to prepare. Not only does it show off some of your multidimensional talents, it also serves as a great conversation starter. More importantly, people want to see others enjoying themselves, and if you come through with a home run dish, guests will love it! Here is the Food Network’s list of the 100 Best Thanksgiving Recipes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/thanksgiving/index.html

Tip #4: Conversation starters. The goal of any gentleman is to make people feel at ease, whether they are hosting or guests. Spend some time beforehand thinking about topics you’d like to discuss with friends and relatives. Use this day as an opportunity to truly get to know your family. This list of conversation starters should get your ideas flowing: http://www.poweroffamilymeals.com/MealtimeIdeas/Conversation_Starters.aspx

Tip #5: Clear the table and wash the dishes. You know that big pile of dishes at the end of the meal? Tackle it! This is the most valuable thing you can do on Thanksgiving. Chances are the hosts have barely had the chance to sit and enjoy their own meal. They’ve delivered the food, now it’s your turn to help.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Setting the Table: A Life Skill

The modern gentleman plays an active role in all aspects of hosting a dinner party. Even if you aren’t as skilled as Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsey in the kitchen, you should help out in other ways such as setting the table for dinner.

Here’s how to set the table.

1. How many people will be in attendance? If there are children coming, consider a separate children’s table.
2. Where do you want everyone to sit? Consider a few matters of convenience such as the cook sitting near the kitchen door, parents sitting next to children, or which people would interact best with others. There are also matters of tradition to consider, such as a male guest traditionally being seated on the hostess’s right, and a female guest traditionally being seated at the host’s right. Often times people alternate between men and women, but this is no longer necessary.
3. Do I use a tablecloth? It’s entirely up to the host, and depends what type of food you are serving and mood you hope to create. If you choose to use a table cloth, remember to have the middle crease run straight down the center of the table and it should hang about 18 inches off the table. If it’s a buffet dinner, it should hang to the floor.
4. Where do I position the plates, glasses and utensils? Use the picture below to guide you:

A few things to remember:

• Fold the napkins and place them in either the center of each diner’s place, under the forks on the left, in an empty water glass.
• Place the large dinner fork to the left and the smaller salad for to the left of the dinner fork.
• Place a knife to the right of the napkin, with the cutting edge toward the plate. This is an old custom to prevent aggressive behavior at the dinner table.

When do I begin clearing the table? When the last person if finished eating, you may begin to clear the plates. When the diner has finished, he/she signals this by setting the fork and knife parallel to each other, so they lie either horizontally across the plate or on the diagnol at approximately 3:30.

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A Gentleman's Guide to Tipping

Tipping. Should you? If so, how much – and when? Knowing the proper etiquette for tipping is one of most common dilemmas a gentleman will regularly face. Here is Forgetful Gentleman’s quick reference guide to tipping:

For Businesses and Professional Services

Barber

15% - 20% of the bill or $1.00, whichever is greater.

Massage Therapist/Spa Treatment

15% - 20% of the bill.

Grocery Delivery

Around $2.00 per delivery.

Takeout Cashier

A nominal tip is a nice gesture. They aren’t delivering your food but they are still working hard to get it ready quickly.

Food Delivery

About 10% of the bill but at least $1.00

Movers

Head Mover: $25.00 - $50.00

Crew: $15.00 - $30.00 each

Furniture/Appliance Delivery

$5.00 per person.

Garage Attendants

$1.00 per pickup with bigger tips every once in awhile; then offer a larger tip at the holidays.

Trash Collection

$10.00 - $15.00 per crew member around the holidays.

Lawn Care

If you have a regular caretaker, offer $15.00 - $25.00 at the end of the season.

Newspaper Delivery

$5.00 - $20.00 at the holidays in a personalized card

Mail Delivery Person

It’s against the law to tip federal workers monetarily but they can receive small gifts valued at $25.00 or less.

Household Help

A regular cleaning person or babysitter should receive a tip around $25.00 plus a small gift around the holidays.

Teachers

If you have kids, give their teacher(s) a gift around the holidays and at the end of the year. Avoid body lotions, candles and apple themed knick-knacks. A gift card to Starbucks, Target or iTunes is usually much better received.

Residential Building Employees

Superintendent: $20 - $50 depending on services rendered.

Doorman: $20 - $50 each depending on level of interaction.

Other workers: $20 or less depending on level of interaction.

Taxis

15% - 20% of the fare, rounding up to the nearest dollar.

Car Service/Limousines

If you are billed regularly you can ask the company to add 15% gratuity to your bill. Otherwise, tip as you would a taxi. If a 3rd party provides the car service, a $5.00 tip is a nice gesture.

Tow Truck

Tip $5.00 for services like jumping your car, changing your tire or towing your car to a mechanic or dealership.

Casino Cocktail Waitress

15% of the bill.

Casino Dealer

At your discretion but if you’re on a good run or take down a big pot, show your appreciation to the dealer and perhaps you’ll reap the rewards of continued good luck.

When Out on the Town

Coat Room Attendants

$1.00 per article checked including coats, umbrellas, packages and hats.

Bathroom Attendants

50 cents to a dollar.

Waiters and Waitresses

15% - 20% of the pre-tax bill according to the level of service.

Maitre d’

Usually unnecessary unless you frequent the same restaurant regularly in which case you may want to offer a $5.00 tip every once in awhile.

Sommelier/Wine Steward

15% of the wine bill, always in cash, usually at the end of the meal.

Bartender

15% of the bar tab or $1.00 per drink.

Valet Parking

$1.00 or $2.00 when your car is returned.

When Traveling

SkyCap

$1.00 per bag checked.

Hotel Bellman

$1.00 per bag for help with baggage but not less than $2.00 total. $2.00 or $3.00 per fax, message or package delivery.

Hotel Doorman

$1.00 per bag (but not less than $2.00 total) if baggage help is given. $1.00 or $2.00 for hailing a cab, more in inclement weather or if extra work is required.

Room Service

15% of the bill, but not less than $2.00, in addition to the room service fee.

Concierge

$5.00 for booking a reservation, getting tickets, etc. More if he/she goes above and beyond to secure what you ask.

Hotel Housekeeping

If you receive exceptional service, tip $2.00 to $5.00. Leave the tip in an envelope clearly marked: For Housekeeping.

On a Cruise

Check your cruise ship’s gratuity schedule, most provide one.

Tips for a Gentleman On a Budget

Money may be a little tight sometimes, but a gentleman always finds ways to take care of that special someone in his life. Here are a few suggestions on how to save money without sacrificing the experience.

Free Movie Tickets: Go to Fandango.com to look for local showtimes. Next to the theater listing, there’s a blue button that says “Get Ticket Free!” To receive free movie tickets, all you need to do is sign up for a free offer such as online music, restaurants.com, or free online games.

Restaurant.com: You can purchase a $25 gift certificate for just $10 to thousands of restaurants. Better still, type in the promo code “spork” and you’ll receive another 50-80% off. I just purchased $75 of gift certificates for $9. Amazing!

Monitor GroupOn.com: There’s a good chance your girlfriend already monitors this site, but you can always beat her to it! Groupon negotiates huge discounts on popular local goods, services and cultural events. You can get a great deal, learn about a new local business, and experience your home city without having to pay full price.

Rent a Movie: If you still go to Blockbuster, it’s time to move on. Use your local RedBox at the grocery store to rent a movie for $1 a day. Or visit your local library to find a huge selection of movies for free.

Visit a Museum: Many museums are free or ask for donations. Get cultured and save money.

Don't use a coupon on a first date. And be creative on how you plan the evening. You can surprise her or plan in advance for a date night. As long as you are focusing all your attention on her, you can just make a joke about using a coupon. After all, it's the quality time together that matters!

The Proper Technique for Ironing a Dress Shirt

The Proper Technique for Ironing a Dress Shirt.

The dry cleaner might be convenient but it’s also the equivalent of hell for your fine dress shirts. Harsh chemicals, extremely high temperatures and heavy mechanical presses can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your shirts by prematurely breaking down the fibers. And is there anything more disheartening than seeing your beautifully thick mother of pearl buttons come back chipped and broken? The horror! It’s enough to make a grown man cry.

Unless your shirt is seriously soiled, think twice before subjecting Mr. Thomas Pink or The Brothers Brooks to your local sartorial torture chamber. Launder your shirts at home and then follow these simple instructions to get the same pressed look you love and your shirts will thank you with years of service.

Step 1: Start with the collar

Flip the collar up and place it face down on the board. Iron the back of the collar starting from the center and moving out to the points to avoid creasing. Turn the collar over and repeat on the outside of the collar.

Step 2: Move to the shoulders

Drape one shoulder over the narrow end of the board and iron the shoulder piece from the yoke (where the collar meets the arm and body of the shirt) to the center of the back. Repeat on the other shoulder.

Step 3: Address the cuffs and sleeves

Unbutton the cuffs and pull the cuff over the narrow end of the board. Iron the cuff, removing and rotating it to each side to get to the underside. Repeat for the other cuff. Align the sleeves by pinching the shoulder seam and cuff before placing the sleeve flat on the board. Spread and smooth any overlapping fabric by hand before ironing.

Step 4: Iron the front panels

Drape one of the shirt’s front panels across the board with the collar at the narrow end, aligning the side seam with the edge of the board. Iron. Pull the shirt off and then stick the narrow end of the board into the armhole for better access to the area around the top few buttons. Repeat for the other side.

Step 5: Finish with the back

Drape the shirt over the board, aligning the side seam with the edge of the board. Iron as much of the back as possible then shift the shirt so that the other side seam is aligned with the opposite board edge.

Tips

- Start with a slightly damp shirt for best results. The easiest thing to do is hang your shirts after laundering them for 30 minutes or so before ironing.

- Invest in a good iron. Rowenta makes our favorite irons and once you experience how smoothly they glide across your shirts we guarantee you’ll be a fan as well. Buy a Rowenta iron here.

- Depending on the hardness of your water you may want to consider filling your iron with distilled water. The minerals in tap water can build up in your iron and on your clothes.

- Deal with stubborn creases with a quick spritz of water or steam.

- Always leave the largest areas for last. By leaving the front and back until last you reduce the risk of re-creasing the shirt while you iron the remaining areas.

It's Football Season: Your Guide to Referees

We’ve questioned their judgment, their eyesight, and sometimes even their sanity. But have you ever wondered how football referees actually do their job? Or how much the gentlemen in stripes make? With the kick off to the NFL season tonight, it’s the perfect time to study the gentlemen millions of us watch, and almost always forget.

The Legendary Ed Hochuli

You can’t talk NFL officiating without Ed Hochuli. Ed Hochuli once had a staring contest with a scoreboard, and won. He once killed a defensive back with a stern talking to. The NFL must ask his permission to award the Super Bowl trophy. When he’s thirsty, he drinks a pint of peanut butter. His first down call makes him the only person who can punch a cyclops between the eye. And he has counted to infinity – twice.

Who is Ed Hochuli? Google “Ed Hochuli” and you’ll see 40,600 results. Watch an NFL game in which he is refereeing, and you’ll never forget. He kicks off the 2010 NFL season as the head referee in the Colts vs. Texans game on September 12 at 1pm.

There are two things you should watch for when watching Ed Hochuli. First is his physical presence. As a former college football player at UTEP, he’s the only referee that looks to be the same size as the players. In fact, many players joke to him during games that he should be playing on their team. NFL player Tim Dwight once challenged him to a bicep measuring contest and lost.

The second thing to look for Hochuli’s long winded explanations on the field. Famously in a 2007 game while nullifying a holding penalty, he announced through his microphone, “There was no foul on the play. It was not a hold. The defender was just overpowered.”

Here are a few YouTube favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mndhtikHHOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u2kXnGov9w

Hochuli leads an exemplary personal life as well. He’s a trial lawyer in Arizona and partner in a law firm. He has six children and lives in Phoenix. Despite this size, Hochuli runs marathons in his spare time, having completed thirteen races. Hochuli is truly a forgetful gentleman.

Salary

NFL referees currently earn between $42,295 to $120,998 per season. That’s $2,643 to $7,500 per game. Not bad for a weekend job.

NFL referees are the only major sports officials to not be full time salaried employees. The NFL hires them on a contract basis, which allows the league to eliminate unqualified officials without having to show cause as is the case of full-time employees. Many referees are partners in law firms and CEOs.

How does this compare to the other major sports?

Major League Baseball umpires earn $100,000 to $280,000 per season with a $50,000 expense account and free first-class air travel. That’s $617 to $1,728 per game.

National Basketball Association referees earn $90,000 to $225,000 per season, $1,100 to $2,742 per game.

National Hockey League officials earn $115,000 to $220,000 per season, $1400 to $2,683 per game.

The Officiating Crew

During NFL and college football games, there are seven officials on the field.

Referee: This is the head honcho, the one who announces penalties, flexes his biceps on first downs and sticks his head into the replay booth. He wears a white hat, while all the others wear a black hat. He sports an “R” on the back of his uniform. Ed Hochuli is a referee.

Umpire: In 2009, there were five major injuries suffered by umpires (including two concussion and three knee injuries), so the NFL moved the umpires from behind the defensive linebackers to the offensive backfield. This move has created some controversy, so you may hear announces and players mentioning umpires throughout the season. Look for the “U” on back of the uniform.

Head linesman: When a team is close enough to a first down that it requires a measurement, it’s the head linesman who leads the “chain gang” over from the sideline. He also is responsible for keeping time.

Judges x 4: The line judge, field judge, side judge and back judge. For field goals, it’s the field and back judges that get to make the heroic “field goal is good!” signal. All the judges wear numbers on their uniforms, along with the initials LJ, FJ, SJ and BJ.

The Officiating Theme of the Year

Video technology is changing the game of officiating. Imagine making a judgment decision in front of millions of people, seeing a video replay proving you made the wrong decision, then announcing back to the millions of people that you were wrong. It takes humility to do this job. It’s thankless. And it requires one to be trustworthy, responsible, articulate, and having good judgment, the characteristics of a gentleman.

How to Improve Your Handwriting

In today’s technological age, we don’t use handwriting as much anymore. We send emails or text messages or gchat. Even the need to scribble directions is lost with GPS phones. When you finally sit down to write a thank you note or a birthday card, chances are you may be a little rusty.

Don’t let your bad handwriting keep you from the thoughtful gesture of sending a handwritten note. Remember that it’s the act of sending a note that’s most important.

There are handwriting coaches that you can pay $75+ an hour to, or you can work on your handwriting yourself. Here are a few tips for having your handwritten notes look better:

General tips:

• Write less. Cramming more words onto a note will never look good. You are in control, and your writing should reflect this.
• Use a thin pointed pen. Thick pens look sloppier, and bring more attention to poor handwriting. Heavier pens help too.
• Angle the paper slightly to create a gentle tilt to your writing style.
• Stay on line. Use a second piece of paper as a guide to ensure your words are consistently on line.
• Indent the body of the note. Put the Dear/To and Sincerely/Regards on the far left hand margin, and indent the body of the note.
• Be succinct and articulate. That’s why we include “Forgetful Gentleman’s Guide to Articulate Writing” in every set of cards.

Handwriting tips:

• Avoid finger-writing. Focus less on moving your fingers, and more on your forearms. Fingers just serve as a guide.
• Hold the pen lightly.
• The fastest legible handwriters avoid cursive letter-shapes and use only the easiest joins of connecting letters.
• Finish each letter before you start the next. Especially with letters t, I, j and x…which people tend to connect.
• Make the long letters bigger…t, f, l, y. This adds character to your writing.

Improving your handwriting is a constant challenge. Even William Shakespeare struggled with it.

"I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much
How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
It did me yeoman's service."
--William Shakespeare, HAMLET, Act 5, Scene 2

If you want to learn more, check out the following YouTube videos:

How to Improve Handwriting

Improve Handwriting Secret Tip

How to Fix Common Handwriting Problems

Now pick up a set of cards and start writing to family and friends. After all, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do.

Go to our website at www.forgetfulgentleman.com for more information.

The Forgetful Gentlemen of the 2008 Presidential Election

A forgetful gentleman just finished reading Game Change, the #1 New York Times Bestseller about the 2008 presidential elections, and was struck by the way in which our nation’s leaders epitomize the definition of a forgetful gentleman: a classy, sophisticated modern man whose busy lifestyle interferes with his well-intentioned plans.

Every candidate's actions were constantly in conflict with their intentions.

Run for president because it’s best for the country, and eventually it serves to feed their massive egos.

Pledge to run a clean campaign out of the gate, then start throwing mud when the poll numbers drop.

Build personal relationships when raising money or working with the press, then throw these people under the bus when something goes wrong.

The behaviors listed above were common among all candidates. I’ve outlined below a few more of the everyday characteristics among the ’08 candidates that describe this common discrepancy between good intentions and execution.

The Good Intentions

Do what’s best for the country – Each candidate, to their very core, felt like they would be the best person for the job. In fact, that was the one piece of advice Bill Clinton shared to Hillary before running.

Work hard – These candidates were campaigning 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. They wanted it bad! McCain’s herculean efforts at his age were impressive. Hillary’s refusal to quitwas inspiring. But then again, Guiliani and Fred Thompson were lazy, which led to their quick concessions.

Articulate – The candidates re-engaged America through the spoken word. That’s a tough thing to do these days. By the end of the campaign, Obama was giving speeches in front of 80,000 people around the country. I think the best speech of the election was Obama's "race speech" in Philadelphia.

Knowledgeable – With a 24 hour news cycle, these candidates were remarkably well versed about the world. Hillary’s experience and Obama’s meticulous preparation stand out.

The Faults

Swearing – Given how articulate and knowledgeable these candidates are, can’t they find other words? It was shocking how many curse words were commonly tossed around. Especially McCain’s bitter fights with his wife, in front of dozens of people, when they'd be swearing at eachother.

Mudslinging – When the going gets tough, the mud starts flying. It’s not very gentlemanly. Consider McCain's ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton. Every campaign was guilty of this to some degree.

Ego – These candidates devour the media attention that is given them, especially Palin, who would spend her "prep time" before major debates and speeches reading blogs about her instead.

Tardiness – Thousands of people waiting around at campaigns for the candidates to arrive. In fact, Obama’s staffers were especially pleased when the secret service began travelling with Obama because it ended his terrible habit of being tardy.

I definitely encourage anyone interested in politics to read the book. At the very least, you get to read about high profile leaders be forgetful gentlemen.

Gentlemen Open Doors

“Courtesy is the cornerstone of civilization.” Generation after generation, common courtesy prevails. So when was the last time you opened the door for someone?

Many etiquette rules came to be established in Victorian England (1837-1901) to protect or shield a woman from harm or discomfort. But over time, these rules have evolved to apply to all types of people, old and young, sick and healthy, male and female. In today’s world, being a gentleman is about understanding the context in which you interact with others, not just women.

As women outnumber men in the workforce, as college graduates, and in sheer numbers, the independence of the modern woman has caused many of these traditional rules of courtesy to be reconsidered. Some men fear that opening a door for a woman can be considered demeaning, while others feel it’s the gentlemanly thing to do.

Here’s a quick primer on the etiquette of opening doors:

Front Doors. All the time. No excuses. Hold the door open to allow a woman, kid or elderly to walk through before you.

Car Door. This is an area where etiquette is changing. Gone are the days when men drove the cars and women rode in the passenger seat, when few roads were paved and stepping out of a car could land you in a huge puddle.

Definitely make your best attempts to open a car door on your first date or anniversary, as this gesture is not lost on today’s modern woman. But should you be opening the car door all the time? For many couples, that’s excessive.

Revolving Door. Give it a push to start the contraption moving then allow the lady to enter first, and alone. One person in a revolving door pie slice at a time please.

Heavy Door. If it’s a big, heavy door, then you should push through before her and hold it open until she passes. You can hold it open on either side of the door frame, whichever allows you to clear the doorway and physically keep the door open.

Other Walking Rules:

When walking on a sidewalk, the man should walk near the curb (or left side) when strolling with a lady.

When crossing a street, the man should be on the left side of the cross walk.

On a staircase, a man is supposed to walk behind the woman on the way up, and in front of her on the way down.

If the lights are off in a room, or if the space is unfamiliar, the man should walk into the room before a woman.

When two service members are walking together, the junior walks on the left of the senior.

How did this tradition start?

There are many theories about how this tradition started:

“When men started opening doors for women, the doors were often spike studded and ram-resistant, and they weighed hundreds of pounds. A man’s strength was needed to open the door.”

“The tradition of men opening doors for women probably dates from the period when women used to wear dresses with skirts so long and wide, that it was difficult for them to squeeze through the doorway, not to mention opening the door for themselves.”

“It goes back to the days when the women of nobility wore ornate gowns and outfits. In a full formal outfit, she probably could not reach the door if she tried - at least not in a fashion that conveys the grace she is portraying. And the doors at the time were especially large and heavy. Her escort thus opened the door for her.”

“The real history of this act is not so chivalrous. The Vikings put the women first so their heads would get chopped off if there was an attacker in the room (or when re-boarding a boat).”

Today, most men do it because they believe it to be the courteous and the majority of women approve. Ultimately, someone eventually must open a door, so it might as well be you, the gentleman.

Good Guys Gone Good

Rihanna made tens of millions of dollars, won a Grammy award, and embarked on a two year international tour under the slogan “Good Girl Gone Bad.” Why is the bad girl/boy image so fascinating? After decades of the bad boys setting the rules as to what’s cool, times are changing.

Brooke Miller at Primer Magazine recently wrote an article entitled The Modern Day Bad Boy: Introducing The Good Guy. Ms. Miller’s premise is that historically “bad boys” have made a different set of rules that have gone against the prevailing status quo. A combination of fearlessness and a “we make our own rules” leadership makes “bad boys” attractive. Think James Dean, Eminem, Pete Doherty, P Diddy, Russell Crowe or Colin Farrell to name a few.

Ms. Miller’s solution is to have “good guys” break the bad boys’ rules. This allows “good guys” to exhibit the same fearlessness and leadership that has worked for bad boys for so long without “good guys” having to break the rules that they normally abide by. Sounds easy enough.

What a forgetful gentleman likes about Ms. Miller’s article is two-fold:

1) She suggests that a man acting consistent to his character is the right way to go.

2) Building awareness of many of the social customs swirling around us allows men to improve the quality of interactions with people.

So go out and break some of the “bad boy” rules rather than your own…or just wait until your late 20’s when women start appreciating the consistency and selflessness of the modern day gentleman.

You’re Hosting a Dinner Party – Do You Open That Bottle of Wine?

We’ve all been in that situation before. You are hosting some sort of party and a guest presents you with a bottle. You of course say “thank you.” But are you supposed to open the bottle that night?

There are two different schools of thought:

1) Either you must open it that night, and serving it is a sign of appreciation for the gift, so it would be impolite to do otherwise.

2) Or you let the bottle sit because you’ve already planned the evening pairing the appropriate wine with food.

Etiquette dictates that the option is entirely up to the host. When this question was raised at the dinner party last night, the room was split. Most women felt that the bottle should be opened immediately. Most men wanted to let the bottle sit. The men reasoned that they typically waited until the last minute to pick up a bottle at the corner convenience store, with little time or thought invested in the food pairing. A forgetful gentleman in every essence of the term!

Stationery for Social Media Fans

In today’s digital world, it’s easier to reach someone than ever before…which makes it harder to truly connect with someone.

With this premise in mind, I find the growing trend of incorporating elements of social media into handwritten notes fascinating. Why would anyone mail a personal invitation with their Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin accounts written on the card? You can just click a few buttons online and be done with it in seconds.

To standout of course! The handwritten note differentiates you from the dozens of other friend requests, followers, and connections arriving in your inbox each day. In this sense, this new style of stationery is genius.

Katherine Rosman of The Wall Street Journal offered an interesting piece of consumer insight in This Tweet Requires Pen and Ink:

“People who email a lot, tweet a lot, and update Facebook a lot, like to write a lot. The paper-peddlers are trying to woo these big stationery buyers, fans of the cute impulse purchase.”

But isn’t taking the time to hand write your Facebook information the opposite of impulsive? It’s tedius. It doesn’t have immediate gratification. It prolongs the “friend request.” Clearly people have different habits of spending than in managing personal relationships.

When it comes down to it, people enjoy communicating with others. These new “social media note cards” are just another way to try to truly connect with someone that blends passion for technology and the handwritten word.

Write on…