'Disgusted': on social networking

The Editor,
The Times,
London.
September 3rd 1841

Sir,
While there has been much correspondence praising the introduction of the Penny Post last year across Great Britain, I am concerned at a danger that has emerged from this so-called advance in communication.

I wish to express my dismay at the current fashion of young ladies indulging in the practice of letter writing for entirely frivolous reasons. While I do not disagree with the said young ladies, under the supervision of their mothers, writing necessary and polite correspondence to ladies with whom they may have indulged in social intercourse for the very proper justification of thanking them for hospitality or an invitation or making a necessary enquiry. However I am very concerned that this current fashion of young ladies writing entirely frivolous letter to friends of a similar age merely to engage in idle discussion about social activities, gossip and mention of the disposition of young men whom they have met or would wish to meet at dancing parties. Such letters have included reference to books written by the dubious hand of Miss J. Austen, of which little good with flow, as I have expressed in my previous correspondence to this newspaper.

Apart from the content of such correspondence, I am concerned for the young ladies' health which I believe will suffer if long hours are spent manipulating a pen in the awkward position required for proper writing. Furthermore, this insidious fashion will deprive young ladies of time more properly spent on respectable activities such as needlework, reading the Classics and vigorous walks.

While His Majesty's Postal Service can be of use, it is no substitute for real communication, man to man, nor should it be the cause of un-necesary communication. Frivolous exchange of social information can come to no good and I urge that the ready availability of the Penny Post not be the occasion for the corruption of the young.

Yours sincerely,

Disgusted,

Tunbridge Wells

[correction: date of writing was 3rd Sept 2007]