A Critical Glance at the Greeting Card Industry
Submitted By: Fly
I don’t know when Hallmark exactly took over and decided that every occasion needs a card to go with it, but that seems to be the point we’ve reached as a society. Walking into any local pharmacy/candy store/strip club, you’re likely to be greeted with multiple aisles dedicated exclusively to greeting cards. To me though, cards just represent the fact you forgot something. Someone’s birthday, anniversary, sex change, etc. so at the last second, you run out and get a card before an occasion where you see them. Getting a card on top of a gift is redundant and a waste of time; you clearly remembered the person by getting them a gift. I know there is supposed to be a “sentiment” behind it, but seriously – it’s a fucking piece of cardboard paper. To me, it comes off looking cheap, and you put no effort into it, just buying whatever the store had.
Cards have gotten oddly specific too. The last time I had to buy one, I had forgotten it was Mother’s day, as is my annual tradition, because the whole day is bullshit. But that is another topic for another time. So I had to go out Sunday morning and purchase one before I saw my mom. Going through the sections though, there were categories such as, “From your adopted son and step-daughter.” Is there really such a wide market for a family like that? Did Hallmark sit down and plan out every type of family scenario in order to cover every base? It seriously took a few minutes of searching to find a regular “From son to biological mother” card, and the fact that I had to search at all still makes me want to punch someone, weeks later.
Aisle 45 in the Greeting Card Warehouse: 12,000 sq ft of Empty Gestures and Nearly-Forgotten Events.
As a society, we need to move away from cards as a whole. There are better ways to express emotion than what Hallmark shits out. You want to show someone you care? Do something nice for them. Show them you’re thinking about them, not that you know how to walk into a store and make a last minute purchase. That’s just me, and I don’t think enough Middle American soccer moms visit this site to hear my message and make any kind of difference. Just don’t expect a card from me anytime soon… unless I forget your birthday.
