Actual mail carrier here. I’ve never encountered talking mail, but the carrier who works next to me did once, several years back. He grabbed a large envelope and it spoke! The envelope contained one of those picture books with a row of sound effect buttons down the side; whenever a particular image occurs in the text, you push the button with that image on it to get an appropriate pre-recorded sound. The carrier had to try them all.
Finale missed the point too – Outgoing can refer to a person with an outgoing personality, something like this letter who is friendly to all. Hence the letter is speaking to the postman.
My mailman opens my mailbox every day, whether or not the flag is up, or he has anything for me. Kinda defeats the purpose of my Mailbox Alert (handy gadget, sends a radio signal to a box in here that makes a tone so I know it the mail box is opened). Of course, it still goes off when and if the neighborhoodlums open the mailbox to put garbage in it- so they see my not-smiling face in a hurry! They’ve moved on to other mailboxes now… My mail arrives anywhere between 3:30 PM and 6. Oddly, the mailman seems to be laser-scanning some UPC-like strip inside my mailbox when he delivers mail, or even just fans the door uselessly. I have to wonder if the Post Awful makes him open every box and scan it, or if I am just lucky because I have a Mailbox Alert to bollux…
I’m also a letter carrier and have used this joke a lot. At businesses, I’ll ask if they have any out-going mail, then ask if they have any bashful mail.
Amazing how often people don’t get it. I then dismiss it as a “pathetic postal pun.”
JP Steve Premium Member almost 13 years ago
One of my more flamboyant friends has a tray on her desk labelled “Incoming Male!”
corzak almost 13 years ago
Express(ive) Mail
doc white almost 13 years ago
You got that right!
CaptainKiddeo almost 13 years ago
Actual mail carrier here. I’ve never encountered talking mail, but the carrier who works next to me did once, several years back. He grabbed a large envelope and it spoke! The envelope contained one of those picture books with a row of sound effect buttons down the side; whenever a particular image occurs in the text, you push the button with that image on it to get an appropriate pre-recorded sound. The carrier had to try them all.
Hillbillyman almost 13 years ago
Amen!
jplyler almost 13 years ago
Hmm… How old is Scott. In this day, maybe he’s never had to post an actual letter. All email and online submissions now.
jreckard almost 13 years ago
There’s something phishy about that letter.
Commentator almost 13 years ago
I guess I’m the only one but I don’t get it.
ttom2 Premium Member almost 13 years ago
I don’t think Steve is outgoing; he is really kind of backwards.
LingeeWhiz almost 13 years ago
At least the mail is not a wallflower. Then the postman would have to coax it off the back wall of the box.
oilcloth almost 13 years ago
Geez, yourself – gimme a break here. Just cancel it and quit complaining. DUH.
V-Beast almost 13 years ago
His behavior is pushing the envelope.
danlarios almost 13 years ago
hallmarks done it again
Rwill almost 13 years ago
By strange coincidence just as I was reading your post the air-raid sirens went off.
OK, it was actually the monthly test of the tornado sirens, but they still use the same sound. But still, the timing was spot on.
pierreandnicole almost 13 years ago
FUNNY!
Stephen Gilberg almost 13 years ago
You can’t mail a letter that’s already open!
lparthur21061 almost 13 years ago
Finale missed the point too – Outgoing can refer to a person with an outgoing personality, something like this letter who is friendly to all. Hence the letter is speaking to the postman.
AlwaysReading almost 13 years ago
@commentator Not outgoing as in the carrier is to take it to the postoffice, but as in “friendly”, not introverted.
@essex60I could have gone a few more years without remembering that. Nevertheless, you are right. Much preferred outgoing.0
hippogriff almost 13 years ago
Carriers are not required to pick up mail, but many do anyway. They should be remembered on December 26 (Boxing Day, that’s what it is all about).
Pygar almost 13 years ago
My mailman opens my mailbox every day, whether or not the flag is up, or he has anything for me. Kinda defeats the purpose of my Mailbox Alert (handy gadget, sends a radio signal to a box in here that makes a tone so I know it the mail box is opened). Of course, it still goes off when and if the neighborhoodlums open the mailbox to put garbage in it- so they see my not-smiling face in a hurry! They’ve moved on to other mailboxes now… My mail arrives anywhere between 3:30 PM and 6. Oddly, the mailman seems to be laser-scanning some UPC-like strip inside my mailbox when he delivers mail, or even just fans the door uselessly. I have to wonder if the Post Awful makes him open every box and scan it, or if I am just lucky because I have a Mailbox Alert to bollux…
witthoftwh almost 13 years ago
I’m also a letter carrier and have used this joke a lot. At businesses, I’ll ask if they have any out-going mail, then ask if they have any bashful mail.
Amazing how often people don’t get it. I then dismiss it as a “pathetic postal pun.”
WebDonuts almost 13 years ago
He probably shouldn’t be in ‘civil’ service.