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Where can I get a pen pal?

(27 Posts)
whywhywhy Thu 28-Oct-21 13:05:13

Hi all.

I haven’t been on here for quite a while and I would love a pen pal but do people still do that sort of thing? Not sure? It would be great to get in touch with someone who just wants contact via email. No funny business! I am not wanting to meet up with people or have them arrive at my doorstep. Just good old simple pen pal friend. No addresses need to be exchanged but someone who is genuine. Anyone suggestions? Thank you for reading.

tanith Thu 28-Oct-21 13:29:48

Maybe post a little about yourself and your interests perhaps you’d find someone here.

Purplepixie Thu 28-Oct-21 13:50:28

Please be careful. I had someone approach me and I was guarded and wary from the start. Do not give out personal details. Never let them know where you live. Take care.

Katie59 Thu 28-Oct-21 15:43:23

Google pen friend groups for women, there are lots

WhatsApp is a good contact medium and you can do video too

Newatthis Thu 28-Oct-21 16:39:20

There is an app called "quarantine chat' which you can join and randomly connects you to people all over the world. You can choose which group you want to join and whether you want to chat etc. From this group I have made some email friends and we exchange new regularly. You do not need to give any information to those whom you are chatting.

Shandy57 Thu 28-Oct-21 16:44:46

There is a magazine my aunt used to subscribe to, 'Yours', with a section on pen pals. My aunt still corresponds with someone from the magazine article.

Billybob4491 Thu 28-Oct-21 17:15:36

I bought a copy of the Yours magazine looking for a penfriend and ended up with 12! and they are still all in touch.

timetogo2016 Fri 29-Oct-21 10:39:29

I agree with Katie59.
It`s safe too.

whywhywhy Fri 29-Oct-21 10:44:25

Thank you for all of your replies. i will have a look at the magazine Yours. I did have a look for a pen pal on the internet but they also include dating, which I do not want. Just a friendly penpal to write to.

Audi10 Fri 29-Oct-21 19:56:53

Yours magazine has a column for pen pals

Nonogran Sat 30-Oct-21 08:01:57

“Yours” is a great magazine for all sorts of topical articles and reminiscing. Great for penpals too.

Moggycuddler Mon 20-Jan-25 12:15:25

Would any senior lady like a penpal? Just to chat via email about life in general, everyday stuff and maybe have a laugh. I love animals, books, music etc. I'm a quiet family person but I'm also as daft as a brush. grin

lucycat2 Mon 20-Jan-25 14:06:53

Withdrawn by GNHQ

Sago Mon 20-Jan-25 14:10:30

Withdrawn by GNHQ.

NonGrannyMoll Mon 20-Jan-25 14:29:02

I had lots of snail-mail penpals until email came along, when some of us switched to emailing and others got lost in the ether. When Facebook became a craze, I lost almost everybody because I refused their exhortations to join (I really don't see the point of "sharing" selfies or pictures of my meals, and REALLY don't see the point of wasting precious time reading non-messages like "LOL" or "You go, gal!" - I mean, what IS that all about?
I imagine a lot of people (me included) would love to have some specific pen-pals we could get to know personally, rather than the faceless interaction of online discussion. But we're all aware now (or should be) of the dangers of letting strangers know exactly who and where we are, before we even know their names.
You never know who you're going to meet online (some people feel this is a great thing, others that it's one of the worst aspects of virtual friendship). To be honest, I've had a few email pals whom I'd really rather not have met! The most notable was an American man whose very first email to me contained a picture of his bent-over behind. Not sure whether he was giving his opinion of me specifically or British folk in general, or maybe the whole of humankind!

Charleygirl5 Mon 20-Jan-25 15:01:31

I email two GNs very frequently- one daily and the other around weekly. We have "known" each other for years. The other two live many miles away from me. They do not "know" each other but both households know all about me as I do them.

I meet three other GNs locally each month for coffee, and we have been doing that for around 6 years; we just clicked when we first met, and with our jobs and backgrounds, we would not have met in a million years.

It is well worth making the effort.

Barleyfields Mon 20-Jan-25 15:09:12

Withdrawn by GNHQ

Charleygirl5 Mon 20-Jan-25 15:21:50

Barleyfields I totally agree.

Lucycat report what you wrote, and it will be deleted.

keepingquiet Mon 20-Jan-25 15:30:56

During Covid I signed up for a pen-pal site and for the first few letters I felt I was 14 again!

I corresponded with an American lady and at first we seemed to have a lot in common but then her letters just became about her problems at work and I just lost interest.

Also they treated pen-friends differently, sending small gifts and hand decorating the paper and embellishing the letters like teenagers really. I couldn't afford to send silly gifts across the Atlantic and so stopped sending letters.

I think the ability to write interesting letters seems to have disappeared. I have also corresponded on here with people but again, not for long.

Marydoll Mon 20-Jan-25 16:01:41

Withdrawn by GNHQ

Marydoll Mon 20-Jan-25 16:13:55

Thank you GNHQ.

Barleyfields Mon 20-Jan-25 16:17:42

Well done MD.

TerriBull Mon 20-Jan-25 16:41:52

I had a pen pal in the US when I was in my early/mid teens. My letters contained such a load of fatuous drivel, mainly about clothes, make up and music, it embarrasses me even now if I cast my mind back. My content would be soooo much better now, if only I knew where she is, probably expired from boredom of reading my adolescent missives shock

henetha Mon 20-Jan-25 16:56:42

I've had a lovely American pen pal for almost 20 years now.
We only recently switched to email from snail mail, for practical reasons.
I can't remember how we met though...

PiscesLady Tue 21-Jan-25 00:07:28

I can recommend www.globalpenfriends.com
They are a secure site that have been going for years and have members world wide. You do not need to pay for membership. I have found some lovely pen pals through them.