# Ever written a note, released it into the World, and waited for a reply back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273 "2003-07-14T01:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/1 "2003-07-14T01:36:51Z")
You know - you write a note and stick it in a bottle and toss it out to sea. I remember putting notes in helium balloons and letting them go. What are some other ways you’ve done it? Have you ever actually had a reply? I sure haven’t! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/2 "2003-07-14T01:41:53Z")
I once released a helium baloon with my name and address on it. It landed near the Bristol Rennaisance Faire, in Wisconsin. Whoever found it sent us some free tickets. So yes, I certainly advocate doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/3 "2003-07-14T01:49:40Z")
Well…I’ve posted on this board. C’mon World, where’s my reply? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/4 "2003-07-14T02:02:16Z")
Where’d you find that quote, Earl? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/5 "2003-07-14T02:03:03Z")
Only about 4785 times… ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/6 "2003-07-14T02:13:30Z")
I’ve done it… it’s called writing to my old friend Samantha in Alaska. I never know if I’ll get a reply, or even if my letter will get to her at all. Usually, just about the time I’ve given her up to the wilderness, I get a long and breathless reply about the last year or so of her life, coupled with a thousand apologies for not writing sooner. Speaking of which, I’m about due for another update from her… ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/7 "2003-07-14T02:25:17Z")
I haven’t done it myself, but you might find [this news story](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/135236826_message11.html) of interest. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/8 "2003-07-14T02:36:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Where’d you find that quote, Earl? \*\* I found it in Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, by historian Gary Wills. The quote itself refers to Lincoln’s mockery of the pomp and swagger that some of his fellow Black Hawk War veterans displayed. I like it in part because of the illogical humor in the idea that “the one who dresses most alike is to be fined.” It’s a little like Lake Wobegon, “…where all the children are above average.” ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/9 "2003-07-14T02:37:15Z")
I’ve been known to write down short messages on a block of stone and toss it into the ocean… the next day, it’d always come back with an oh-so-witty zinger written on it! Heyo! ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-written-a-note-released-it-into-the-world-and-waited-for-a-reply-back/188273/10 "2003-07-14T02:49:01Z")
Kinda like throwing a baseball around the world?