i received a postal mail from someone in USA prison that I do not know...

[Kiki]

Hello,

I need some advice from IUOMA members. I received a postal  mail,  only a  sheet of paper handwritten asking me to send back my art works like creative writings, zines, carved-stamped images and so on. The letter is from someone in USA prison that I do not know. If it is an exchange of mail art, I will think about sending back something, but this person only sent me a sheet of paper asking me to send something by saying "Hi new friend, please send me this, this and that," nothing else. What would you do if you receive such a postal mail from someone in Prison that you do not know ?? Do you have any advice for me on this matter ? Thank you so much in advance!

Kiki

[Predrag Petrovic]

Do not reply , is the wisest to do. Someone of uncertain identity was given your address without your consent, with shadowy aims. You will just waste your time and postage. It would be different if that someone have sent you their artwork, but just asking for something and giving nothing , is far from being fair and morale.

[Kiki]

Carien,

This person is not a member of IUOMA, it seems...

And Tomoe-san, I actually know a couple of zinester persons who try to send their zines with other people's addresses on them to USA prisons for a good humanity cause, to help them out somehow, so that may be how this person got my address. Anyway, I was curious what members on IUOMA would do on this kind of matter.

Thank you, you two, for your response !

- Kiki

[Carien van Hest]

Check if this person is member of the IUOMA. If not, I would leave this behind you.

[Tomoe N]

Hi Kiki 

I don’t know how this person knew your address. 
My opinion, mail art is not a mandatory. If you don’t feel like it you don’t need to return. I was off from mail art until last May, and I started sending back mail that I received long time ago. Some people reply to me but some people don’t reply (like 既読スルー）I think myself that that what mail art is and I don’t worry too much. Good luck.

Tomoe