Wendy's Reply: My reply depends on whether you are an adult or child.

ADULTS: I use email only pen pal ads in my e-newsletter... and pals can privately swap postal addresses. I don't publish the postal addresses online. If an adult also enters their snail mail address, I may publish the ad in my pen pal newsletter, Inky Trail News. Just depends on what they are looking for in the pen pal ad.. what they choose to enter.

KIDS: I need the email address of your parent simply to assure their approval of your pen pal ad and getting pals. We don't use the email address of kids (or any part of their pen pal request) online for any reason. On the postal address, that's how other kids write to you... using snail mail only. That's the only way I can assure myself that this is for pals only... that the parents can monitor the letters coming into the house. Just keeping the kids safe.. that's what its all about!