@Earthbound_Misfit and @canidmajor I see your points. Valid points. I think usually when we want to write about a difficult topic, rather than face to face, it’s not usually so we word things well, it’s because the person we are telling is unreasonable. We need to be careful, because they are too reactive. Walking on eggshells.
Writing is a way to give the receiver time to think before they respond, or to not put them on the spot to respond in the moment. The people I would need to do that with tend to be grudge holders, passive aggressive, and controlling. Or, someone who I don’t know how they handle arguments or apologies, so I might write to let them to digest the information. You can’t win though.
When my SIL was busy being mad at me I tried in person twice over a years time. Around year 4 or 5 I wrote an email. She said I was horrible, because I should have asked her out for coffee to discuss it. I just wanted to clear the air and get past it all. Cultural bullshit on her part, and wanting control. At that point I stopped giving a shit about her. Suddenly, things got better. High school behavior.
That’s my experience anyway.
Edit: When my BIL finally decided to tell his parents he’s gay he wrote a letter, and they didn’t understand it.