The burlesque story is making my point, I think. For healthy, well adjusted monkeys, sex is not needed as often as grooming.
Oh my, all these posts have got me nearly nit-free today…
I carry around a phone patch-dedicated HT that seems to have something akin to PSK31 included.
This was posted via Hell on HF.
Purple Monkey Dishwasher.
-posted via game of “Telephone”
Gve a k a hmr & evthg bcms a nal.
While I am not a master of literature I agree with you. I could go on about horror stories in education I saw as a recruiter, but really, its too depressing. (kids frsh out of high school getting SINGLE digit scores on the ASVAB).
But its intriguing to me how younger folks cannot seem to go a single hour much less a day without texting. I know a shitload of people and I cannot for the life of me find a reason to be in constant communication with ANY of them. Maybe I’m just antisocial.
I’m sorry, but this is bollocks. In Thomas Jefferson’s time the equivalent of that English class were illiterate. Education was a luxury that many parents saw as a waste of kids’ earning or working potential. The people with his writing skills do exist now; there was *never a time *when the average person wrote at his level.
Sending an email or a text to Certain People, informing them that I will be arriving on the 8th at 9pm: a couple of minutes if the servers are real slow.
Calling them on the phone: a minimum of half an hour.
What’s not to understand?
I think that Jinx point was that even with the benefit of a 2nd world education (American Schools…) our newer generations are not as dedicated to learning the proper use of our language as he, and T.J., would like. He’s right, IMO. (snicker) I think this may be partly the fault of new technology. And partly the fault of gay marriage and illegal immigrants. (ARE there gay monkeys?)
A few years back when the Blackberry attached to your belt became de rigueur amongst the management class, I bought one of these, fashioned a clip out of a large paper clip and wore it hanging of my belt at work. It produced much merriment as there were so many gags I could play with it - stupid messages on the “screen”, making ringing noises mid-conversation and answering it. Then I would say “Sorry, I need to make this confidential” and I would stick the drawing pen in my ear and quietly mutter into the “Blackberry.”
It’s funny that people consider texting “communicating” when many studies have shown that only a small fraction of a messages actual meaning comes from the words used. The bulk of the information is transmitted through body language/facial expression and voice inflection.
sent from my video phone
What I really, really hate is that a lot of people expect you to respond to texts immediately. If you don’t, they get offended because you’re ignoring them, or they send “R U alive??” messages.
Because it’s inconceivable that I might leave the phone at home or in the car for the day. Or that I might be paying attention to the people I’m actually spending time with, or in some other way trying to have a life.
Message transcribed by archaeologists, from pictograms on a cave wall.
You kids and your technology… bah humbug…
Sent via chisel and stone tablet
Pretty much where I’m at. Though for many a decade I was always on the side of cutting-edge tech, when it comes to cells I gave up quite a while back. I mean if typing a name for my contact list took forever and a day – freaking big fingers, puny keys and bad eyesight don’t make for a good combo – I figured trying to actually type messages and posts on these gadgets would take the better part of what I’ve got left on earth.
So fuck it. I don’t. Nor do I respond to anyone that uses text to try to contact me. Can afford a proper call? Don’t waste my time.
All that said, I realize I am getting into “cranky old man” age so that maybe a big part of my refusal to type on anything smaller than a 12" screen. And I do admit to marveling when watching my soon-to-be 20 year old kid work those keys at what looks like supersonic speed…but one more, fuck it, I’m with the OP all the way.
PS-Sent from a FULL size Logitech wireless keyboard and looking at a 42" LG HD LCD screen.
PUFF… PUFF… PUFF… puff puff puff… PUFF… PUFF… PUFF…
Sent via smoke signal
The other place where texts are useful is if you are unable to talk but need to communicate. I was on a date last weekend and told my parents that I might be home for dinner depending on how the date went. After our third beer I realized I wouldn’t be coming home so I texted my dad. I forgot that he was new to cell phones but he still managed to figure it out and send me a reply. All without interrupting my conversation with the cute chick.
That being said I don’t send more then 200 a month so I’m not exactly buried in my phone and the only reason I have seen that makes sense is one of my buddies who is dating multiple women is able to talk to all of them simultaneously without them having any clue.
I hate texting. I will not consider dating some one who texts, its that annoying to me. A little story to share. 2 summers ago, my friend had a birthday party, well, there were roughly 20 people in attendance, and I would say 85% of the people there were texting OTHER people roughly 90% of the duration of the event. I mean come on, there are actual people here to talk with…
Texting is just a escalation of the phone fad. We like the toy so much that we rationalize our excesses by citing almost-plausible examples of true need. I do the same with my home computer.
[message delayed due to hanging chad on fortran hard card]
I wondered when we were due for our next “SDMB Mobile Phone Hate” thread. :rolleyes:
I find text messaging to be an extremely useful way of keeping in touch with people for whom a phone call is too intrusive or unwieldy (for want of a better term). They’re not my sole (or even primary) means of communication, but they are useful, do have a purpose, and it’s not like there’s a legal requirement that they be spelt with missing letters or numbers in place of words etc…
Yeah I am a great fan of SMS and Gmail chat. I like the brevity and the fact that you read and reply as time permits. A typical night out is arranged like this:
Dinner?
5.30?
See you.
I totally get it.
I kinda hate talking to people on the phone. Perhaps there is some childhood trauma involved or something, but there it is.
I can recall distinctly occasions when I was a teenager (more than 20 years ago) when I wanted to impart some information to a friend (say, “I found that book I was telling you about and will bring it to school for you tomorrow”), but didn’t really want a conversation. One-way communication: I impart information to you, with no need for response.
Also (why I like message boards and email), it seems rude to interrupt for something so trivial. My phone rings, I answer it, pretty much regardless of what else I might be doing. When I go to the movies, I don’t just turn off the ringer, I leave my phone in the car, because just knowing that a call came in will distract me and interfere with my enjoyment of the film. But with email, you will get the message whenever you check your email, which is at your convenience.
So I would have loved some way to send and check email while I was on the go (if I had even had email back then. The Apple II didn’t really DO email).
What I don’t get is the constant texting back and forth: if you are going to have a conversation, admit that and talk to each other. Half the time you are talking you aren’t sharing information anyway: it is just social petting, letting the other person know you are there. I don’t mean just your side of the conversation, either: half of the conversations teenagers have consists simply of providing the reassurance that you are friends, part of the same social group. You belong.
We accept you, we accept you. One of us, one of us. 
I suppose what I want is something to send and receive text messages that doesn’t tell me when I receive a text: I have to actually check.