# Poll: Do You Text? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698 "2016-07-12T00:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/1 "2016-07-12T00:38:26Z")
I am curious to what extent people here text. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/2 "2016-07-12T01:14:08Z")
Never have and don’t really plan to change that. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/3 "2016-07-12T01:14:20Z")
Nope. I’m one of the oddballs that doesn’t carry a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/4 "2016-07-12T01:19:19Z")
All the time, depending on who I’m ‘talking’ to. Some of my friends never text, some never talk, some do both. I like it for quick messages, I don’t like it for conversations. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/5 "2016-07-12T01:25:21Z")
Nope. I’m another one of those oddballs who doesn’t carry a cellphone\*. \*I do have a basic cellphone, but rarely have it on me–it’s either on my desk at home or in my glove compartment or in my carry-on bag when I travel. . ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/6 "2016-07-12T01:30:26Z")
I have a basic flip phone which I keep in the car in case of emergencies. I’ve used it exactly twice. And I discovered, entirely by accident, that it’s capable of texting. But I don’t, and never will. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/7 "2016-07-12T01:31:00Z")
I’ve ranted about this several times before. Here’s the short version. My main form of communication to the outside world is via text. I do not make or answer phone calls unless it is an extreme emergency. An emergency that is indicated first by text. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/8 "2016-07-12T01:38:41Z")
I’ve sent maybe five texts in the three years I’ve had a smart phone, and those were not entirely by my choice, but forced on me by circumstances. When I receive texts, I email my friends back and say, “Don’t do that.” Strangers and ads get ignored. I actually admire the technology, and would use it…if my service didn’t charge a per-text fee. Screw that nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/9 "2016-07-12T01:46:18Z")
Don’t have a phone or a phone plan but I text all the time via wifi using textplus. I’ve even texted from SEAsia, no problems! I find it very convenient. Much nicer than having a phone to answer! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/10 "2016-07-12T01:47:54Z")
I’m an “old fart” and would gladly text over talking on the phone any day. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/11 "2016-07-12T01:51:51Z")
Texting is my primary form of communication with my children, wife, and in some cases, co-workers. I say this as a person who once had no interest in a phone that could text, email, or take photos. The capabilities of my phone is a true marvel of the modern era, and I appreciate its awesome power. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/12 "2016-07-12T01:55:27Z")
I usually keep my phone on a shelf and ignore it except when I need to make phone calls, but sometimes people text me and I feel obliged to respond in kind. I talk to most people via email. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/13 "2016-07-12T02:05:40Z")
I rarely text people, but I text my bank to get my balance. I receive texts from the drugstore when my prescriptions are ready and I text my wireless company to see how much data I’ve used. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/14 "2016-07-12T02:33:19Z")
Good guidelines weren’t given for the definitions of ‘frequency’ I’m in my late forties;my parents are in their late sixties. My sister is in her late thirties. It’s an odd combo. My dad loves Twitter. I have to text my sister as does everyone if they want to talk on the phone. I texted my dad today to tell him I’d just mailed him a copy of a book and my mom had to get on the phone to talk (no lie) about vitamin therapy. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/15 "2016-07-12T02:36:18Z")
Yes. Lots. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/16 "2016-07-12T02:36:21Z")
I have couple of friends who communicate mainly through text, but if have my druthers I much prefer talking on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/17 "2016-07-12T02:36:25Z")
Without sms my organisation of three children’s education, sporting and social requirements would be far more time consuming than it is. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/18 "2016-07-12T02:44:17Z")
Texting has brought my mother, sister and I closer. So yeah I text almost exclusively. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/19 "2016-07-12T02:57:59Z")
And, when my family got a telephone, we stopped sending telegrams, too. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698/20 "2016-07-12T02:58:57Z")
I average maybe a few times a day. (Today was sent and received texts from four people.) This tends to be on the low side for my friends, but it’s my primary way of communicating information that is more important and timely than an email, but not important enough for a call (or when I don’t want to risk disturbing someone). Texts are fantastic, and I’ve been using them since my first cellphone, in 2000 or 2001. To be honest, I don’t quite understand people, like my cousin, who average 5K+ texts sent and received a month, but regular texting (like several a day) has always been pretty normal in my life. On the flip side, I also don’t understand people who don’t at all see the utility of texts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-text/759698.md?page=2)