# Text Messaging DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684 "2012-03-24T11:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/61 "2012-03-25T14:12:08Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I’m with **davidm**. For time-critical stuff, or stuff that’s fairly complex, a one-minute call can replace dozens of confusing texts. People who say “I hate calling on the phone”, try just going “Hey Suzy, just a quick question 'cuz I’m in a rush - when are you coming? … OK, thanks, laters, bye.” That’s not really that nerve-wracking, is it? Except my call goes to voicemail. I leave my message, then go back to what I was doing. Later, I check the phone and see one missed call and one voicemail. I retrieve the voicemail and if necessary reply. Text message FTW, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/62 "2012-03-25T14:16:34Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > 1. Find your checkbook and keep it with you from now on. > 2. Get a separate bank account that your GF/wife doesn’t have access to. > 3. Booze and whores. Good advice ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/63 "2012-03-25T14:25:26Z")
Booze and whores is the new hookers and blow. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/64 "2012-03-25T14:33:01Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I’m with **davidm**. For time-critical stuff, or stuff that’s fairly complex, a one-minute call can replace dozens of confusing texts. People who say “I hate calling on the phone”, try just going “Hey Suzy, just a quick question 'cuz I’m in a rush - when are you coming? … OK, thanks, laters, bye.” That’s not really that nerve-wracking, is it? Plus oftens time people who love text messaging aren’t particularly good at it. I was recently meeting my brother at the parking lot of a Wegmans grocery store to exchange something he left at my house and needed. I get there exactly at the agreed time and drive around and can’t find him. So I text him “Where are you?” and he writes back “Wegmans”. Could I have been clearer, to avoid eliciting such a stupid useless response? Could I have texted “I am at Wegmans and cannot locate your car; where in the parking lot are you?” Sure. But if I had just called I could have instantly followed up with “WHERE the fuck at Wegmans are you? I know you’re at Wegmans because we agreed to meet here at this time when we talked 30 minutes ago, obviously I meant more specifically where are you?” instead of texting that all out and becoming annoyed. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/65 "2012-03-25T14:34:36Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Booze and whores is the new hookers and blow. Nah, booze and whores predates hookers and blow. The new hookers and blow has something to do with strippers, bananas and chrysanthemums. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/66 "2012-03-25T14:34:40Z")
Kind of in the same vein: e-mail addresses are _not_ case sensitive, old people in my office. > [@drewtwo99](#): > > Have you ever tried simply turning off the cellphone, sitting down with your girlfriend, and hitting her? So wrong… but I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/67 "2012-03-25T14:37:32Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > … But if I had just called I could have instantly followed up with “WHERE the fuck at Wegmans are you? I know you’re at Wegmans because we agreed to meet here at this time when we talked 30 minutes ago, obviously I meant more specifically where are you?” instead of texting that all out and becoming annoyed. or you could just sms “Wegmans where lah?”. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/68 "2012-03-25T14:45:44Z")
It seems like texting is creating a generation of people who want to avoid conversations; people who “don’t like talking on the phone”. Long distance voice communication was a huge breakthrough, and now it’s being rejected in favor of something akin to the telegraph? Certainly it has it’s uses, but I just can’t imagine texting “where’s the checkbook”. A conversation like that often involves a lot of back and forth. Suzy: “It’s in the drawer under the sink.” John: “Which drawer?” Suzy: “Sorry, the left one.” John: “I don’t see it. Are you sure that’s where it is?” Suzy: “Oh wait. I was rushed and left it on the desk in the study.” John: “Found it! Thanks.” Texting is better for that? I don’t see it. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/69 "2012-03-25T14:48:19Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > It seems like texting is creating a generation of people who want to avoid conversations; people who “don’t like talking on the phone”. That’s the truth. Let’s avoid all conversations because its akin to confrontation, which kinda hurts my wee-wee a little so I’ll just send a painless, faceless, voiceless text. So much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/70 "2012-03-25T14:50:53Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Typing it, sending it, then waiting for a response? > > Let’s see. On my phone, I scroll down, hit “Messaging”, then hit the plus to enter a new message. Then either look up or enter a number. Enter the message. Hit send. Wait for her response. When I hear the response come in, hit the button at the top of the phone, slide the lock screen (or whatever it’s called) up, hit “Messaging”, read the message. > > Or… > > Hold down the button on the bottom of the phone for a second or two then, when it beeps say “call Suzy”, ask her what time she’s coming when she answers, hear her response, maybe exchange some other important details, then hang up. Why are you using voice control for one and not the other? That’s going to bias your scientific analysis of how long it takes. Hold down button and say “Ask Suzy: What time are you coming over?” Done. As opposed to: call Suzy, spend 10 minutes talking about nonsense, finally get the info needed. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/71 "2012-03-25T14:54:54Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Certainly it has it’s uses, but I just can’t imagine texting “where’s the checkbook”. A conversation like that often involves a lot of back and forth. > > Suzy: “It’s in the drawer under the sink.” > John: “Which drawer?” > Suzy: “Sorry, the left one.” > John: “I don’t see it. Are you sure that’s where it is?” > Suzy: “Oh wait. I was rushed and left it on the desk in the study.” > John: “Found it! Thanks.” > > Texting is better for that? I don’t see it. I text a lot and in a situation like this here’s what I’d probably do: Text from me: Where’s the checkbook? Text from husband: Drawer under the sink. I check there. No checkbook. I now call my husband because I realize this is going to be more of a pain in the ass than I originally thought, and there’s probably going to be some back and forth. But if we hadn’t needed all that additional rigamarole, texting him is better because that means he doesn’t have to answer the phone while he’s on his mail route at work. He can wait until he’s at a good stopping point, check my text, and get back to me. I don’t have to worry about interrupting him. A lot of the discussion on this seems to be based around the idea that this is like a zero-sum game, where you either always call people or always text them. Often texting is more appropriate than calling. Sometimes calling is more appropriate. As humans, we’re capable of using our brains to decide which is more appropriate in any given situation. (Well… _checks OP_ … some of us are, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/72 "2012-03-25T14:57:36Z")
Anyone else kinda getting the hots for the elusive Suzy? Can I have her number so I can send some flirtatious texts? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/73 "2012-03-25T15:00:12Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Texting is better for that? I don’t see it. Well texting is better when the person who can’t comprehend that using the phone is for live conversations sets everything up to go to voicemail, never answers the phone “live”, and doesn’t bother to check/respond to the voicemail for hours. So yes texting IS better when you use and set up your phone system like its texting’s poor, stupid, redheaded cousin. But its not a moral imperative to set it up or use it like that. And can we get off this texting vs phone thing? I wanna get back to crazy bitch who can’t face reality even when given irrefutable proof she’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/74 "2012-03-25T15:07:46Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Why are you using voice control for one and not the other? That’s going to bias your scientific analysis of how long it takes. > > Hold down button and say “Ask Suzy: What time are you coming over?” > > Done. > > As opposed to: call Suzy, spend 10 minutes talking about nonsense, finally get the info needed. I don’t think my phone will do that, but some may and it’s admittedly technologically possible. But why talk to the phone when I can talk to Suzy? I enjoy human contact. Sure, I might end up talking to her voicemail, but at least it’s a human voice. Why add in the extra step of translating voice into text? Isn’t it getting a bit silly at that point? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/75 "2012-03-25T15:17:28Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > But why talk to the phone when I can talk to Suzy? I enjoy human contact. Easy tiger, she’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/76 "2012-03-25T16:57:49Z")
This texting versus phone thing that has broken out is about the stupidest thing ever. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > A lot of the discussion on this seems to be based around the idea that this is like a zero-sum game, where you either always call people or always text them. Often texting is more appropriate than calling. Sometimes calling is more appropriate. As humans, we’re capable of using our brains to decide which is more appropriate in any given situation. Exactly. Is this such a difficult concept? People know to text me at work because I am often in a lab where I get horrible reception so a phone call will be frustrating but a text will eventually get through. Said text could be, “call me when you get a chance to talk about X.” Otherwise a phone call would be better because I don’t mind talking on the phone. Excepting this one woman that I dated at the end of last year who hated talking on the phone so we’d just text back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/77 "2012-03-25T17:08:47Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Well, you appeared to be saying it was almost universally suitable. I was countering the person stating that it is never suitable (“texting is NOT for important info”). People every day use all forms of communications for trivial and important info alike. And at the same time there are situations in which texting is not suitable, and phone calls are not suitable, even face to face communication may not be suitable sometimes. But to universally state that texting should not be used for important info is pretty odd. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/78 "2012-03-25T17:15:02Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This texting versus phone thing that has broken out is about the stupidest thing ever. Agreed. Each of us will use whatever form of communication we feel works best. And we are all surviving. There does not need to be a universal standard that is arrived at by one person’s particular situation and experiences and then extrapolated to the entire planet because that’s the way it is for them. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/79 "2012-03-25T19:22:52Z")
Texting works better with kids who don’t want their friends to hear them treating their parents like human beings _(“not cool, brah…”)_, but can text you back without anyone knowing what’s up. > [@billfish678](#): > > … And can we get off this texting vs phone thing? I wanna get back to crazy bitch who can’t face reality even when given irrefutable proof she’s wrong. Another vote for this. Oh, and why you share a checkbook with her. I’ve been married to a sane woman for decades, and we have our own checkbooks (hmmm, maybe that’s why we’re still married. We’ve never had to hunt for ‘\*the \*checkbook’). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684/80 "2012-03-25T19:35:27Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Oh, and why you share a checkbook with her. I’ve been married to a sane woman for decades, and we have our own checkbooks (hmmm, maybe that’s why we’re still married. We’ve never had to hunt for ‘\*the \*checkbook’). Good point. Couldn’t the OP have just taken a check from one of the unused pad of checks? They don’t have to be written in order. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-messaging-doesnt-work-that-way/616684.md?page=5)