I’m not sure I understand this avoision (it’s a word, look it up!) to texting thing. It seems to have come up a couple different places on this board lately. Texting has become my #1 method of communication. Here’s why.
Reasons for texting:
[ul]
[li]it’s quick[/li][li]it’s easy[/li][li]it’s private (aka, nobody else hears my conversation)[/li][li]it’s respectful of others (nobody is bothered by me yammering away)[/li][li]I don’t have to respond right away if I don’t feel like it[/li][li]I can read exactly what is typed, instead of trying guess what somebody was saying on a noisy phone/bad connection[/li][li]I can text without having to turn down my music or pause my movie or whatever else 'm doing[/li][li]Some of my friends have irritating voices I don’t have to hear[/li][li]Some of my friends ramble on and on. Texting forces them to get to the point.[/li][/ul]
On a personal level: Several years of phone support jobs have conditioned me to the point that when a phone rings that means there is a problem. And I’ll very likely get yelled at. And have unfathomable stupid pumped directly into my earhole. When I hear the phone ring now, I wanna cry under my desk. Even if my wife calls me, I’ll usually bounce it and text her back asking what she is calling about.
Now, sure, there are times when a phone call is better, like say in an emergency. And while talking and driving is dangerous, texting while driving is even worse. Also, I admit the tone of texts can be lost in translation. But I feel the pros far outweighs these minor cons.
So now, what other pros and/or cons might you all have for texting?
I’ll add that it saves time by allowing you get to the point. A phone call would include the customary, “How’s ya mom an’ `em”, as well as other pleasantries. I can still include a quick greeting in my text, but we don’t have to hem and ho to get to the issue.
It took me a little while to catch-on, but now I’m much more available via text than phone. I love it.
That may be but it’s also the best way to give explicit instructions and precise information outside of internet. Try giving out your number or e-mail address using voice in a noisy street.
Agree with everything on the list except I don’t have any friends with annoying voices.
Another benefit: Once words leaver your mouth, you can’t go back and un-say them. With texting, you can write what you want to write, go back and edit the parts you don’t like or have second thoughts about, and THEN hit send.
For someone with a proclivity of running off at the mouth, this is a BIG plus for me.
Pro, for me: it’s how my grown children choose to communicate. Doesn’t require the immediate interaction that a phone call does. Good for small bits of communication that don’t merit an email. Can be responded to at leisure, or ignored if appropriate.
I’m trying to imagine, when I was a kid a long time ago with a family telephone, somebody saying “Hey send me a telegram, it’s what everybody is doing now, it’s much better than phoning.”
Well back a long time ago when we were kids, that indeed would be a ridiculous thing to say/do. Now that telegrams are instantaneous, cheap, and paperless, not to mention all the points outlined above, it is way better than phoning.
First, let me say that I think texting is very convenient. However, here’s my problem with texting-you never know when the conversation is over. With a telephone call I get the information, say thanks and goodbye and that is it. When somebody texts me something and I answer back, I don’t always get a confirmation of their answer.
Example:
telephone conversation-
“So, dinner at 8?”
“Sounds good”
Where do you want to go?"
“I’d really like to try that new Italian place”
“OK-so shall we meet there?”
“Sounds good to me-Let’s meet there at 8”
“See you then, bye”
Text conversation-
-Dinner at 8?
-Sounds good
-Where should we go
-Want to try the new Italian place?
-K, 8 at Italian place is good 4 me
wait an hour…
Did we just agree to meet there at 8? Did he get my message? Should I send another one confirming? Will that make me look neurotic? Maybe he never saw my text? Should I just show up there at 8? I don’t want to look like I’m hounding him.
Additional text-
-So, we’re meeting at the Italian place at 8?
-Why? Not good 4 U?
-No, just wasn’t sure
wait an hour…
So did we just confirm this or not? Don’t want to text again, would look really bad. Guess I’ll just have to show up and hope for the best.
Psychobunny, good points. However, just as with phone conversations and talking face to face, some people are just poor communicators. Some people just don’t text well. I will concede that with those people, sometimes a phone call IS better. Though I usually just end up talking to them less and less until I only ever talk to them at a mutual meet up with other friends who could stomach calling them. But of course, that is due to my personal problem with phonecallophobia.
But once a text has left your [del]mouth[/del] brain, it stays out there forever.
When talking, you can react to your listener…you can apologize, you can insert an improvised laugh, you can quickly add “just kidding”.
And even if you make an embarrasing faux pas --there is no permanent record of it.
I like texts. Can be dealt with when convenient for the receiver and the info can be referred back to (such as a part number).
I do find entering text on a touchscreen a bit tedious, especially since I don’t use my thumbs for that task. Holding the phone in a way that allows for that doesn’t feel like I have a good enough grip and that I’m likely to drop it, so I hold the phone in my left hand and use my right index finger for text entry. Still better than doing it on a number pad.
Texting is also good for for communicating with a number of people. I can send text to all my friends that live nearby that there’s a thing going on nearby someday soon, which is way more convenient than calling them all individually. Also it’s good if there’s a… I don’t know what to call it, but some of my friends and I have an ongoing group text full of jokes that been going for months now, sometimes with days of nothing, sometimes with over 20 texts in one day. Also no one can overhear me when I make a joke that’s in terrible taste. And you can send pictures.
I think you forgot the most important advantage that texting has over conversing on the phone:
I don’t want/need to interrupt the conversation/task you’re currently involved in, I just want you to pick up milk on the way home. With texting, you get my non urgent message at your convenience. No interruption to your day, sweet!
[ul]
[li]Allows for multitasking.[/li][li]Works great for the hearing impaired.[/li][li]Provides a record of what was said that can be checked later if needed.[/li][li]Dates, times, and phone numbers appear as links, so can add to calender, etc.[/li][/ul]
This is probably my number 1 dislike about texting - too many folk feel they can multitask EVERYTHING. Sorry I’m not so terribly engaging when I’m sitting across the table from you, but just because your phone buzzed doesn’t mean you need to check it. And just because you want to text something as you are walking down the street, doesn’t mean other pedestrians and drivers should have to look out for you instead of you looking out for yourself.
Which is related to my #2 dislike, I have very limited interest in texts that don’t convey information I want or consider important. Just because you are bored, doesn’t mean I want you to waste my time. Yes, a text can be ignored, or read at my convenience. But if your phone buzzes, or the light is blinking, it takes some effort to not check it. And when I get an incredibly banal text, it makes me wonder about what the sender thinks of me or themselves - that I would really care to get that text.
Readily admit texts are UNSURPASSED at many functions. I love the “See you at 8” ; “Running 5 minutes late” ; “my plane just landed”; “Made it home safe” type of text. And great for sending info that is not time sensitive - text a thought or photo that someone can read at their convenience, and respond - or not - whenever.
I’ve mentioned this before, but the aftereffects still ripple to this day.
I was bored, drinking at a quiet bar, looking at my phone. For some reason I texted fifty or so contacts, “WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU???”.
For the next few hours I was no longer bored. People assumed they had missed a planned meeting with me, failed to pick me up as we’d agreed, whatever. I got all manner of apology texts.
No, I was just curious about where they were.
This happened a five or so years ago and I still hear about it second or third hand.
I agree with most of the OP’s list, except the ‘read exactly what was typed’. Considering some peoples ‘txt speak’ and the fun of auto correct, I’ve gotten some pretty confusing messages.
This is very close to how I feel. I think one of the biggest reasons some people haven’t gotten on board with texting is the bad impression they’ve gotten from observing the bad behavior of others. Until you good people explained it to me, I was under the impression that texts *are *to be addressed immediately. Why? Because I see so many people staring at their phones at what I consider to be inappropriate times, I just assumed that’s what text etiquette demands; that you be available and responsive 24/7. Now that I know better, I do see the benefit. My new year’s resolution - and I never make those- was to “get with the digital program” if you will, and I have made some progress. I personally will probably never use it to the extent that most people do- it simply doesn’t suit my personality - but I don’t deny its good points.
Because I only get about half a dozen texts a week, when I do get one it’s usually pretty important and I at least check it right away. It would likely be something about a person having to change plans, or since they are in the store RIGHT then, asking if I want something.
Different folks use it for different things of course.
