# Text. Why it is the best form of pointless telecommunication. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674 "2016-02-10T02:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/21 "2016-02-10T16:05:23Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’m not sure I understand this \*\*avoision \*\*(it’s a word, look it up!) to texting thing. ? It’s a word, yes, but to quote Inigo Montoya, I do not think it means what you think it means. You seem to be using it to mean “aversion,” and in certain parts of New Jersey, that might be legitimate. But everywhere else, the [definition](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/avoision)of “avoision” is: > [@](#): > > the arrangement of one’s financial affairs so as to avoid or minimize tax liability in such a way that it is not clear whether this constitutes lawful avoidance of tax or illegal tax evasion. That doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the way you are using the term. ---
**Author:** ![dizzee\_dee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@dizzee\_dee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dizzee_dee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/22 "2016-02-10T16:34:27Z")
In my job, I easily talk to 75 or more people a day. In a weeks time, hundreds. There are maybe three people on the planet I will pick up the phone if they call. My stepdad, my guy or my bff. If you want to communicate with me either send a text or a message on facebook. I don’t use email, except at work, to communicate with people. I maybe check my personal email once a week. I use text partly for it’s convenience, but partly because it unhooks me from that always being available all the damn time thing. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/23 "2016-02-10T16:47:10Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > 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. _shrug_ I have a lot of text conversations that end with one of us texting “Confirmed. Dinner at 8 at the italian place on 6th st. See you then.” ---
**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:** [February 10, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/24 "2016-02-10T16:59:16Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > _shrug_ > > I have a lot of text conversations that end with one of us texting “Confirmed. Dinner at 8 at the italian place on 6th st. See you then.” I’m a “10-4, over and out” kinda guy. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/25 "2016-02-10T17:18:14Z")
See, my friends get cranky when I simultaneously extend to them the floor but leave the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/26 "2016-02-10T17:26:01Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Until you good people explained it to me, I was under the impression that texts \*are \*to be addressed immediately. Which brings up the question - what is the accepted time to respond to a text? With an e-mail, I generally figure a day is fine. (Of course, I acknowledge that some folk don’t check their e-mail that often.) But I make a point of checking mine just about every day. It bugs me when someone sends an e-mail, and then resolves the situation in an hour or 2 - possibly before I saw it. Many times I’ll shoot a text to one of my adult kids. Maybe if we haven’t talked in a while, I’ll say, “How u doing? Avail to talk this wknd?” Or if I know they’ve been sick or traveling, I’ll just text, “How u doin?” “Home safe?” Now I KNOW that these young adults NEVER go so long as an hour without checking their phones. It kinda bugs me that they don’t always even text back “K”, just to let me know they are still alive. I’m an e-mail kinda guy myself. Other than really specific messages, it is just too difficult to ensure that any nuance or connotation is conveyed in text. Hell, tough enough in e-mail (or forum posts). Should also add that I’m hanging onto my old Droid, because I really prefer its keyboard over touchscreen. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/27 "2016-02-10T17:31:45Z")
Texts are fine, in that you never get voice mail. On the other hand in a sense you always get voice mail, and if you don’t get immediate feedback your text may have gone into that big bit bucket in the sky. If you want to be sure you are getting through, calling might be better. I object to texting when it involves someone you are not with in place of someone you are with. But that is slightly less obnoxious than two people who are together on phones with other people. Kind of like crying out “Mary” when you are in bed with Jane. Tacky, tacky. Even if she’s crying out someone elses name too. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/28 "2016-02-10T19:44:41Z")
I don’t Tweet, Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook, but I text like a mofo! It’s great for quick hit information exchange and _brief_ conversations. If it’s going to take more than 4-5 rounds of texting to get the message across I’ll probably end up calling you. I can talk much faster than I type. [quote=“snfaulkner, post:1, topic:745674”] [li]I can read exactly what is typed, instead of trying guess what somebody was saying on a noisy phone/bad connection[/li][/QUOTE] This, however, should probably be edited to “I can read exactly what is typed, and wonder if autocorrect took over or if the person texting really wants to ‘waffle the gibbon in my pantaloons’”. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/29 "2016-02-11T00:00:15Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > It’s a word, yes, but to quote Inigo Montoya, I do not think it means what you think it means. You seem to be using it to mean “aversion,” and in certain parts of New Jersey, that might be legitimate. But everywhere else, the [definition](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/avoision)of “avoision” is: > > That doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the way you are using the term. Hehe, I was quoting Kent Brockman. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/30 "2016-02-11T00:01:25Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > This, however, should probably be edited to “I can read exactly what is typed, and wonder if autocorrect took over or if the person texting really wants to ‘waffle the gibbon in my pantaloons’”. Another point in favor of texting. Hilarious auto-incorrections. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/31 "2016-02-11T03:04:14Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Which brings up the question - what is the accepted time to respond to a text? With an e-mail, I generally figure a day is fine. (Of course, I acknowledge that some folk don’t check their e-mail that often.) But I make a point of checking mine just about every day. It bugs me when someone sends an e-mail, and then resolves the situation in an hour or 2 - possibly before I saw it. > > Many times I’ll shoot a text to one of my adult kids. Maybe if we haven’t talked in a while, I’ll say, “How u doing? Avail to talk this wknd?” Or if I know they’ve been sick or traveling, I’ll just text, “How u doin?” “Home safe?” Now I KNOW that these young adults NEVER go so long as an hour without checking their phones. It kinda bugs me that they don’t always even text back “K”, just to let me know they are still alive. > > I’m an e-mail kinda guy myself. Other than really specific messages, it is just too difficult to ensure that any nuance or connotation is conveyed in text. Hell, tough enough in e-mail (or forum posts). > > Should also add that I’m hanging onto my old Droid, because I really prefer its keyboard over touchscreen. Which is why I don’t get what’s so good about texting. My phone alerts emails just as quick as a text. There are times when I don’t have my phone on me (like right now, sitting in front of the computer in the house.) I’d get your email right away but a text would need to wait until I got up. If you want a [del]quick[/del] response from me, email me. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/32 "2016-02-11T12:43:17Z")
Another text plus. We live in a rural area where my cell signal is spotty. If my phone rings I let it go to email and often text the person, “What’s up? Poor signal here. Send me a text”. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/33 "2016-02-11T22:11:10Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Which is why I don’t get what’s so good about texting. My phone alerts emails just as quick as a text. There are times when I don’t have my phone on me (like right now, sitting in front of the computer in the house.) I’d get your email right away but a text would need to wait until I got up. I suppose it depends on your setup. I don’t always have my iPhone near me, but I am always wearing my Apple watch, which dings every time I get a text. If I get a text from someone using an iPhone, it also pops up on my iMac, and I can answer it from the Messages app on the iMac. I didn’t start texting regularly until about two years ago, and it’s become my favorite form of communicating from afar. I really like the convenience of being able to send a picture with the text. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/34 "2016-02-12T16:18:34Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > … > Kind of like crying out “Mary” when you are in bed with Jane. Tacky, tacky. … Which is why you should only date women with the same first name as your wife. Avoids complications. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dizzee\_dee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@dizzee\_dee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dizzee_dee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/35 "2016-02-12T16:26:34Z")
Re: response time. It depends. I assume you kinda know your text partner’s schedule. So if you send a text while they are at work I don’t anticipate an immediate response. However, I used to have a boyfriend who nearly always had his phone in his hand. So his “I didn’t see your text til just this second” was utter bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/36 "2016-02-12T18:57:53Z")
Fighting the hypothetical: if I’m communicating, it’s not pointless. :rolleyes: I generally don’t initiate text conversations, but I participate in them them and endorse them in principle when appropriate, particularly for the 2nd and 3rd reasons in OP’s list. Everyone who knows me knows better than to start a trivial conversation, because I’ll cut it off, but an actual functional exchange of information? Perfect. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/37 "2016-02-12T19:27:49Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Hehe, I was quoting Kent Brockman. Had to Google that name. Never been a watcher of _The Simpsons_. I do understand that puts me outside the mainstream of the culture. Maybe if they come to Netflix streaming someday… ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/38 "2016-02-12T19:45:02Z")
Pro: Texting is this phonecallophobe’s friend. 🙂 Con: it is only as good as the typing/swiping/voice typing of the person sending. I have friends wh0se. Gramer and speling is very hard t0 parse and it. Always thr0es me of. With so many input methods, each having its own pros and cons, not everyone is proficient in their input method of choice. > [@snfaulkner](#): > > Some of my friends ramble on and on. Texting forces them to get to the point. I dunno, I have friends who will text 3 novels in a row without thinking twice. Makes it a challenge to know when it’s your turn to reply. :smack: > [@dizzee\_dee](#): > > So if you send a text while they are at work I don’t anticipate an immediate response. True, in fact when at work, even in the case of someone who always has their phone in their hand, it’s conceivable they might be interrupted in the middle of reading a text or in the middle of responding and not get back until much later. (And I can’t imagine going a whole day without checking email at least 10 times. 😃 ) ---
**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:** [February 12, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/39 "2016-02-12T20:15:03Z")
> [@umop\_ap\_sdn](#): > > I dunno, I have friends who will text 3 novels in a row without thinking twice. Makes it a challenge to know when it’s your turn to reply. :smack: I have opened a web page and copied a wall-o-text, then pasted it into a text message, just to be a dick. One of my friends believed I had typed the entire bazillion words, telling a few other friends about my “manic behavior”.😃 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674/40 "2016-02-12T20:25:41Z")
Years ago I was picking up a secondhand drum kit for my nephew. The woman who owned it gave me her address. It was a suburb in which I always manage to get lost. When I told her she asked which way I was coming from and texted me detailed directions from the west. Turns out she has saved directions from each access road ready to send people. Sure beats verbal directions for speed and accuracy, and I didn’t have to write them down. Not surprisingly she turns out to be a project manager. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/text-why-it-is-the-best-form-of-pointless-telecommunication/745674.md?page=1)