# Texting: A vehicle for conversation or for delivery of information **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907 "2011-04-19T01:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/21 "2011-04-19T18:03:36Z")
I should point out that no matter what one’s preferred form of communication is, one will always know someone else who prefers a different form. Last year I was staying with my parents, and promised my niece (who lives a few blocks away) that I’d cook something with her. She kept bugging me all week about it, and I kept putting it off. Finally, on the last night I was there, I set aside some time for her. I called her house. No answer. I called her cell. No answer. My mother finally offered to text her. She was over in about 3 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/22 "2011-04-19T22:36:41Z")
Don’t like it for more than short things. I hate typing long messages on a phone. I’m not opposed to short form communication, but I can type a lot faster with a real keyboard using MSN than I can via text. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/23 "2011-04-19T22:48:40Z")
I dislike text for real-time communication. I’ll use either IM for that (on the computer with a proper keyboard) or call. Texts are great for information that A, isn’t urgent and can wait for whenever the recipient sees it, or B, information the recipient might need to consult later. Saves the trouble of having them write it down. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/24 "2011-04-20T04:08:56Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > This is what stops me. I still have a vintage 2004 phone that requires one to press a number key multiple times to type letters. No thanks. I was actually pretty good at that. I went from a Nokia 3100 to an HTC Aria (which is a smartphone with touch screen). Talk about your culture shock ! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/25 "2011-04-20T04:43:25Z")
I picked 1, but I usually prefer text for most things, IM for a longer conversation. I HATE talking on the phone. I have to do it 40 hours a week for work. Outside of a call to my family every week, I"m happy if I never have to make a phone call. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907/26 "2011-04-20T18:54:30Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > I was actually pretty good at that. I went from a Nokia 3100 to an HTC Aria (which is a smartphone with touch screen). Talk about your culture shock ! :eek: I just did this too. (Well, last week.) I ditched my 10 year old AT&T phone for a new Virgin Mobile plan w/ unlimited text and web and a touchscreen. Culture shock indeed. I am new to texting, so I’m not that good at it yet. I used to gripe at my friends NOT to send me texts because I had to pay extra for it. They didn’t stop. Now I have an unlimited text plan. They finally stopped texting. Such is the way my life goes. I detest speaking on the phone and prefer in person conversation. Most of my phonecalls are shorter than a text message. A typical conversation (from my side) usually sounds like “Hello? OK. Yes. Bye.” But catch me in person and I’ll talk 'till \*you’re \*blue in the face. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-a-vehicle-for-conversation-or-for-delivery-of-information/578907.md?page=1)