Texting - Love It, Hate It, or Could Care Less

[Face]

I text a few times a day, I find it convenient due to my oddball schedule.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

As should those who send spam texts.

I have never received a spam text.

[MisterBritt]

Statistically (although I don't have them handy) my understanding is that texting is every bit as dangerous and drinking and driving. I think it results in something like a 200-fold increase in the probability of being involved in an accident. It's staggering, really.

I like to text. I text several times a day on average, I would suppose. In fact, I recall that I acquired my P.S. Audio PPPs via a combination of texts and cell phone discussions. Texting fills a need.

But the issue that triggered my ire from the thread that spawned this one is this. I feel strongly about the inappropriate mixing of texting protocols with forum/message board protocols. When texting protocols -- grammar, abbreviations, etc., -- spill onto message boards it results in one step forward and as many steps back as there are readers of the message.

When the author uses abbreviations to save himself time the result is everyone who reads the message has to stop and "unabbreviate" it. Sometimes, unsuccessfully at that. It is a tremendous waste of time in the aggregate, a fool's errand and an irony wrapped into one.

[1KW]

Texting is a acquired taste just like streaming music from the internet is. While it is inferior to talking it does have its value for certain things. I did not really get into texting until my kids started doing it about 4 years ago and now I use it everyday. Texting seems strange until you try it. It is a very convenient way to reach someone in real time immediately without interupting someone with a phone call. You can text when you or the person you want to reach are in a class, meeting or a movie for instance ie when talking might not be the thing to do. Sometimes my staff will text me so as not to interupt a conversation I am having or a phone call I have. My answering service usually texts me questions people have and also supply the phone number and name. All I do is touch the phone number and the phone automatically dials. The text message stays as a reminder. I can touch the name of the person in the text and create a new contact with the number instantly. Unlike email where one has to know to check their email to retrieve the message texting notifies the person instantly. I text friends and family and they do the same. I also receive and send text messages with several friends here on AA all the time. I agree that one should be paying attention to driving and not texting.

[f1 fan]

It can be convenient and annoying at the same time. Know when to and when not to is the key. My girlfriends daughter texted her to pass the salt shaker at the dinner table the other night. Not good.

Dave

[1KW]

Originally Posted by f1 fan

It can be convenient and annoying at the same time. Know when to and when not to is the key. My girlfriends daughter texted her to pass the salt shaker at the dinner table the other night. Not good.

Dave

That is pretty creative and funny

[f1 fan]

and true...seriously. I can tell you horror stories about her texting.

Dave

[two dot]

Texting has become part of our (and my) working world.

I now have 65-70 y/o multi millionaires texting me important business decisions...

I would have NEVER DREAMED IT could happen.

I don't like it, but it is the way it is.

Some have said it will replace email.

I especially don't like not having a record of it.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by MisterBritt

Statistically (although I don't have them handy) my understanding is that texting is every bit as dangerous and drinking and driving. I think it results in something like a 200-fold increase in the probability of being involved in an accident. It's staggering, really.

I like to text. I text several times a day on average, I would suppose. In fact, I recall that I acquired my P.S. Audio PPPs via a combination of texts and cell phone discussions. Texting fills a need.

But the issue that triggered my ire from the thread that spawned this one is this. I feel strongly about the inappropriate mixing of texting protocols with forum/message board protocols. When texting protocols -- grammar, abbreviations, etc., -- spill onto message boards it results in one step forward and as many steps back as there are readers of the message.

When the author uses abbreviations to save himself time the result is everyone who reads the message has to stop and "unabbreviate" it. Sometimes, unsuccessfully at that. It is a tremendous waste of time in the aggregate, a fool's errand and an irony wrapped into one.

Britt.......I agree, and find myself irked when I am confronted with text message abbreviations on a forum. In my mind I immediately discount the individual as inconsiderate for all the reasons you stated. I also consider them less than fully involved in the conversation due to their unwillingness to engage in actual conversation. I usually ignore these posters because I don't care to converse with someone who is not committed enough to the subject and conversation to communicate using the English language. For me, it is hard to be serious with someone who talks in a stream of capital letters on a forum, and expects to be taken seriously.

[MisterBritt]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Britt.......I agree, and find myself irked when I am confronted with text message abbreviations on a forum. In my mind I immediately discount the individual as inconsiderate for all the reasons you stated. I also consider them less than fully involved in the conversation due to their unwillingness to engage in actual conversation. I usually ignore these posters because I don't care to converse with someone who is not committed enough to the subject and conversation to communicate using the English language. For me, it is hard to be serious with someone who talks in a stream of capital letters on a forum, and expects to be taken seriously.

I think you hit the nail right on the head. If the author can't take the time to spell out what he is trying to communicate, how seriously can he be taken? And he expects everyone else -- every single person -- reading his correspondence to interpret it for him? No thanks.