Misc Texting: A Question

**Donger** · 02-09-2009, 09:04 PM

Why do people text? You've got a cellular phone. It's capable of full-duplex voice communication. Why go through the arduous task of typing in characters?

**DaFace** · 02-09-2009, 09:05 PM

Why do people e-mail?

**Donger** · 02-09-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Why do people e-mail?

That's a good point. However, most people don't realize (or don't know) that you can use a PC to make a phone/voice call.

**Bugeater** · 02-09-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Why do people e-mail?

Email is for when you don't need immediate communication.

beavis · 02-09-2009, 09:07 PM

I used to be really annoyed by texting, before I figured out it had a serious advantage over placing calls: the ability to tell someone something without having to engage in a full conversation.

ArrowheadHawk · 02-09-2009, 09:08 PM

Texting = free. Call's not so much.

**Donger** · 02-09-2009, 09:08 PM

The reason I ask is that my wife has a friend who texts her cell phone about five times/day. I never set up "texting" on her account so it costs me something like $0.25/text that she sends.

Deberg_1990 · 02-09-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Why do people text?

Because its what all the cool kids are doing.

**DaFace** · 02-09-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

That's a good point. However, most people don't realize (or don't know) that you can use a PC to make a phone/voice call.

True. I guess that my point is that texting is halfway between a phone call and an e-mail.

Phone call:
Efficient communication
Somewhat intrusive

E-mail:
Moderately efficient communication
Very unobtrusive

Texting:
Very inefficient communication
Somewhat unintrusive

**DaFace** · 02-09-2009, 09:11 PM

For what it's worth, I strongly dislike texting, but I have to deal with it from time to time since a lot of other people do.

**dirk digler** · 02-09-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

Texting = free. Call's not so much.

What? Texting isn't free.

Mecca · 02-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Texting is great because it's a way to have a 30 second convo without actually talking to the annoying person.

Jenson71 · 02-09-2009, 09:13 PM

You won't believe this, but there are some people that text thousands of times a month. I know a girl whose parents got her unlimited texting when she did over 5000 in one month.

**Donger** · 02-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

True. I guess that my point is that texting is halfway between a phone call and an e-mail.

Phone call:
Efficient communication
Somewhat intrusive

E-mail:
Moderately efficient communication
Very unobtrusive

Texting:
Very inefficient communication
Somewhat unintrusive

I see your point, to a point, but verbal communication is far more efficient than typed, at least for me. However, considering how loquacious my wife is, perhaps texting would be more efficient.

**Iowanian** · 02-09-2009, 09:14 PM

I was against texting for a long time. I fought it until last year.

I like it because I can get or send a quick note that explains something. I can get it in a meeting and know whats going on, without interupting for a call(silent). My wife uses them for 'reminders' too. I'll ask her to text to remind me about picking up the kids, something I'm supposed to do...

Its also a good way to communicate with people that annoy the shit out of you, but you want to be civilized with and stay on topic.

I also used it some this fall while bow hunting, to pass the time, chatting with my brothers about what we were seeing etc.

02-09-2009, 09:04 PM
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6819900 VARSITY	Texting: A Question Why do people text? You've got a cellular phone. It's capable of full-duplex voice communication. Why go through the arduous task of typing in characters?
Posts: 191,135

02-09-2009, 09:05 PM	#2
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1883101	Why do people e-mail?
Posts: 53,154

02-09-2009, 09:07 PM	#5
beavis Free Born Man of the USA Join Date: May 2003 Casino cash: $9954900	I used to be really annoyed by texting, before I figured out it had a serious advantage over placing calls: the ability to tell someone something without having to engage in a full conversation.
Posts: 7,588

02-09-2009, 09:08 PM	#6
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	Texting = free. Call's not so much.
Posts: 15,676

02-09-2009, 09:08 PM	#7
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6819900 VARSITY	The reason I ask is that my wife has a friend who texts her cell phone about five times/day. I never set up "texting" on her account so it costs me something like $0.25/text that she sends. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 191,135

02-09-2009, 09:11 PM	#10
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1883101	For what it's worth, I strongly dislike texting, but I have to deal with it from time to time since a lot of other people do.
Posts: 53,154

02-09-2009, 09:13 PM	#12
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-712950	Texting is great because it's a way to have a 30 second convo without actually talking to the annoying person.
Posts: 115,380

02-09-2009, 09:13 PM	#13
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	You won't believe this, but there are some people that text thousands of times a month. I know a girl whose parents got her unlimited texting when she did over 5000 in one month.
Posts: 15,986

02-09-2009, 09:14 PM	#15
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1668454	I was against texting for a long time. I fought it until last year. I like it because I can get or send a quick note that explains something. I can get it in a meeting and know whats going on, without interupting for a call(silent). My wife uses them for 'reminders' too. I'll ask her to text to remind me about picking up the kids, something I'm supposed to do... Its also a good way to communicate with people that annoy the shit out of you, but you want to be civilized with and stay on topic. I also used it some this fall while bow hunting, to pass the time, chatting with my brothers about what we were seeing etc.
Posts: 62,945