Texting: A Question

[Donger]

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]

Originally Posted by Donger

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.

Oh, no argument there. I think people like the fact that it's a semi-instant form of communication, but won't bug people if they're busy.

That, or perhaps we've gotten to a point in society that we'd rather communicate in text than have to deal with someone in real-time.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

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.

That's good stuff. I can see how getting a phone call with a Batman ringer would be detrimental to killing animals.

[aturnis]

I only text when I need to "talk" or communicate w/ someone, but don't want it to take 5, 10, 15 minutes. It's impersonal, but I don't get caught talking to Mom or any other family/friend when I don't have time.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Oh, no argument there. I think people like the fact that it's a semi-instant form of communication, but won't bug people if they're busy.

That, or perhaps we've gotten to a point in society that we'd rather communicate in text than have to deal with someone in real-time.

Is there some protocol in responding to text messages? I can imagine it being really annoying to get: "Y havnt u respond to my text! WTF!"

[Iowanian]

Its the first year we did it....but it did help pass those 12, sometimes freezing hours.


I also use it in another way.
If I'm negotiating with a potential client, I'll tell the wife to text a couple of times between 10 and 10:30....something like that. The phone buzzing gives the air of your services being "in demand". Sometimes, its overkill, because it is buzzing....but I really do notice a reaction that seems positive.

A text is also an effective way to getting out of something, politely.

You're having a meeting with someone you don't want to get stuck with for an extended time...."text me around 9:30".....bzzz bzz bzzzz

"sorry, Hercules, something's come up and I have to go put out a fire"

"Ok man, see you later."

"later"

[Iowanian]

I do prefer the face to face conversation...or the phone conversation.

In some situations, I prefer email because of the "paper trail" of what is said, asked for, approved etc. Its tougher for a client to change their mind, when you can forward an email with a "Greetings sir, this was my understanding of your request".....its tougher to forward a phone conversation back to them.


I don't text a lot, maybe 50/month, but its helpful for my business stuff.

[Mr. Plow]

My niece had almost 10,000 text msgs in 25 days. She's 12. Luckily they had the unlimited text plan.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

My niece had almost 10,000 text msgs in 25 days. She's 12. Luckily they had the unlimited text plan.

She gotta lot of boyfriends eh?

[Papi]

Texting = privacy, no one overhears a text. Also, when you text, your message always gets through quickly. Many people (I'm one of them) are too lazy to check their voicemail. It takes 30 seconds to get to the message then you have to listen to it. Texting can be read immediately, no chance of mis-hearing something. I'd rather get a text message over a voicemail. It's just convenient and fast - some people have the Qwerty on their phone and can crank them out rapidomente. I don't like getting into long back and forth texts though. I'd rather call than text a novel.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Donger

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.

Texting is useful if you're in a loud place (ie. restaurant, bar, concert, etc.) where it's difficult to hear/speak on a phone. As others said, it's good when you want to exchange info without having a conversation. For example, "are you on the way?" Also, it's useful if you want to get info from multiple people all at once. You can send a text out to a group of people asking "anything going on tonight?" if you're looking to go out.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

I use it most to say things I don't want to say aloud for security or privacy reasons.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Mecca

She gotta lot of boyfriends eh?

Not that I know of. Just spends every waking minute texting.

[reiko57]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

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.

i do about 1300 a month

only talk about 400 minutes

its sweet cause you can just blow the other person off and not even have to say bye

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by DaFace

That, or perhaps we've gotten to a point in society that we'd rather communicate in text than have to deal with someone in real-time.

My mom told me about the "dangers" that she sees in electronic text communication of all types. She fought the e-mail fight years ago because writing a hand written letter was "actually personal, and from the heart." Then she was against instant messaging to communicate instead of a phone conversation, in spite of its convenience. Again, it was because personality was taken out of the conversation, as well as emotions such as sarcasm, and simple laughing (she wasn't a fan of "lol"). Now it's text messaging. She thinks we're turning into robots.

Then again, she's also the biggest luddite I've ever met.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by reiko57

i do about 1300 a month

only talk about 400 minutes

its sweet cause you can just blow the other person off and not even have to say bye

Yup. You get what you want out of the conversation and never have to speak with them.