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?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

I don't think my phone knows how to use that. I have the wierdest luck typing in the letters and not getting a word anything like what I want, it kills me when I type "if", get "of", then never get the option of "if" without deleting both letters and starting over, scrolling to each letter and manually selecting it. I even try making sure every couple of letters that I'm on track, I am, hit the last letter or two the word changes and I don't have an option for the word I'm typing and none of the phone's options make any sense.

Do you have a next button or something like that? When I text on my phone using T9, it picks a word, but there is a next button that each time I click it chooses the next word it thinks I am trying to type. When it runs out of guess, it goes to a screen where I can type out the word I want using the old fashioned method.

[EyePod]

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 also don't have texting, but there's been times I wish I did. Like while in class or somewhere where I shouldn't be answering a phone...a text could let me know where I'm supposed to meet my GF after class instead of having to call her after and realize I'm walking in the complete opposite direction from where I need to be.

[Demonpenz]

whenever i type in "A" it prefils airwolf on mine

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Do you have a next button or something like that? When I text on my phone using T9, it picks a word, but there is a next button that each time I click it chooses the next word it thinks I am trying to type. When it runs out of guess, it goes to a screen where I can type out the word I want using the old fashioned method.

Yeah, I'm sittin' there typing text, the word's looking correct, a few more letters and the word will be done - no autocomplete yet, but I'm close - another entry or two and abra cadabra the word changes and the word that it was spelling out correctly one letter earlier isn't even an option now. Delete a letter, still no options to make the word correct. There are times when I have to delete an entire word and start over selecting the correct letter every time to make sure it comes out right.

Daughter's phone doesn't do that when I use it, just mine.

[lazepoo]

Originally Posted by beavis

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.

This.

It sucks trying to call someone and say something quickly and getting roped into a conversation. Also, people can respond at their leisure, especially if they're working, etc. It's good for sending out mass messages without having to call someone to announce news, ie baby announcements, engagements, parties and whatnot. I would still rather call someone in most situations, but texting has its place.

What is ludicrous is that the phone company acts like transmitting a few words of text is a huge draw on their resources. It's not 1986 on my 286 computer with 2800 baud modem... it makes me mad that they charge, but since most of my friends and family text, I had to give them more money for a texting package.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Damn, that is a good deal. I think we pay 20 or 30 a month for unlimited texting family plan.

I used to pay $19.99 but then TMO offered my father the unlimited family texting for $9.99 when he added it to his plan in Nov. I called every month since December asking them to give me that rate. Finally, when one of my lines was out of contract and I threatened to cancel it did they match that rate.

I'd been with them for TEN years and they have been very good to me but it sort of irked me that someone adding the feature could get a better rate than a longer timer like me.

[keg in kc]

Pretty simple: I don't like talking.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Pretty simple: I don't like talking.

This too. The phone sucks.

[Hydrae]

I sent a text to my son last night for the first time in my life. He was late coming home from school and didn't answer when I tried calling. I texted him and got a reply about 5 minutes later.

Thank God for unlimited texting though. I may not use it but he sent/received 7400 texts last month.

[KCChiefsMan]

because:

phone call:

"Hey buddy, whats up?"
oh, nothing
"What are you up to tonight?"
oh, I dunno, feel like doin something?
"ya, was thinking about going out"
ya, me too
"so you want to go out and drink?"
ya, lets do it"
"ok, where too?

and on for a few more minutes

texting:
wanna go out to the bar?

yes



BAM, conversation over.

[Gracie Dean]

some times it is just easier.

My daughter is 17 and when I need her to go to the store, I just text

Pls pick up pepsi..

she can't talk on the phone when she is at work, so I text her and she does what I need

[joesomebody]

I like texting in that it's quick, and I don't have to actually talk to anyone. Short and to the point. However, I don't like texting now in that it has turned into email.

I get chain letters in text now... stupid ass chain letters that I can't believe people forward. Literal example of a couple that are in my inbox right now:

FWD: FWD: FWD:
Budweisers R red, Budlights R blue, Ur crazy as ****, thats why everyone likes U, Ur my homie, a kick ass friend, if I don't get this back, **** U THEN

FWD: FWDL FWD: In 23 MINUTES SOMEONE WILL SAY "I'm sorry babe" "I Love you" OR "wanna go out?"SEND TO 9 PEOPLE OR GET BAD luck on valentines day

[Gracie Dean]

daughter used to text while driving. Hubby put a stop to that

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Who's still with me in the "Don't have a cell phone" vote?

I wish I didn't have one, but my job requires it.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

whenever i type in "A" it prefils airwolf on mine

Now there's a shock.