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?

[luv]

If I have a quick question that requires a short answer, then I like to text it. You call some people, and you get stuck conversing for longer than you wanted/intended. Also, if someone gives me their number who I don't know very well, I tend to text them due to not knowing their schedule. If they're busy, it's much easier to just shoot them a text than to have the phone ring and chance disrupting them.

I hate people who carry on conversations vis text. Drives me nuts.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by 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?

Lots of reasons...
1. As a dude, I'd like to tell my friends I saw a hot girl or I saw a monkey just drink his pee on the street, but don't need to pick up a phone and call 10 people to let them know
2. I'd rather text 10 people in one message to tell them where we're going than call all of them individually
3. When I'm sitting at work, I'd rather text than let 100 people hear my conversation
4. Calling someone when you're pooping or watching a New Kids on the Block concert is awkward, but texting during one of those is not

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

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.

Good point.

[Jenson71]

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

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by 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.

I probably go through about 2000 texts a month. But, that includes texts while at work, when I'm commuting (the L) and times when I'm in noisy areas that it's easier to respond back by text.

It's an easy way to casually keep in touch with people- sort of like mobile IM. Great for times when you can't talk on the phone nonstop, and you can multitask. It's fairly understood that just cause you text as such, you may not get an immediate response back, but it's faster than me seeing a random call and having to spend all the time checking voicemail.

My parents recently learned how to text, and they actually love it. They randomly text me from time to time- just to touch base or comment on something of interest with our family or in the news. Plus, if they do have a question, you have noticed how much faster they can get an answer if I can text back to them, b/c it's easier to slip a quick text back than call when I'm with clients.

I don't try to have full conversations with people via text, but it's a great quick line of communication when somethings not urgent. Like texting with my buddies while watching sports. I can follow the game and respond when I have a few moment, and not have to sit on the phone and chat it up like a girl. Speaking of which- being able to text your buddies your with about whatever girls you meet out that night, while their right there is well worth it in itself. You can discreetly exchange info while they're all the none wiser.

[Demonpenz]

I love texting, don't have to hear anyones annoying voice, you can send it to everyone my friends and I like to just txt random baseball players names. I just got one! Jeff blauser!

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

Texting = free. Call's not so much.

WTF?

[Buck]

I had 1500 Texts last month (sent + recieved).

I Had about 900 Recieved and 600 Sent.

Thats the beauty of it, If I don't want to talk to somebody I just don't text back.

[sedated]

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.

According to my phone bills, I average about 1500-2000 texts a month.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by 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?

Texting is good when you're somewhere where you can't talk on the phone.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by sedated

According to my phone bills, I average about 1500-2000 texts a month.

Jesus thats rediculous

[1ChiefsDan]

We use it at work during a crisis. For instance, during Hurricane Ike text was one of the only ways to communicate for a while with my people along the Gulf Coast. Land lines were down, cell service was overloaded for a while - but texts get through.

[RustShack]

Teens can talk during class without actually talking. They can talk to boys/girls they like without actually talking to them if they are shy. yada yada yada.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by 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?

Asynchronous vs. synchronous communication, maybe?

[RustShack]

My college has a thing set up where they text the students if school is canceled or if theres a late start or anything.