I use text messages sparingly. Usually it’s when I want to reach someone urgently (quicker than email), but I don’t want to disturb them or I know they can’t be disturbed.
Sometimes I SMS staff if they’re out of the office on a job.
Many people are addicted to SMS though. My 15-year-old daughter sends dozens a day, mostly to the one person (I think).
Schools have banned them from classrooms and it’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
Italian Bishops have urged young people to give up texting on Fridays during Lent.
No SMS will allow young people to “detox from the virtual world and get back in touch with themselves,” Monsignor Benito Cocchi was quoted as saying.
English freelance journalist Judith Woods picked up the theme in a column for The Telegraph, discussing her effort to replace text messaging with phone calls.
Most don’t like it. Some reported reactions:
“Is your phone broken?”
“You could have just texted me, you know.”
“Have you got post-natal depression?”
“Sorry, I have to go. You’re being weird. This isn’t a good time. Text me.”
Text messaging is an antisocial means of communication. It’s one on one, but lacks any intimacy.
It’s intrusive in that it’s visible to others who might be wishing to actually speak with the texter.
Woods quotes psychology author Laura James, who says it’s all about control.
“When you phone someone up, or talk to them in person, they can’t control when or where the conversation is happening, or what’s being discussed, and we’ve all grown used to having that control. The upshot is that we’re losing the ability to make time for one another.”
I use SMS as a tool. Others use it as a core means of communication; that’s the problem, I think.
I agree with you, it should be a tool, an accessory, not the foremost means of communication.
I actually dislike text messages. For one, my carrier charges me one minute of airtime to read them, and being that I am prepaid that is 20cents. I have my phone for emergency contact only and, in a pinch, a means to reach mapquest or something similar. I rarely message anybody.
I told my own daughter that she can have a phone and message people all she likes when she is older, provided she pays for it herself. hehehe. I’m such a mean mum.
Twitter: delmerw
says:
My son can text without looking at his phone keypad — I think this says he uses it too much.
I don’t care for texting. But then, I’m a grumpy old man.
Hey!
We use it as a tool or as a core means of communication, anyway it bring us more convenient, thanks for sharing us.
Hi:
I think so this is not the most important means of communication but a tool. Together no matter where we go with it very convenient. Thanks sharing with me.