As I scold my two teenagers for texting at the dinner table,
I am secretly harboring anxious, worrisome thoughts about my own cell phone. It
sits on the counter, initially vibrating thrice before the alert phases into a
persistent, flashing red light. It is teasing me mercilessly with information
that I cannot know unless I jump over my chicken Caesar salad and pounce. What
is it about the message light that gets me so riled up? There must be something
animalistic - primordial even - in me because I seriously detest the concept of
texting. Or so I tell myself.
Try as I might to resist the urge to fore go any truncated conversation using only my thumbs, I cannot. Too many people are texting other people who are texting other people hundreds of times every day. It is almost impossible to slow let alone stop this moving train unless the special effects director says so. So, alas, I feel I must give in or rather chalk it up to progress and enjoy the ride!
So, I ask myself what is it about texting that bugs me so? I think first it is because texts are like secrets shared in front of others. I find myself asking my kids, "who are you talking to?" I am sure I know, but I feel the need to ask nonetheless. Their answers?
"Brett [daughter's boyfriend]" or "Mitch [son's best friend]."
Ah. Now that I know, what do I do with that information? Nothing! What CAN I do with it? They are communicating with each other with no sense of including me in their teenage musings (not that they would regardless of mode of communication). Are not they essentially whispering in each others ear, telling secrets? In a sense, they are. But if I desperately feel the need to know, I ask. They are invariably discussing the upcoming statistics test or the science fair. Whew! That was close!
Texting also takes away the beauty of the written word and bastardizes all things grammatically good. It is an affront to the spelling bee where you either spell stromuhr correctly or go home empty handed. It is an insult to professional writers where strict rules must be adhered to in order for works to be published. LOL. IKR. :)
Not surprisingly, texting greatly affects our social skills. Much of our communication is through sights, sounds, facial expressions, tones, etc. Texting nullifies all of that. Will this permanently affect texters' abilities to communicate effectively in other situations? My guess is that it already has.
However, texting is here to stay. I am sure that eventually, the next step in human evolution will incorporate elongated, more aerodynamic thumbs and weakened vocal cords. As long as there are texting contests from the Kansas State Fair prize of $1,000 to the LG Mobile Phone national texting grand prize of $100,000, people will text. After all, we are human and the quick fix (though it never really is just that) is our specialty... that and the fact that we crave instant gratification which texting wholly provides.
I suspect that, in the future, individuals in power will not have succumbed to the texting phenomenon, will have retained short stubby thumbs and developed booming operatic voices. They may even have professional "texters" who text for them should the need arise. Who am I to say, though, that this may already be a reality for some individuals. Not this individual, I am happy to say. I will text on my own, thank you very much.
What is it about texting that draws us nigh and holds us to its bosom? Something exciting and instant about the whole thing, I suspect. We all know not to text and drive. I could list out a whole host of etiquette pointers from any of a number of blogs about when not to text. That is not my purpose here. I am just musing, I guess, at what will happen with the texting revolution. Will anyone just send me a handwritten card in the mail other than on my birthday? Wait, I only get birthday wishes on Facebook now. Geez. Yet another reason the US Post Office is downsizing... but that's another blog.
Try as I might to resist the urge to fore go any truncated conversation using only my thumbs, I cannot. Too many people are texting other people who are texting other people hundreds of times every day. It is almost impossible to slow let alone stop this moving train unless the special effects director says so. So, alas, I feel I must give in or rather chalk it up to progress and enjoy the ride!
So, I ask myself what is it about texting that bugs me so? I think first it is because texts are like secrets shared in front of others. I find myself asking my kids, "who are you talking to?" I am sure I know, but I feel the need to ask nonetheless. Their answers?
"Brett [daughter's boyfriend]" or "Mitch [son's best friend]."
Ah. Now that I know, what do I do with that information? Nothing! What CAN I do with it? They are communicating with each other with no sense of including me in their teenage musings (not that they would regardless of mode of communication). Are not they essentially whispering in each others ear, telling secrets? In a sense, they are. But if I desperately feel the need to know, I ask. They are invariably discussing the upcoming statistics test or the science fair. Whew! That was close!
Texting also takes away the beauty of the written word and bastardizes all things grammatically good. It is an affront to the spelling bee where you either spell stromuhr correctly or go home empty handed. It is an insult to professional writers where strict rules must be adhered to in order for works to be published. LOL. IKR. :)
Not surprisingly, texting greatly affects our social skills. Much of our communication is through sights, sounds, facial expressions, tones, etc. Texting nullifies all of that. Will this permanently affect texters' abilities to communicate effectively in other situations? My guess is that it already has.
However, texting is here to stay. I am sure that eventually, the next step in human evolution will incorporate elongated, more aerodynamic thumbs and weakened vocal cords. As long as there are texting contests from the Kansas State Fair prize of $1,000 to the LG Mobile Phone national texting grand prize of $100,000, people will text. After all, we are human and the quick fix (though it never really is just that) is our specialty... that and the fact that we crave instant gratification which texting wholly provides.
I suspect that, in the future, individuals in power will not have succumbed to the texting phenomenon, will have retained short stubby thumbs and developed booming operatic voices. They may even have professional "texters" who text for them should the need arise. Who am I to say, though, that this may already be a reality for some individuals. Not this individual, I am happy to say. I will text on my own, thank you very much.
What is it about texting that draws us nigh and holds us to its bosom? Something exciting and instant about the whole thing, I suspect. We all know not to text and drive. I could list out a whole host of etiquette pointers from any of a number of blogs about when not to text. That is not my purpose here. I am just musing, I guess, at what will happen with the texting revolution. Will anyone just send me a handwritten card in the mail other than on my birthday? Wait, I only get birthday wishes on Facebook now. Geez. Yet another reason the US Post Office is downsizing... but that's another blog.
Great Blog....Love it!!! I am not one that texts, have a cell phone, but just pay as I go, so I am on the other side of fence, so to speak. But I can relate to your blog.
Thanks!
Kathy
ROFLMAO! And a hearty LOL as well. I think my favorite part is "the next step in human evolution will incorporate elongated, more aerodynamic thumbs". Pavlov's Cell Phone, indeed. Resistance is futile, though YMMV.
Your evolution prediction of elongated thumbs is priceless!
You've inspired me to share the top 10 reasons I text even though it makes us all a little neurotic sometimes. :)
10. To exchange info that will later be referenced (addresses/impt phone numbers, etc)
9. To exchange bad jokes and brighten the day.
8. To share spontaneous pictures of funny things I see.
7. To pass time (in line, on a bus, etc).
6. Because I'm too sick to talk.
5. To express frustrations that can't be said among current company but need to be expressed so I can move on with my day (sorry sis...).
4. Because I'm in a quiet place (library).
3. Before I forget to say that thing or ask that question I need to ask, but before I have time to have a full phone conversation.
2. To send a quick message that requires little or no response.
1. Because everyone else is doing it and I want to be cool too! :)