My Name is Motte Brown and I'm a Texting Neophyte

My Name is Motte Brown and I'm a Texting Neophyte
by Motte Brown on 12/02/2008 at 1:04 PM

I received a couple of text messages over the holiday and I was like, huh? What? I didn't even know I had given out my text, um, address ... or whatever it was they used to text me. I mean, don't you need a special account or something?

I know. Lame, right?

When I first began receiving them my immediate thoughts were, Why not just call and tell me what you want to say instead of writing a short, encrypted message on a small number keypad, which, by the way, takes forever if you're not well practiced? And doesn't it cost more money?

But then the light came on for me. I realized that texting can actually save time by helping eliminate formalities and idle chit chat. Like when you call someone and say,

Motte: Hi Chuck. How's it going?
Chuck: Ok. You?
Motte: Good. Hey listen, I was wondering (insert point of call here)

Ok. So maybe it saves more time for women than men. I guess for guys the appeal is eliminating formalities. Which, all joking aside, is a benefit.

The truth is, young adults appear to be driving text message trends among neophytes like me. Because once you realize that texting is someone's preferred method of communication, there's pressure to conform. This study showing that more and more parents of young adults are texting certainly supports that idea.

So what am I missing? Why exactly is texting so popular with the under 30 crowd? Is it knowing you can text someone whenever you want without interrupting them (and those around them) with an annoying ringtone?

I'm almost there. Honest. I'm thinking about looking into plans that include text messaging when my cell contract expires in February. I guess I just need a little shove.

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Comments

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1. Ally said the following at 1:13 PM on Dec 2:

Texting is also helpful when you're in a meeting (and don't have access to e-mail and cannot be on the phone), at a restaurant, or in a loud venue (concert, club, etc.). It's also a fun way to let someone know that you're thinking of him/her without calling.

2. Suzanne said the following at 1:13 PM on Dec 2:

My mom and dad text, proving the findings of that study. Their texts are often short and sweet. (That's because they're not very fast at it.)

3. Louise, 43 from Chicago said the following at 1:24 PM on Dec 2:

My name is Louise Mcbride and I am also a texting neophyte.

I got a new cell phone a year ago...a free upgrade from tracfone.

Someone occasionally sends me text messages on the cell but I have NO IDEA what he/she is saying or who is sending them!

4. Matthew said the following at 1:28 PM on Dec 2:

I use texting very sparingly-- to me, it's useful to send a quick message to someone when you're not around your computer and you're not sure they can pick up their phone. It is also useful for sending and receiving cute pictures of siblings from home! : )

5. Christina (in green) said the following at 1:41 PM on Dec 2:

Lol. Here, let me help.

I never texted prior to dating my now-fiance.

He never texted prior to that either...lol...and HE started it.

But the reasons we like it so much is because (when done in moderation and with some consideration of the company your in) you can send a brief message that simply says "I miss you and want to be with you" without popping out your cell phone, making a call, and saying something that embarrassing in front of your co-workers and bosses in the middle of a Trouble Report meeting =p

And I can read that message and send a quick "I love you" back to him without interrupting the conversation I'm having with my mom over lunch. Quick, discrete, and unobtrusive. It works.

Oh...and "don't forget the bread" is a lot easier to remember in a text than over a cell call ;) "What was it I was supposed to get? Oh yeah...she sent me a txt..."

6. Paul said the following at 1:42 PM on Dec 2:

"Is it knowing you can text someone whenever you want without interrupting them (and those around them) with an annoying ringtone?"

Yes :)

7. kim said the following at 1:59 PM on Dec 2:

Ok, so I'm slightly over 30 (31). i love texting. You can say just want you want to say and nothing more. You don't have to interrupt them. You can text while in a meeting or other places where you can text but not talk. It is to the point. I have plenty of them a month 1000 and never use them all. It saves time. I hate talking on the phone (for a girl that is amazing) but I love texting because it doesn't have the idle chit chat and you don't have to worry about how you are going to end the conversation!

8. Saidah said the following at 2:18 PM on Dec 2:

it's also the ultimate for people like me... who HATE talking on the telephone. People always tease me that they don't know how I keep in touch when I NEVER call ANYONE. Easy. I'll randomly text people just to check up on them and make sure their breathing. It's an introvert's dream come true. And it's also a fun way to nag your husband/wife while they're at work. Ask my husband... lol

9. HoustonGal said the following at 2:18 PM on Dec 2:

I am so glad someone finally did a post on this. My phone is a Samsung, a regular cell phone, no full QWERTY keyboard.

My phone has this feature that anticipates what you're trying to say when typing. It is SO annoying, every time I try to text, I simply give up because I can't type what I want - the phone assumes it's one thing, but it's wrong. So I backspace to re-type (because the phone mis-anticipated what I wanted to type), I do it again - with the same results.

(I don't mind pressing the same number key a few times to get the right letter - that's not the issue.)

Do these phones have a way to turn off this auto-type feature?

10. Andrea said the following at 2:19 PM on Dec 2:

I used to hate texting, but now I participate quite regularly. I can't say exactly why it is, but I think it is because I don't like talking on the phone, like kim said. it can be quick and easy exchange of information.

but! there is texting etiquette... or there should be! i mean, how annoying is it to be in a good conversation and then suddenly have the person be completely distracted for a few moments and then return as if nothing happened! i wonder what is so important that they can't continue the conversation! haha, but as with most new(ish) technology, time will likely produce more polite usage.

11. Justin said the following at 2:24 PM on Dec 2:

Yes! I text all the time. It is an easy way for me to contact my students - much of the time they won't answer their phones, but will respond to a text before I finish pressing send. Also work's great for communicating plans to a number of people, and for sending reminders(times, dates etc...)

12. Kate said the following at 3:00 PM on Dec 2:

I just heard an interesting feature on NPR today with the author of a new book about texting called Txtng: The Gr8 Db8:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97700573

13. Caroline said the following at 3:04 PM on Dec 2:

Besides all the excellent reasons provided above, I'll point out the financial side of things: it is much, much cheaper here (in France) to text than to call. I have a pay-as-you-go plan and the credit lasts much longer when I stick to "textos" instead of calls.

14. Justin T. said the following at 3:04 PM on Dec 2:

I'll break the mold; I'm 21, and I HATE texting. It annoys me. At first, I thought it was my horrible phone, so I bought a different phone with a full keyboard. That didn't help.

I don't mind receiving text messages, or using it to send a quick, one-time note to somebody, but it's trying to have a full conversation through 160-character blurbs that annoys me.

Seriously, for anything more meaningful than "Dude, call me at 7 when I'm out of this boring meeting," please, I beg of you, just call me.

15. Nicole said the following at 3:14 PM on Dec 2:

Texting is great except when you're driving, thats a big dangerous no-no. Answering the phone and getting caught in a long drawn out conversation is a personal peeve or even worse having nothing to say and all those awkward pauses. Its like as if the phone is an impatient obnoxious person pounding on your desk shouting TALK TO ME NOW! TALK TO ME NOW! I refuse to be a slave to the telephone. All of that can be avoided with texting, you can even have a conversation for hours, putting it down then picking it up where you left off. Its wonderful! Besides, I'm a visual learner and its much easier for me to get information by reading it than by listening to it.

16. Jacob said the following at 3:32 PM on Dec 2:

I'm in my twenties and I do not text message. While it does have some interesting and, on occasion, time-saving uses, most people seem obsessed with it and are unable to put it down. It mildly offends me when I am talking to someone and he cannot leave his phone alone. I do not text and I do not reply to texts. If someone wants to talk to me, they can call me.

17. Matt from DC said the following at 3:39 PM on Dec 2:

I'm 28 and I just started texting this year. I was getting to know a woman and she (age 38) started texting me and I had the same thought as you did Motte. Now that I've been texting a whole five months I'm a master texter. I think it has the same benefit. I even text my boss (see Do You Have A Work Spouse?). Today he texted me to let me know to not pick him up for work until 10. Two Fridays ago I was in a meeting at our corporate office and the CEO of our little company was about to ask me the Stregnths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats for our contract with our customer and I texted my boss since I didn't know the complete answer (I'm not the project officer). I got a four text reply and a good answer.

18. Sara said the following at 4:14 PM on Dec 2:

As a worrywart-ish introvert, I group text messaging in with iPods and online friendships and Facebook as things I just don't want to get into... I see them as temptations, giving me an easy--though ultimately unfulfilling--way out of face-to-face contact, be it with friends and family, or even with strangers...

When I see someone on the sidewalk wearing sunglasses and earphones and texting on their cellphone, totally unattuned to what's actually going on around them physically, it kind of freaks me out, though I guess that's a pretty negative way of looking at it.

One of my friends just started playing Second Life, which I'd never heard of until now. She was talking about it walking into my apartment, when I happening to be carrying in the crokinole board I'd brought from back home.. It made me think, gosh, how can this old slab of wood compete with virtual teleportation? :)

19. Tami said the following at 4:29 PM on Dec 2:

@ Matt from DC

SWOT Analysis

S :)
W :(
O O.o
T :P

LOL

;)

20. BDB said the following at 4:29 PM on Dec 2:

HoustonGal(#9) wrote:

>>Do these phones have a way to turn off this auto-type feature?<<

If you look under "options" there might be an "auto-complete" feature.

http://forums.intomobile.com/samsung/16248-how-can-i-stop-auto-fill-auto-complete-dictionary-mobile-samsung-d900.html

21. A.M.C. said the following at 4:41 PM on Dec 2:

Although I'm in the under-30 age group, I generally don't text. The reason is simple: since it's not included in my rate plan, AT&T would charge me 20 extra cents per message sent or received. (Sometimes I wish I could trade some of the 450 minutes in my plan that I don't use for a few free messages-- but unfortunately that's not an option.)

22. Sharon said the following at 4:44 PM on Dec 2:

I send, on average, about 3,300 text messages a month. My parents both love talking on the phone for hours on end and if I call them, there's no excuse that will let me get out of the conversation so I send them text messages instead and then call them when I have a few hours to spare.
I definitely like that I know I'm not bothering anyone by sending a text message. They can just get back to me at their own leisure. I know I always feel awful when I ignore phone calls but I never feel the same way about texts.

23. Leah said the following at 5:14 PM on Dec 2:

In Australia at any rate, texting is significantly cheaper than a phone call. That is, unless you carry on a text conversation. One text is cheaper than the flag rate for a mobile phone call, but once you exchange more than two text messages, it's more expensive than a short "Hey Jane, can you come pick me up in ten minutes?" "Sure, I'll see you soon" type phone call.

I'm under the impression, though, that it's significantly cheaper in the US to call on a mobile phone (or "cell phone" :P).

Like Justin T said, full txt conversations are ridiculous (and, like I said, expensive). Just make a phone call!

Honestly, if you're not in a position where quick notes to people is helpful, then there's not much point in getting a special plan just to accommodate texts. I used to use them all the time before I was married. I still do, but not as much. Like I said, it's good for "I'm ready to be picked up in ten minutes". I also use it when I need to get a message to my husband while he's at work. If I email, it tends to get lost in the dozens of work emails he receives each day, and his office is a below-ground level concrete building that gets very poor reception. I'll usually try calling him on his office phone (landline) but if I can't get him on that, I'll text him. That way I know that when he leaves his office and moves into better reception, he'll get the message. Usually however he's on Instant Messenger and I can get him on that!

HoustanGal- yes, there's always a way to turn off dictionary. I hate it too, mainly because I've never got the hang of mine (I've figured out other people's faster). It differs between phones though. Check your manual.

Regarding parents of young texters: hmmm, I'm not sure. I know some of my friends' parents certainly text more now that their kids do. My parents rarely do it. I can remember only twice that my Dad and I have exchanged text messages: once was at the football (we had sat in different places with different friends); we had to find each other afterwards in the madness of the crowds, and you'd NEVER be able to hear someone on a phonecall in that environment! The other time was after I had gone out and just wanted to get Dad to remind my brother of something. (Who, at 16, does not have a mobile himself).

I know Mum has texted me once or twice, but can't remember what it was about. If I'm home I'm contactable on my landline (which in Aus is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than calling a mobile) and if I'm out Mum will usually call my mobile rather than text, because it's usually to ask a question or arrange something (which would be expensive to do via text message).

24. Jorden said the following at 5:18 PM on Dec 2:

I used to use around 800 texts a month when I was still with my girlfriend. I had never used texting prior and she started me on it. I have to say that it was very nice because we could keep in contact as much as we wanted no matter where we were. I got pretty good at it on my phone so we would have conversations and stuff over texting all the time. Now that we're not together anymore I downgraded my plan because I only use about 50 a month now. So not that many, but I enjoy having the texts in case I want to have a quick chat with one of my cousins or just say hi to someone. Or ask where my friends are when we're supposed to be meeting :P. Overall I think it's useful as long as your not on it too much, or if your driving.

25. Kari said the following at 6:13 PM on Dec 2:

I have this really weird perspective--formalities seem rude to me when all I want is a favor, or an answer, or to share some quick info. Texting is GREA...don't have to spend time talking if I really just don't feel like opening my mouth, noty interrupting anything because the receiver can check it whenever (or never) I have time to think before I respond without the other person knowing I'm thinking about it.... no "hello"/"gotta go" fomalities (I had to teach my 38 year old sister that it was strange and unecessary to greet/say goodbye to me everytime she text me)

26. Christopher from Albuquerque said the following at 6:27 PM on Dec 2:

I'm 35 and don't currently text-- yet. It's not necessarily because I'm an "old fogey." I'm single, I love music and movies (with discernment), and I spend time with adults of various ages-- younger, older, my age, you name it! I do have to admit that texting strikes me as being a bit impersonal, but the primary reason that I don't do it, at this point, is that the buttons on my cell phone almost seem too small for my fingers!

27. Becky said the following at 8:25 PM on Dec 2:

I've had a cell for just over three years, and I've spent most of that time loathing texting . . . and I'm very bad at it. It seriously takes me like five minutes to type a message! I have to pay 15 cents per text, and I used to be really uptight about getting messages. My thought was that I didn't ASK the person to text me, so why should I have to pay for the message? Obviously, Alltel didn't care if I wanted the messages or not, they just wanted me to pay my bill, so my friends soon learned not to text me. Recently, though, I've started caring less about the money and texting more (and by more, I mean like 10 texts a month!). As someone who hates talking on the phone, I think I could learn to enjoy texting, but I'm not quite ready to sign up for a plan.

28. Texas Craig said the following at 2:02 AM on Dec 3:

HoustonGal (#9): I am not sure if your phone is the same as mine, but to change the autocomplete on mine, I press the * key. That will move it between autocomplete all caps, autocomplete with first letter capitalized only, etc. It will move it to no auto-complete at all, at which point you have to press the key the same number of times needed to get the right letter on that key.

Another benefit to texting is that it helps with language barriers. I just got back from China and I used text-messaging all the time. Many times it was easier to communicate with people whose English was only middling (and my Chinese is slightly worse than middling!). So, texting made for better communications. Also, things that need to be remembered (a phone number, a time to meet, etc.) are better sent in texts, so you can reference the text to confirm without having to write something down.

29. Adam Sloope said the following at 6:20 AM on Dec 3:

Motte, I hate texting from a normal phone where you have to push the 1 button 3 times to get c and so on and so forth. I have a phone with a full qwerty keyboard, it may help you out. I love texting, it allows me to get a clear point across without having to keep track of wanting to call them back if they dont answer. It is just a sure shot way to get what I need or want to say out while I'm thinking of it. Most people can multi-task as well so I text all day while I am doing different things. However, it is annoying when you call someone and they dont answer and then just text you, "What's up?" JUST ANSWER THE PHONE on the rare occasion I do call. I'm still on the fence on whether texting promotes good or bad communication habits though even though I love it and use it all the time. I actually look at this page from my phoen and sometimes post from it.

30. Sarah P. said the following at 7:08 AM on Dec 3:

I don't like or dislike texting. I just find it irrelevant. I don't want or need to be in nonstop communication with people. There's no particular reason that people have a right to get hold of me at every hour of every day. Now, I'm very much an extrovert, and I love talking on the phone. My whole job from age 14 onward was talking on the phone, pretty much, so I'm used to it. But even more so, I'd rather talk in person, and I'd much rather spend my time on that. And if I'm not spending time on that, it's because I need to get something done.

I also don't use Instant Messenger any more, and haven't for a few years. It wasted so much time!

Ya, I'm 25, but I think I have an inner 45-year-old.

31. Marie said the following at 7:45 AM on Dec 3:

If texting was free, I wouldn't mind it. However, it costs me 20 cents a message to send OR receive, and people who are not in my phonebook/contacts send me messages and don't sign them!

Our family's first cell phone didn't have the capacity to view text messages, but DID receive them, so by the time we got rid of it, it had a few thousand unread messages from an unknown number.

I also find it rude for people to text while I'm having a conversation with them. Just because they're not taking a call doesn't mean it's not interrupting. Is it so hard to pay attention to ONE person at a time?!?

32. Chris said the following at 9:07 AM on Dec 3:

Replace "text" with "email", jump back 10-15 years, and you've got almost the exact same conversation.

Just a thought.....

33. Kimberly Eddy said the following at 9:15 AM on Dec 3:

I'm 39 and I text all the time since I got my Blackberry Curve. I have discovered that this the perfect way for my husband and I to communicate about important, urgent things when he is not allowed to take phone calls at work. If I quickly text him a question about something, he can quickly text the answer back to me at his leisure.

I also text him little love notes all day long, which he really loves. :-) I think the larger keyboard on the blackberry helps with the texting.

34. Matt from DC said the following at 9:22 AM on Dec 3:

@Tami

i lold
u so fnny
g2g readn bndls

35. Sara said the following at 10:23 AM on Dec 3:

Texting is great, provided some texting etiquette is followed. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my suggestions:
1)As mentioned, NEVER text while driving.
2)Please don't send mass texts like "Happy Thanksgiving." It's so impersonal, the equivalent of an email forward. Also, some people pay per text!
3) If you are not positive the person you're texting has your number in their phone, PLEASE say your name in the text. I've gotten several messages from random numbers, and I'm not sure who sent them.
4) Do not read or answer a text if you are in the middle of a conversation with someone. I read somewhere that you shouldn't text anywhere you wouldn't feel comfortable doing a crossword puzzle (though that's kind of an antiquated comparison for those of us under 30). :)

Anyone want to add to the list?

36. Joy W. said the following at 10:28 AM on Dec 3:

I don't text a lot, but it'd definitely made my life easier.
My roommate and I text each other short grocery lists, so we don't have to write down whatever we need to pick up after work.
It's also helpful when trying to meet up with someone at a concert, where it can be way too loud to hear them on the phone.
Or, after service at my huge church, it's an easy way to get a group together to go for lunch!
A couple of weeks ago, a family member was not doing well (a recurring problem), and I was able to send out a mass text to several of my friends asking for prayer.
When I was with my boyfriend, we texted each other every morning. Starting each work day with a short, happy message was great!
One pet peeve: when people text me when I'm sleeping. I sleep with my phone next to my bed, so the "not interrupting" idea doesn't apply. It wakes me up every time.

37. BDB said the following at 10:50 AM on Dec 3:

I will mention that with the blackberry keypad, speed-wise I'm competitive with the kids and their thumbs...

38. 'Guerite ~ BoldLion said the following at 11:43 AM on Dec 3:

MMMM! This is interesting! I will be 44 in 27 more days. I am deaf but oral educated (that means that I can talk) and can sign very little. I do have a Tracfone but only use it for emergency. I never had text to anyone at all.

I know that a lot of deaf (who aren't oral educated like me) or depend on sign all the time but can talk a little bit does text all the time. (I am sure that a lot of my oral educated deaf friends who graduated from CID "oral school for the deaf" does text to their family or deaf friends, or hearing friends.) I am sure that I am one of the odd that never had text.

Maybe I should learn to text in order to reach out the deaf group. I grew up in the hearing world even though I was born deaf.

Plus, I do wish my cell phone is just like my home special phone that is CapTell http://www.captionedtelephone.com/
That would help me a lot and I can listen to them and "lip-read" what they are saying on my cell phone.

I am not a text person!
'Guerite ~ BoldLion

39. whs said the following at 12:54 PM on Dec 3:

Voice calls are to auditory as texts are to visual.

40. Anna said the following at 1:16 PM on Dec 3:

I never texted before I moved abroad from the USA, but now I'm jumping on the "Don't live in the USA and texting is cheaper" bandwagon. With my Swiss prepaid mobile, texts cost US$0.08 each to send and receive while calls cost each person US$0.35 per minute, give or take. Some mobile plans charge up to US$0.80 per minute, so I especially hate to make the person I'm calling pay $1-2 to answer my quick question or say "I'm on my way, just around the corner." Mobiles here, and elsewhere in Europe, are just too expensive to use for real conversations.

41. mary kate said the following at 1:44 PM on Dec 3:

i text a fair amount. it's convenient. to let someone know i'll be late, or share a random joke, or whatever.

i like what you said, kari: formalities seem rude to me when all I want is a favor, or an answer, or to share some quick info.

i agree with you.

however, it drives me NUTS when people want to have long exchanges via text, with lots of back and forth. i have one friend who i don't think has ever called or really even emailed me; she just texts and facebook messages me and im's me.

i also hate it when guys ask you out via text (or email for that matter). LAME. get the number and CALL it.

42. Tigger said the following at 2:34 PM on Dec 3:

Yes, in Spain texting must be cheaper than calling, too. I don't know the exact rates, but I do know that a ten-minute phone call means I have to top up again, and soon (I only do 10 Euros at a time...because I don't talk on the phone...because it's too expensive!), and I could text to my heart's desire and still be strong six weeks later.

I really don't like talking on the phone. I feel like I'm missing 75% of what is going on. No body language - I'm very visual. But words make me happy. It's like getting a mini-email. So texts = good, phone calls = bad. I still don't do much texting, though. Can't be bothered, really, esp without predictive text (where the phone tries to help you by suggesting the right word as you're typing).

It's crazy that phone carriers in the US charge their own customers to receive texts they didn't ask for. It's like having a 100-limit email and then getting charge $1 per email after. How is that encouraging people to use your services? Sounds like cutting your nose off to spite your face, really.

43. Evan said the following at 3:11 PM on Dec 3:

I'm 26 years old. I am electrical engineer who always tries to stay on the cutting edge of technology. I post status updates to Twitter, check Facebook, and even stream live video to the internet from my "smartphone." I use email, IM, PM's, VoIP, and run several of my own web sites.

But I've never been able to "get" text messaging.

44. cait said the following at 4:53 PM on Dec 3:

I would recieve about 20 text messages a day. I would send about 10-15 a day some days about 40 depending on what's going on. you have to use predictive text, it's a pain to start with but once you get the hang of it you will never go back!

45. Andrea said the following at 5:00 PM on Dec 3:

I commented earlier but i was just browsing news on the bbc and saw this interesting article that reminded me of the post...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7761994.stm

evidently a surgeon saved a boys life using step-by-step instructions in texts messages.

pretty crazy

46. Matt from DC said the following at 7:26 PM on Dec 3:

Sara from #30,

You're going to hate me... I disagree with everything you wrote. While your rules are generally a good idea I have broken each of them.

"1)As mentioned, NEVER text while driving."
I started texting while driving by holding the phone at the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel so that I always could see the road, set the cruise control for my speed, and I was fine. Now that my texting ability has improved and since it is mildly distracting I have learned to text with the phone in one hand without looking at it. Driving with one hand off the wheel is something I'm comfortable with. When I'm done typing I'll give it a once over and press send.

"2)Please don't send mass texts like "Happy Thanksgiving." It's so impersonal, the equivalent of an email forward. Also, some people pay per text!"
Guilty as charged. I sent 30 texts the day before Thanksgiving when I traveled to my parent's house containing my simple hopes that each of them would have a happy thanksgiving. Over 80% replied and I even got into conversations with a handful of them. I wouldn't have talked to these people normally, was thinking about them, and sent along my well wishes. If I have somehow offended the sensibilities of the remaining 20% of them by wishing them a happy thanksgiving then I will have to carry on some how ;)

"3) If you are not positive the person you're texting has your number in their phone, PLEASE say your name in the text."
I've never included my name on a text and don't plan to. I also do not give much thought to the quality of other people's contact lists. Though when I leave voice mail I almost always leave my name, number, date, time, and message. When I check my voice mail I'm always wondering *when* other people left the message and I help them out. Maybe I'll reform my ways on this one... maybe... if I start texting people who don't know me. Couldn't you just reply "I'm so embarrassed, I don't have your name stored in my phone. Who is this?"

"4) Do not read or answer a text if you are in the middle of a conversation with someone."
If I receive an important or urgent phone call I will interrupt what I must. I do not do this frequently and I only do it around people I am rather comfortable with. The same thing applies to text messaging.

Other taboos I've broken with are:
1) Texting a wink to guys. According to some feminine authorities to send a ;) text to a guy is not good and to send one in reply to one received is even worse. I don't get this.
2) Asking a woman out using text. Just yesterday I send out a mass text letting a few people know that our dance group's class was canceled. I followed that up with a text to a woman I'm interested in... asking her out. It isn't the first date or our first meeting. She accepted and we're on for next week.

47. DannieA said the following at 9:45 PM on Dec 3:

Matt from DC

LOL....go out on that date :)

48. Amanda said the following at 8:45 AM on Dec 4:

I remember being asked out on a date through text message my freshman year of college. I feel like it has been a struggle to find men who don't want to use text messaging as their way of conversing. I guess that I consider myself old fashioned, but then again.....what happened to having a great conversation on the telephone?! I am not one to conform to this "texting only" generation.

49. Michelle said the following at 9:36 PM on Dec 4:

I agree with Sarah in post #30..I'm also 25 and use texts once in a while, but mostly prefer to actually speak to the person. I haven't used MSN in quite a long time too...way too much time spent, which is why I also held out on getting Facebook until recently.

I also agree with the posts about text etiquette - or cell phone etiquette altogether for that matter. I've seen too many people jump the second their phone rings to answer or reply to a text, while in mid-conversation with a real, live person in front of them. Or checking for texts multiple times during a conversation. Obviously, there are times when you might be waiting on important news...but, honestly? Most of the time it could wait.

How are we improving our communication with cell phones and texting if we're ignoring the person standing right in front of us?

Just a thought...

50. Mac said the following at 11:21 AM on Dec 5:

It seems like the biggest issue people have with texting is the fear it could turn you into an introvert, but I've found it's had the opposite effect on me. I've just moved cross country to a place where I know no one, but I've found it easier to make new friends among those who text. It soothes the inevitable beginning awkwardness that comes with "new" people, when someone can just text, "Have you seen Get Smart? It's playing at the dollar movie if you want to come with us tonight."

Actually, for like the first month of our relationship, my now husband and I were so painfully shy that we communicated mostly through instant messaging, even though we had most of the same friends already and lived on the same campus.

If you're shy at first, like me, I encourage you to try some social painkillers, like email, texts, Facebook, or even XBOX Live. You might find it actually INCREASES your amount of face to face time in "real life". It will also give you more to talk about when you do interact in real life. After all, nobody is handing out metals for social bravery.

51. Bethany in Denver said the following at 12:41 PM on Dec 5:

Honestly, texting is the just the ultimate way of multi-tasking. While you're in that boring meeting at work, you can check what your friends are up to and make plans for that night or weekend. Also, you can accomplish a lot at once - send out a text to 5 friends about where to meet up and when, without spending an hour on the phone. And since I've been working in an office environment, it's a great way to communicate without chit-chatting away (very rude in cubicle land.) As long as the usual rules of cell phone etiquette are followed, I think texting is GREAT!!

52. Sissy said the following at 3:36 PM on Dec 5:

I'm in my 20's, and I also don't text. I read texts from my friends though, who often forget that I can't text back (my parents' plan, we haven't subscribed to texting) and they tend to get rather annoyed when I respond to their text by a real call. :P

HoustonGal:

Yes, there is a way to turn off the auto-complete feature. My old phone had one. It's probably different for each phone, and to be honest I don't remember how I turned it off. It can be fun to sit there and play with it, though! Mindless amusement :)

Seriously, have you tried this? Just keep typing whatever it was you intended to say. On my phone, it would delete the auto-completed nonsense.

53. Olivia said the following at 1:27 PM on Dec 8:

I'm in college, and my friends and I constantly send texts to our circle of friends asking if they want to meet us for dinner, etc. #1 It was take FOREVER to call all of those people... #2 I normally get emails that say something to the same effect about five hours too late... #3 They don't have to interrupt what they were doing to answer my call, b/c a text doesn't require a response...

Sometimes I'm in a meeting or concert that runs late and I can just text the person I have plans with later and apologize for being late and tell them why, when calling wouldn't be an option!

I don't LIKE texting, but for a college student, it's a basic survival skill. ;-)

54. Leah said the following at 7:42 PM on Dec 9:

kari (25)- I don't think greetings or farewells on texts are strange or unnecessary, as long as they're not long. Say I'm texting someone to find out if they're attending the same party I am, I'd probably say something like

"hi, are you going 2 sally's 2nite? cya then". If I think the person might not have my number on their phone, i'll sign off with my name too so they know who it is.

So no "hi bob, how are you" or "I'll see you tomorrow". Short and sweet, but still there. I don't really like texts that *just* say "you going to sally's?" or similar.

Re: Sara's rules and Matt DC's comments about them...
"1)As mentioned, NEVER text while driving."
In Australia, it's against the law to be talking on the phone, texting on it, whatever. (Talking is ok if you have a handsfree kit).

"2)Please don't send mass texts like "Happy Thanksgiving." It's so impersonal, the equivalent of an email forward. Also, some people pay per text!"
I'd never PAY to send a mass message. (Except the annual Christmas letter!) I'm happy to send a mass greeting to people via email, because it's free.

"3) If you are not positive the person you're texting has your number in their phone, PLEASE say your name in the text."
Yeah, I agree. Otherwise you'll end up like this...
You: send message
Them: "who is this?"
You: send another message with name

You've just wasted money on 2 texts when you could have just included your name the first time. I don't usually put my name on it, but if it's someone whose number I don't have on my phone, I think chances are they won't have mine, so I'll include my name at the end.

Also regarding Matt's other taboo: "Asking a woman out using text."

Asking a woman who you're already dating via text is fine. But if it's a first date- seriously, man up and ask her AT LEAST talking on the phone! Although, I will laughingly admit my husband first asked me out via MSN. I will also admit I didn't give him much choice. We ended up in a conversation which headed down a certain road... and I kind of landed him with a decision to be made :P So not entirely his fault ;)

55. Matt from DC said the following at 10:01 AM on Dec 10:

Two quick points about my texting behavior.

1) I don't text where it is illegal to be doing so while driving - like Federal property.

2) I don't pay for individual texts. I get a whole bunch for a couple dollars a month. In fact, I like to get my "money's worth" out of what I pay for so sending mass-texts makes me feel better. Feeling better is not my motivation though.

L8 4 LNCH G2G

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