I know that if you are like me, sometimes when I’m texting my parents will say something like “Why don’t you just call them?” or “You are going to get carpal tunnel in your thumbs you text so much!” Most of the time I think they are kidding but at one particular family dinner last year my dad actually took my phone from me after I was caught texting under the table.
It’s kind of funny to think about how reliable we are on our cell phones for texting. I send at least a few texts when I wake up, all day during and between classes, plenty throughout work and dinner and I even sleep with my phone in the bed with me. We text while walking, talking to other people, and even when we drive. It's a major way that our generation stays connected.
Older generations claim that texting is impersonal, but is it really? I think that you can still put your personality into a text. Of course it isn’t the same as actually talking face to face or even on the phone, but it most situations I think texting is a valuable resource. Sometimes a situation can be handled much easier with a simple text and sending a text from Mexico is definitely much cheaper than calling. I personally don’t see this age of texting as a problem. Through text messaging we are able to stay better connected with people from everywhere at almost any time. So what if a little personality is lost along the way. For convenience sake, I think text messaging is a wonderful tool in our society.
My parents often jump on my back about the same issue. My dad used to ask why I didn't just call my friends and it always amused him as I struggled to come up with an intelligent response. My personal favorite was when he broke down our cell phone bill and figured out how many texts I sent per minute assuming I slept 7 hours a night. (3.5 texts a minute). But I agree with your viewpoint that, as a part of our generation it's something that has become second nature for our generation and in many ways has helped us improve multitasking. With my blackberry I now send texts and emails as much as I call people and can often figure out social plans and talk to business contacts while enjoying lunch with a couple friends. Certainly the change in social networking has affected our generation, but can't we argue that it has affected our generation in a positive way?
ReplyDeleteAveraging 3.5 a minute? That's some intense texting!
ReplyDeleteI personally much prefer texting to talking on the phone. This has become especially true in college because it is so difficult to find a private place to talk to someone. I don't have service in my room or the lounge, so the only time I get to talk on the phone is when I'm outside. I would much rather text someone if I don't want everyone around me to hear my conversation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can see where people can misinterpret one another through text messages. I am a very sarcastic person, at that kind of humor does not come off in texts. So, I often rely on the smiley face :). But I disagree with people who say that peoples' personalities don't come across in texts. I have friends that use way too many exclamation points!!!!!! I have others that respond in one word texts. With the amount of texts people send now of days, these types of cues were bound to present themselves.
I am able to identify with your point about phones as security blankets as well. I have my phone with me 24/7! When I was required to leave my phone in my room for rush week, I started having phantom vibrations. In other words, I would feel my phone vibrate, but I didn't have my phone with me. It is definitely comforting to be able to reach anyone right away if I need to. I think I am too dependent on my phone now, because I NEVER turn it off! I don't think it's going to get better any time soon either.
I am one of those people who are constantly texting. Even when I wake up, I sometimes find that I sent a message or responded to someone’s message while I was sleeping. Weird, I know. But, I don’t think I could live without texting, much less my phone!
ReplyDeleteEven my 92-year-old grandpa texts. I taught him as a way to relieve pains he gets in his hands from arthritis. Not only has this helped his health, but it has also given us a way to talk more often.
Like many, I prefer texting to calling. I think it is so much easier and a lot more convenient, especially when all you want to say is “hi.” Phone calls can be awkward if all you want to do is see what someone is doing or how their day is going. The two times I find it easier to call: if I have to tell someone something that is too long to type or if it is extremely important. Other than that, I think texting is perfectly fine.
Thyrston, I know exactly what you mean about feeling your phone vibrate when you don't even have it! And it felt so strange not having my cell phone during rush week. After the first day of rush when I finally got back to my phone, people were mad at me since I hadn't texted back all day long. We have turned into such an impatient society that expects immediate responses. We are required to always carry our phones with us JUST IN CASE someone needs to contact us. Yeah, texting is convenient and it seems like you are keeping in contact with others, but could texting actually cause your friendships to dwindle? I just wrote my paper on how society has become "too connected". Texting leads to impersonal communication, and we are no longer fully engaged with the people around us. Next time you are out to eat with friends, try to keep from looking at your phone during the whole dinner. You will soon find out exactly what I mean when I say we are "too connected!"
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE fan of "Tough Love", a new TV show on VH1 that helps single woman learn the "proper" ways to act when dating. One of the lessons was communication, and their love coach Steve taught them the ways in which they should and should not communicate with potential partners. I think he makes a good point when explaining to the girls that all forms of communication should be personal, such as over the phone or in person. He also explains that someone should NEVER text message a potential partner, because people can be easily lost in translation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I know that when I was in high school, text messaging was the modern day way of passing notes. I got little "love- texts" from boyfriends, and had in depth conversations with friends while in class. Yet, I do see how feelings could be misinterpreted through text messaging. I remember if a boy took extra long to text back, then I thought he wasn't interested, which wasn't always the case. I am also a very sarcastic person so sometimes people thought I was being rude when I was, in all actuality, just kidding. But, like any technological tool there will always be pros and cons, I guess you just have to decide personally if texting is good for you or not.