Text Messaging
I just wrote this after being inspired by a conversation with my cousin. It was meant to be more of a rant, but I think it turned into an essay, but anyways, let me know what you think.
It's pissing me off. I'm tired of walking around seeing all my friends with their head hanging down staring at a 2" screen furiously trying to input condensed "words" (if they can even be called that) into messages which will be sent to someone by use of a device with both a microphone and a speaker. They then wait, sometimes for an hour or more, to get a response with three words on it. This get's to me even more when I'm riding shotgun, only to yell at my friend who, instead of actually driving, is again, staring at that magical little 2" screen. This all culminates in what seems to be our generation having poor interpersonal skills, and a fear of actually conversing with people. There may be some instances of text based messages being more practical, but for the rest of the times I ask, what is wrong with using a telephone in the way which it was intended?
I don't think people around me comprehend exactly how stupid they look while texting. It is almost as if as soon as the cell phone is removed from their pocket, and the white, empty pages opens, ready to carry the impending message, a person's brain simply shuts off and they become a mindless zombie. With a blank stare in their eyes, and mouth seemingly waiting for brains to enter, they commence their fingers darting around the number pad converting numerals to letters. Finally, they push the magical “send” button and the trace is broken. But some of their conscience is freed not by sending the message, but by receiving another one in response. Sometimes it takes 2 minutes, sometimes, it just never comes. Sometimes, this is because the recipient is not near their cell phone, or they are typing a response during the waiting period, but apparently there is another issue with it. Often my friends will suddenly look across the room at someone and exclaim “Wow! I just got that text now!” I’ve seen this happen up to 24 hours after the message was sent. Regardless of the wait, I always have to put up with “he hasn’t texted me back yet” or “I think she’s over her text limit”. But I find there is a simple solution to this problem, call them. This involves no waiting, no messages getting lost in where ever they go between phones, no typing, and best of all no consumption of “braaaaiiiiiiinnnssssss”.
Some of today’s biggest issues seem to be regarding automobiles. Drunk driving, irresponsible driving, and more recently, cell phones and driving. Now I’m not going to say that talking on a cell phone and driving is a safe thing to do. Studies have proven it isn’t. However, through my own experiences (and common sense) I can say that talking to someone while watching the road, even if only one hand is on the wheel, is much safer then staring at one’s phone and using both hands to type out a message. Most people think it’s obvious something like reading a book while driving is a stupid idea, but have no problem with reading text messages while driving. I have personally, or heard stories where my friends have ended up taking onramps going in the opposite direction of the destination, running red lights, and almost hitting many things because the driver is texting. Yet they all continue to do it.
With all this time spent only actually reading what each other have to say, many people I know seem now hesitant to actually call someone. It’s a fear, no, I think a full blown phobia (one I have unscientifically named telecomuniphobia), of having to ask “Could I please speak with Jordan?” Instead, they either refuse to call them, or (and I’m not joking, I know many people who do this) hang up if someone else answers the phone. And on the other end telecomuniphobia is carried on. Those people I know without caller ID on their phones nearly always refuse to answer it unless they are specifically expecting a call. Why? I don’t know. I grew up without caller ID on my home phone until I was about 15, and I got along rather well in life without it. Sure When I was home alone I wasn’t supposed to answer the phone, but children at that age shouldn’t have a cell phones anyways, so let’s just move on. Not only did I live for that long without it, my parents went even longer, and my grandparents I still don’t think have it. I have never known any of them to be shy or afraid to ask if someone other than the person who answers the phone is home. In fact, sometimes they actually have a conversation the person on the other end. In a few rare cases I’ve found telecomuniphobia can extend its effects to interpersonal encounters. When one of my friends is coming to pick me up, I will often notice his car pull up in the drive way, followed by my phone ringing (that being only because I don’t have a cell, and thus cannot receive texts). Yes, he does not want to come to my door because he’s apparently scared of people’s parents…and he likes mine. In the case of other people this is not something I will often notice, but something I always notice. Even when he was going on a double date, he sent the other guy to go to his own date’s door. People of society, I think if we do not do something soon this will become an epidemic.
Now, I am obviously quite against text messaging. However, I think there are some instances in which text based communication is more practical then audio communication, and I think it only fair to acknowledge them. Instant messengers allow us to communicate with multiple people individually, or as a group. Forums would take hours to load if everything was recorded on audio files. E-mails are sometimes more appropriate then calling depending on the use (ie: mass e-mails, sometimes business, attachments…). And sometimes you may need information, but don’t have anything to write on. A text message is an easy way to keep that with you. And finally (although not exactly a [i]good[/] use always) sometimes you need to be quiet or discreet. Maybe someone is asleep in the room next to you, or there is a lot of noise, or you’re supposed to be paying attention in class. In those cases I see nothing wrong with it, but outside of this, I think texting is being outright overused and abused.
I think the thing that annoys me most about all this is that it’s preventing me from getting a phone. I’m starting to realize that a cell phone will soon be necessary for me to keep up with everything and everyone I have in my life. However I don’t want to become a drooling text zombie like so many others I have watched descend into that pit of telecomuniphobia. Every plan I see seems to have something about “unlimited text”, “free texting to friends”, “never have a need to use the microphone!”, and other nonsense along that line. Why can’t I get something practical? Something that’ll let me call my cousins across the country. Something to let me use my phone between the hours of 5 am 11:30 PM? Why isn’t there a plan which will let me use my phone as a telephone, and not msn?
In conclusion, society today has become too dependent on text messaging. People would rather look like a zombie staring at a tiny screen then talk to another person. They would rather wait for hours, then get an instant response. They would rather miss a call all together then talk to someone they aren’t good friends with. It may be handy sometimes, but like everything else in life, texting needs to have some moderation. I one day hope I can find the phone plan for me, but until then I will remain opposed to the over use of text messaging.
07-09-2009, 04:46 PM
