I’ve wanted to write this post for a long time now because I want to get it out there in hopes that someone out there agrees with me. I have literally not met one person around my age who does.
I hate texting. Almost as much as I hate Arrested Development.
Texting is fine if you have something quick to say (“I just got here. Where are you?” or “What time do you want to meet?”) but it baffles me how people can have extended conversations through text messaging. It’s just so slow—it could take five minutes to say something through texting when it would take thirty seconds on the phone. I thought that once I got my new phone I’d like texting more, but no such luck.
But I’m not so sure I want to like it, anyway. I just want the rest of the world not to like it so much, for many reasons.
First of all, I hate the way there’s no clear way to end the conversation. When you’re on the phone, you say, “Well, I have to go take a shower/do laundry/go to bed,” say goodbye, and hang up. When you text, sometimes one person thinks the conversation is over when the other doesn’t. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people freak out because someone (usually a romantic interest) didn’t text them back. Um, maybe they thought the conversation was over? Or maybe they just got sick of texting and didn’t feel like responding? Also, like with instant messaging, it’s really hard to communicate tone of voice, so you might end up misunderstanding something someone texts. There are no clear rules on texting etiquette, so it’s easy to misinterpret someone’s texts, or lack of texts.
And speaking of etiquette, why do people think it’s okay to sit there and text while talking to you? I get so annoyed when I’m at dinner with friends or at a party and someone is texting while trying to have a conversation with me. Seriously? I’m not worth your full attention because you have something to say to someone else that can’t wait until you’re done talking to me to my face? Just because I can’t hear what you’re saying doesn’t make it any less rude. I know that we’ve become a generation of multitaskers who have to do everything at the same time, which is part of the appeal of texting, but just because you can text while doing something else doesn’t always mean you should.
I find it profoundly depressing that teenagers today (look at me—twenty-six and already talking about “kids today”) text more often than they make calls. What’s going to happen when they get out into the business world? At work, I know that there are some conversations you have through email and some you have on the phone, and a lot of times it’s easier to get things done via phone. You just need to hear people’s voices sometimes. How will today’s teenagers know how to interact with people on the phone for work if they can’t even call their friends now?
I know that a lot of people feel awkward on the phone sometimes—I do sometimes, too—but do they really feel awkward talking to their friends? Don’t they ever miss the sound of their friends’ voices, especially friends who live far away? I know I do. Are people today really so busy that they can’t set aside the time to talk to people?
Is there really not anyone else who feels this way? I don’t like sounding like a cranky old person, but this is one thing that just gets on my nerves like nothing else.
I'm 25…and I totally agree. I absolutely hate when I'm hanging out with friends, and they are texting the whole time. I understand if you are talking to someone else who is coming to join (and it's too loud to make a phone call), but that's not usually the case.
However, I really hate it when it comes to a dating interest. Really? Grow some and actually call me on the phone. How will we find enough conversation to talk on a date if you can't even call me on the phone?
So…I'm in agreement with you completely. Even though I'm really not one of those people who has my phone glued to me either…but that's a whole new rant : )
I'm 25…and I totally agree. I absolutely hate when I'm hanging out with friends, and they are texting the whole time. I understand if you are talking to someone else who is coming to join (and it's too loud to make a phone call), but that's not usually the case.
However, I really hate it when it comes to a dating interest. Really? Grow some and actually call me on the phone. How will we find enough conversation to talk on a date if you can't even call me on the phone?
So…I'm in agreement with you completely. Even though I'm really not one of those people who has my phone glued to me either…but that's a whole new rant : )
I have to point out that the average texting speed for people under 30 is 70 words a minute. (Which I think is a little insane.) So something that feels like it takes forever for you, doesn't necessarily take forever for others. Though I totally agree that there are times when people should just call. Sending a text is fine some of the time, but not at others. It's all about appropriateness.
I agree with you that the texting while you're talking to someone is annoying and rude. It drives me nuts when people do that. For Hunger Strike I actually take the kids' phones and lock them up. Some of them go into total withdraw. I've actually seen them texting in their sleep when they don't have their phones. I'm sorry, but if you're dreaming about texting you need to find a new mode of conversation.
I also know people (I can think of 3 off the top of my head) who keep their phone on vibrate so that they can wake up at any hour of the night and text back and forth with their friends. If you're sharing a room with someone it's just annoying because I wake up every time they do. Why the hell do you need to respond to your friends' 4am drunk texts? Then they wonder why they're so tired in the morning. Duh.
But the really dangerous thing is texting while driving. That's just stupid.
I have to point out that the average texting speed for people under 30 is 70 words a minute. (Which I think is a little insane.) So something that feels like it takes forever for you, doesn't necessarily take forever for others. Though I totally agree that there are times when people should just call. Sending a text is fine some of the time, but not at others. It's all about appropriateness.
I agree with you that the texting while you're talking to someone is annoying and rude. It drives me nuts when people do that. For Hunger Strike I actually take the kids' phones and lock them up. Some of them go into total withdraw. I've actually seen them texting in their sleep when they don't have their phones. I'm sorry, but if you're dreaming about texting you need to find a new mode of conversation.
I also know people (I can think of 3 off the top of my head) who keep their phone on vibrate so that they can wake up at any hour of the night and text back and forth with their friends. If you're sharing a room with someone it's just annoying because I wake up every time they do. Why the hell do you need to respond to your friends' 4am drunk texts? Then they wonder why they're so tired in the morning. Duh.
But the really dangerous thing is texting while driving. That's just stupid.