Re: Why Text Message
 

Honestly, I hate being contacted by phone. When my cell phone buzzes the first words to come to my mind are "who" and "why." I rarely carry my phone with me around the house so I have a toooooon of missed calls and I don't like sifting through voicemails. My father has found out that if he texts me, it is much more likely that I will respond faster. I don't mean to stray off topic here, but just because someone is texting doesn't make it any less rude when they are in certain social situations. I took a girl out recently and she texted the entire night. When I have jokingly called her out on it, she said "Well its not like I was on the phone." Thank God I only took her to Bojangles. I went through a drive through just this morning and had to wait a full minute while someone finished a text message. However, if I had as much facial hair as she did (and if I were a female) I'd probably stay inside and text rather than show myself in public. Sorry for the rant. Screw texting.

Re: Why Text Message
 

I hear ya,,,glad I'm older and not having to be in a position where I needed to date and have to deal with some hooch that would try to explain why she needed to text the whole time we're on a date,,,,she'd have been on the receiving end of my old tactic of,,,," s'cuse me, but I need to use the restroom" and then hit the exit by the bathroom and drive the F off and let her deal with the ,,,,what happened to my date? I did that probably a half dozen times in my day,,,

Re: Why Text Message
 

I text, but I dislike it. I have 2 reasons to do it though.

1) One of my very good friends now lives in Virginia, and talking on the phone is impractical and costly, so I just text her.

2) Sometimes I need to have an entire conversation with someone across town without turning my attention from the teacher :D

Re: Why Text Message
 

I don't like to call people if I don't have to. If I'm texting someone it's for stupid crap or to keep up with my fiancee in places where she can't talk (law school study rooms ect). I'd rather text someone and let them get back to me when they have time. I texted frank and anita to ask them about batteries for a wii controller. I could ahve called but they could have been eaten or playing with the grand kids ect and I didn't want to interrupt them so I figured a text would work better.

Re: Why Text Message
 

I sent my response to your phone.

Re: Why Text Message
 

Because sometimes I just need to make a statement or send a quick reminder.... Or I'm bored at work and want to have a convo with my BFF which I don't want to share with my cubemates.

All that being said, I agree with a lot of the things that have been said in this thread so far in regard to the appropriate time and place. Nothing makes me crazier than when I'm trying to have a serious and/or constructive conversation with someone and they keep pickin up their phone.

Re: Why Text Message
 

I see we have quite a few Luddites on this board...

Re: Why Text Message
 

Kinda like using a forum instead of meeting friends face to face? ;) Sometimes texting is just more convenient.

Re: Why Text Message
 

You most certainly didn't get it from me. :mad::fl

But if you want to be added to the list, check out the Masshole Text Message Distribution List in the Masshole Banter Thread. :D Buyer, er, beware.

OMG :r:r:r:

:r

I don't text too much; shut up Bao, Scott, Greg, Moe & Bob....but sometimes, it's handy. As we've become more & more busy, less available & more & more a multi-tasking ADD, impersonal society, it's, well, sometimes okay to follow suit. Some of my clients prefer it, prefer IM's to phonecalls (shut up Scott :D); it's just the way things have gone. And it is damn handy sometimes. Try it & you'll figure it out after a bit. But Mike's right, I think it's actually legal in California to beat someone about the head if they whip out the celly during a movie. That's one of the reasons I have what's called a 'DVD player'. :D

And I even text the wife phone numbers & such, little love notes too, to try to make up for my impersonal foibles that I've been forced to perform by society.

Re: Why Text Message
 

Was JUST about to say that too!

Re: Why Text Message
 

I doubt we have any 19th century English workmen here

Re: Why Text Message
 

Ok, I think I'm almost ready to loose my Texting Virginity, Thanks for all the good posts. Now if I can figure out if my phone has texting - LOL

Re: Why Text Message
 

And how do I get my VCR to stop flashing 12:00 AM. I'm a tech support nightmare. Oh well, I'll have a smoke while I'm on hold

Re: Why Text Message
 

Ain't technology grand? Many cool ways to communicate that didn't exist even 15 years ago. More being invented almost daily.

I view more communications options as a good thing. Sometimes you want to be out of communications, but that's what the "off" (aka, "my battery died") button is for.

I appreciate that I have a wide diversity of friends and that I have a wide diversity of ways to keep in touch. I think that one of my fave text messages is "can you skype now?" :D

As for people who insist on making their phone call public by talking loudly in stores, well, I've taken to walking up to them and loudly talking back. I'm about 80% in getting the person to leave the store - so far, no harassment charges have been filed. Oh yeah, if you pull out your cell phone and talk loudly into it while following the original rude person, bystanders will laugh their asses off.

Re: Why Text Message
 

^^^ I wish portable cell phone jammers for private use were legal in the US. If they were I would get one NOW. I could definitely use one for my business, for starters.

Re: Why Text Message
 

If you send me a text message it would probably not be wise to hold your breath waiting on a reply.

Re: Why Text Message
 

i wondered the same thing...especially while i'm texting my friends

Re: Why Text Message
 

I use it primarily when I'm some place loud, or know the person I'm trying to reach is some place loud (like a bar) and need to send them a short message ("We're at Sweeny's Saloon until 10").Then it's VERY handy.

Or during the day at work. I can send out a quick message covertly and know they can read it without having their cell to their ear, checking their voicemail.

Re: Why Text Message
 

You know, I only ever did that once to a date, and while awesome at the moment, I couldn't help but feel like a major douchebag later. I've never had a date walk out on me, I can only imagine how much of a blow to anyone's pride it would be. Kudos to you for being so callous.

On topic, I text all the time. I receive a number of texts from friends throughout the day, I bother people on here with texts, and texting is about the only communication I have with my sister at this point lol.

Re: Why Text Message
 

Texting sure beats sending smoke signals :ss

Re: Why Text Message
 

Nope, we just hate automated looms.

For the most part I hate having a cell phone. People can find me whenever they want, not when I want. Of course, I can turn the dang thing off, but then I get told off later so it doesn't really save me any trouble.

On a more positive note, I did use text messages today to ask a friend's girlfriend if he'd ever tried Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey because his birthday (12/25) is coming up. They're glued to the hip on weekends and he'd hear if I called, but I could probably get a text message under the radar.

Re: Why Text Message
 

My work environment is very noisy, so it makes having a conversation with someone over the phone very difficult. Texting works as it's a quick form of communication, plus it leaves a nice breadcrumb trail to follow back.

Plus it helps I have unlimited texts versus limited minutes with my calling plan. However, I know most people don't have similar arrangements so I try to be responsible about the frequency of texts I do send out. You won't find me sending out 10k messages out like you see some kids. And mine have complete sentences, with grammar and correct spelling! :D

Re: Why Text Message
 

2 reasons:

1. I got hooked on txting in the restaurant business. While on a shift, we can't make phone calls, especially with high-maintenance tables. So the natural thing is to step out of the dining room, shoot a txt, and get the return when you get the chance to read it.

2. ...now that being said, I have friends in Cali and NYC with whom I never actually talk on the phone. We're great friends in person, but we simply don't like to talk on the phone. A phone call can be inconvenient, whereas a txtmsg you don't have time for, can be returned whenever you feel like it. Basically, it's gone the route of email. Initially a quick message to pass along information, and now a major means of communication. I even do business over txt now!

Re: Why Text Message
 

PM me your number so I can text you :D

Re: Why Text Message
 

You are my hero... :r

Re: Why Text Message
 

I had a friend that did this, he was may'be 4 years younger than me. He said everyone in class freaked out when their cellphones stopped working. Why not just buy one and say the building is blocking it? It's believable... :hm

As for texting, it doesn't matter to me if I text or talk on the phone because I'm good either way. But, it does matter who is calling and if I want to talk to them :rolleyes: My boss gets over 100+ phone calls a day on top of emails/texts, and I'd go insane if that was me.