Txt or Text ? (The Joy And Pain Of Mobiles)
Love it or hate it, texting seems to be the number one form of communication these days, it can be a pain all the same.
Although I have slowly embraced texting over the past few years, I cannot bring myself to write in lazy text and still use full words and punctuation. Spelling has to be correct too; "rite just doesn't seem right" said David Wright on the Word site today.
Are you a lazer texter or full English text like me?
I haven't changed my old Nokia for over three years now. I can't be bothered with the hassle of trying to work a new phone and reckon if I hang onto my old silver thing for a few more years, it will soon gain retro cool status. It's scratched and battered like my old Escort, which I fear may not pass its forthcoming M.O.T.
Fellow Word Bloggers, was life easier or harder before the creation of texting? What pain and joy has your mobile phone brought you?
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I'm with you on the syntax...
... I always spell out words fully.
However, I do change my phone every couple of years (just got a new one last week-end actually).
I'm a bit of an avid texter. I send over 600 texts a month. Not sure if that is much in comparison to everyone else but it looks like a hell of a lot when I see it written down like that!
Pretty necessary part of my life now.
No lngwistk shrt cts
Language is dying all by itself without any help from me. However, I believe texting to be among the most economically perfect methods of communication: no small talk like on the phone; you say what you mean and then you stop without even saying goodbye.
I always think
"sad bastard trying to be cool and trendy" whenever I see txtspk from anyone over the age of about 30. Somehow doesn't seem right seeing it from a 40 year old mother of three!!
Predictive text....
..is at least is preserving the thoroughly appropriate tyranny of spelling, but the occasional glance is still required for those odd words it predicts incorrectly. Drives my missus mad who prefers to dot 'em out more slowly and laboriously (sp?)
I like it but agree about the sadness of ctch u l8r
yeah - i know a bloke whose
girl got quite insensed when he said he wanted to 'kick her puppy'...
My kids
fall over laughing when I text them. Takes me ages and I always include full spelling and grammar. However now I have a Blackberry with a proper QWERTY keyboard things have speeded up greatly.
Proper spelling & grammar
...for me. I try and make sure I read them before sending as well just to make sure predictive text has actually said what I want to say !
It's definitely changed communication. We were at the pub one night and a group of teenagers were at an adjoining table - one was on the phone to her mate, two others were texting constantly and the other one was playing a game on his phone. Barely talking to the people they'd actually come out with.
Texting causes its' share of problems though. Mrs H has fallen out with someone before now because of a text she sent them by mistake.
We also had a bit of a chuckle when one of the guys at work came out with "it's a shame you can't add tone of voice to a text" when one of his messages had been completely misinterpreted.
Tone of voice....
Like here, you mean, for when someone spits venom at the rest, but in a fond fatherly way? Somehow ;-) doesn't quite convey enough irony/sarcasm, delete as appropriate or whether on giving end or receipt.
A Weirdo Writes
I’m neither sheepish, ashamed or proud of this, but I’ve never sent a text message or owned a mobile phone. I’m no luddite (I’m sending a blog entry on a web site, for a start) and I can see that they’re useful (and, I have to admit, whenever I’ve really needed to use one, you can borrow someone else’s). One of the running jokes in Reggie Perrin was Tom, Reggie’s son-in-law, anxiously leaving contact numbers for where he’d be every minute of the day. The joke was that his behaviour was neurotic and self-important in that he believed it was absolutely vital that he could be contacted at all times. And I suppose the funny thing now is that everyone’s like that. I’m not vigorously opposed to mobiles, or texting, and sometimes think I ought to get one, but I’ve never felt a pressing need or desire to do so. I’ve rubbed along without so far.
Emergency situations!!
Wife and young kids in the car, out walking alone etc. etc.
You don't need to be contactable at all, but being able to make contact at any time should be a weight off your mind.
I too, have never sent a text message. I've received a few but I have to get my kids to operate the phone then relay the message.
Crisis? What crisis?
Maybe it's just me, but I don't seem to get into emergency situations. I'm not a wife or a kid, and I'm quite happy to walk on my own, thank you.
I'm not a complete anti-mobile nazi, really I'm not - but I do think their use ought to be severely restricted. Perhaps they could be attached to people's houses to make sure they don't annoy the rest of use by using their phones inconsiderately. They could be plugged into the wall of the hallway, living room or bedroom and designed so that they won't work if unplugged. I would let people have a length of flex to allow some movement - as I said, I'm not a complete nazi - and perhaps the flex could be curly to allow for extra distance form the wall if required.
There! A phone as mobile as anyone could require but designed so that they can't be used for evil.
Although
I endeavour to ensure correct text and grammar in my SMS messages, it has been proved that writing in 'text speak' does not damage general literacy and, in fact, may result in greater levels of literacy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article584810....
Abreviation
I sometimes use "U" to save space, but that's about it. I especially hate open ended sentences, I get a few that I think are questions, but have no question mark at the end.