Can someone explain the appeal of text messages?

[Aspen and Misty]

I can see why talking to or seeing someone in person is awkward, who needs that personal contact?

Why should I..

Drive over to a friend's house to get a warm human hug?
Be able to see a tear in the corner of the same friend's eye when
she tells me she is down?
Have to look into those same eyes and watch them smile?
Share a soda or having to stay for a meal?
Sprawl out on a couch for an hour of two of TV?
put up with a crazy laugh, when I can sanitize it in a text message?

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I find it interesting you view text messaging in such an extreme way. I don't think there is one person in the world who, when they are feeling down wouldn't want a hug from a friend. I think text messeges are used more because your "I'll be there in 10" text messeges are much easier then a 2 minute phone conversation just to tell the other person you will be there in 10. And who cares if you talk to them on the phone or not if you will be face to face with that person in just a few minutes.

Ashley

[RICHARD]

In that case wouldn't it be just a silly to use a phone? not just text messages. Afterall you can't see a tear over the phone or get a warm hug or share a soda when talking on the phone. so in other words if we ever want to talk to someone I should just drop by every ten minutes

You are correct.

I do not own a cell phone and save the impoirtant stuff for important moments.

It is the 'constant' texting/phonecalls that really bring us closer together.
That way I don't have to listen to my SO/BF/GF/kids when I get home.

I have no problem with the tech...it's the abuse of it at the expense of each other that bugs me.

I used to get together with a friend who carried two cell phones and a beeper.

It got very old, very fast, to schedule a day for dinner, a concert or a sporting event and then HAVE to watch a cellphone induced Tourette's attack for three or four hours.

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I really was interested in his work calls or the "check in" calls back and forth from home.

"Honey, I love you, I'm drinking a beer"
"Honey, what are you doing-has the ball game started?"
(the volume on the cell is turned way up....)
"I'm on my way home!"

Like EFF, I used to have an umbilical cord. I think it was on my belly. I am too old to remember those days, so why relive them?


Because we are in contact with each other so frequently, we really don't have anything to say.


Yeah, it's nice to be able to use tech to make our lives easier, but it seems like the more we say over that tech, it just cheapens the content.

When beepers first made the scene, doctors were the only ones carrying them.

Good enough reason! Now that you can reach out and touch anyone, anytime I really don't find that getting a phonecall or a text to be that important.

Posting messages here at PT isn't as impersonal as you stated.
It's more a forum, place to park an opinion, sharing of thoughts, pets and advice.

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There are the people who cannot live with out their tech- I just choose to live my life without it.

There once was a guy named Pavlov who trained some dogs for an experiment.

He'd ring a bell, then feed them. Later on he just rang the bell without feeding them. He found out that they would drool when they heard a bell ring, because they thought it was chow time.

The next time you are stuck with a crowd of people watch their reaction when "the bell rings".

One will get fed, the others will just have to drool.

[sparks19]

Now in the cases you describe.... YES that gets very old very fast.

I don't know WHY anyone would want to have a cell phone glued to their ear 24/7.

I find especially rude to be out with someone and have them constantly on their cell phone instead of visiting with the person that came to see them.

with some people it does seem theywould rather talk to the person on the phone rather than the person that is right in front of their face and I really don't understand that.

But I am a sucker for my hubby lol and if I can hear from him during the day just to hear an I love you or just to hear his voice makes me feel better when I can't actually BE with him. Now of course I would rather BE with him.... but life dictates we cannot be together 24/7 lol and I definately don't ignore my guests to talk on my phone... that to me is just rude.

it does amaze me how many people find that to be perfectly acceptable though and that does annoy me.

and Of course I don't think pet talk is impersonal.... but I don't think a text from my hubby is impersonal either. I was just using it as an example

[KittyGurl]

I'm not aloud to text. It costs to much. If I do, my dad will take away my phone for a month!

[dab_20]

I'm not aloud to text. It costs to much. If I do, my dad will take away my phone for a month!

My dad told me if I went over my texts one more time, he'd take away my phone forever. He ended up giving me unlimited as long as I payed the low price of ten dollars a month for my share. It's 20 dollars for a family plan.

[.sarah]

I've never text messaged so maybe my view is biased but I don't like it. I'd rather talk to someone on the phone or in person, talking through text (over the phone or internet) is so impersonal to me. I think the only reason I like forums is because it's a chance to make new friends. I also generally don't talk to my friends over AIM, myspace, facebook, etc. even though I have all of them. I generally pick up my phone and call them to talk or see if they can go out somewhere. They all generally call me too, because they know I hate talking over the internet (and would hate talking through text messages as well)

[RICHARD]

Here ya go....this applies to everyone.

In the last few weeks I have noticed men in the rest room using their cell phones while standing at the urinal.

Yep he had to tuck in between his shoulder and cheek, but he had to hold on to the phone before he washed his hands.....


I can only imagine if guys use them while on the pot-you know, to text his pals.....

Lovely.

[jennielynn1970]

Here ya go....this applies to everyone.

In the last few weeks I have noticed men in the rest room using their cell phones while standing at the urinal.

Yep he had to tuck in between his shoulder and cheek, but he had to hold on to the phone before he washed his hands.....


I can only imagine if guys use them while on the pot-you know, to text his pals.....

Lovely.

EWWWW!!!! Just the image on that one is bad! Who wants to hear someone pee while on the phone?! Unless you're into that kind of thing, that's just nasty!

And then holding the phone before he washed his hands... so there's all kinds of funky stuff on the phone, which goes back up to his face. GROSS!!!

[RICHARD]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/si...?date=20070628