Text sucks

[johnholmes]

I hate it when people try to convey emotion in text and the message is completely ruined for a lack of emoticons or some other emotional indicator. I think the written English language should have honest to goodness emotion indicators (Spanish is much more forgiving in this regard thanks to much more "personalized" adjectives and nouns).

Discuss.

[KarrenOliver]

John, I would discuss, but I live in the dark ages and don't do texting. Now, my son and grandson could talk about it until the cows come home!!

P.S. The word is noun with no "d". I know, I'm a grammar freak!

[KellyMarie]

Johnathon, I wish you and your father came with some sort of emotion indicators :lol: (sorry..I shouldn't jack your thread)

[Heather]

I just hate that everyone wants to text or email now. Why not just dial the phone and call..speak in person!!

[Delissa]

Texting is convenient in some situations, but most of the time it's just annoying. Especially since text "speak" has boiled over into other venues! I cannot stand "u" "r" and the like. Seriously people it's only two more letters, stop abusing the English language please!!

[Tara]

I just hate that everyone wants to text or email now. Why not just dial the phone and call..speak in person!!

I have full hearing in 1 ear & 5% hearing in one ear, it makes hearing difficult at times - everything is monotone. I like written to spoken. Sorry for the thread hijack jh!

[Heather]

I have full hearing in 1 ear & 5% hearing in one ear, it makes hearing difficult at times - everything is monotone. I like written to spoken. Sorry for the thread hijack jh!

That makes sense. I guess I should think before I post, but my family members do it and they have no reason not to just call. Annoys me a little. I mean I understand sometimes it is easier to just text, but come on you can call sometimes. :)

[Tara]

:hug: its ok morefreeforme. I agree that people should call, its so much more personal than text or email.

[AshPriest]

Ok, I'll admit. I like to text. #1 because DH has meetings and is never in his office and will usually answer a text before he will the phone, #2 because my work won't allow me to answer my phone and every phone line we have is recorded and #3 it's usually easier for me to answer a text or read a text than to try to talk on the phone with all the kids running around. Just my opinion :)

[Allison]

I prefer text because you never know what me or my friends are up to so we don't want to interupt something. My friends have kids and work strange hours and I go to sleep early and dbf can't usually answer the phone at work. It works for me.
I do, however, text in full and complete sentences with proper spelling and punctuation. I completely agree about the emotion part. Short of saying "lol" you don't know if someone is being sarcastic or serious. It can cause plenty of confusion.

[Jeanne]

John, I would discuss, but I live in the dark ages and don't do texting.

same here KT, we are a non texting household!

[Rasha]

Being that I am 21 and texting is REALLY big in my generation... here I am to jump in :)

I love texting. It's the most convenient thing ever. When I am with my girlfriends, I don't want to be on the phone discussing a situation. I want to be focusing on them, so when the boyfriend sends a quick text reminding me of something, it's nice to be able to respond quickly. Likewise, when I am in class and there is something important that needs to be said and I can't make a phone call.

HOWEVER,

I will agree that texting has become overly done. For example: someone texting in a movie theater (this could be a whole debate on it's own) if you NEED to be texting someone and it's that darn important, leave the dang movie... Also, in class... This drives me crazy. I pay 3,000+ a semester to attend college and you bet your a$$ I will be paying attention so it annoys me when someone is sitting beside me texting.

Now, I am kinda off JH OP stating conveying emotion in text, yes that is very hard to do, but sometimes emotion can be conveyed... for example: my boyfriend works from 11-7 each day and they only get a 1 hour break in which I am in class at the time, so he well send cute text like: "I love you" or "You're my entire world" and it always makes me smile and I don't doubt it one bit the emotion in pure.

All in all I agree texting shouldn't replace over the phone or in person conversations.

Lissa: I agree with the shorten of words. Drives me crazy... I will use "idk" and things like that, but I hate when people use "r" or "u" Just annoying!

[johnholmes]

I was around when we invented things like "u" and "wtf". It was easy when we were all too lazy to type that stuff on ICQ or in chat rooms. Now I hate it - go figure.

[ChatWithVera]

The use of letters to represent words in chat and in texting (such as "U" "R" "MOS") has really gotten out of hand. I work in a school and am around my own grandchildren of all ages, and I am seeing such poor use of language skills. Of course, in talking with them they would say that it is the accepted norm for that form of communication. I, however, am seeing carryover into other forms where they should be more careful in their written language. But John, I do enjoy the little smiley faces, etc. and have to watch myself that they (or the typed versions of them) don't slip into areas where I need to be more correct. I don't have texting on my phone (don't pay for it ;) ).

But texting is used extensively and can be less intrusive than voice phone calls. The days my daughter sits in the chemo therapy chair for hours, she receives text messages and "texted pictures" of co-workers wearing the "Address Cancer T-shirt" that they bought to support my daughter's treatment. It is a great encouragement to her and doesn't disturb others around her.