text messaging

[tannish2]

people seem to love it, i just cant figure out why
to me it seems like taking a few steps back in communication, having to manually encode/decode things on either end, and having to press the same button multiple times to get a letter and the tiny crappy UI's?

can someone please explain this? or confirm my suspicions?

[Tom_Violence]

having to manually encode/decode things on either end

A bit like reading your posts then.

Ba-dom... oh whatever, I'll be here all week, etc.

[Reinboom]

I, for one, do not like my voice - and I'm a bit too quiet at times.
Also, information - such as numbers, addresses, etc. can be sent via text message and is held in easily obtainable format at one's beck and call.
Also, I for one, HATE voice mail. So it makes a good 'anytime answering machine'.

[FdL]

Well, that's if you don't take into account the fact that with a little machine in your hand you cand communicate with another person no matter where they are, potentially all over the world.

As Tom said, not very different from email or forum posting.

I won't get into debating whether this is positive or not for human relations, or if it's an evolution or a regression for mankind. It's an interesting technological advance, and it's very useful.

[Cyrano]

I enjoy spending hours using an awful replacement for a computer constantly, and my computer has voice mail.
I!
AM!
AMODERNTEENAGER!

Just kidding, I actually don't hate life.
But I AM contradictory, which is the entire reason behind text.

[DreadArchon]

people seem to love it, i just cant figure out why
to me it seems like taking a few steps back in communication,

No, that's forums.

having to manually encode/decode things on either end,

Also forums.

and having to press the same button multiple times to get a letter

Your phone doesn't have T9Word? Well, suffice to say that many phones only require one press per letter for normal words (i.e. not names or number strings). They have dictionaries built in and they'll guess at what you're trying to say, usually quite well (and you can hit "0" to cycle through guesses, such as if you need "cat" instead of "act").

and the tiny crappy UI's?

I adjusted my font size, and it's fine now.

can someone please explain this? or confirm my suspicions?

Using T9Word, most people I talk to via text end up with proper spelling, capitalization, and sometimes grammar and sentence structure. Since it's difficult to understand speech, this makes texting a very clear and reliable form of communication. More so than your original post.

It's also easy to save things for reference, which often matters.

It's also quiet, which often matters.

[The Prince of Cats]

I hate text messaging, having dealt with almost 8 years of it by now. I mean, I know people who turn off T9 to save characters (150 to a message, must be sparing with them) and churn out "R U cmin 2nite?" and other such monstrosities. I keep my mobile turned off just to keep these people from assaulting my eyes with their Neanderthal communication skills.

I have honestly had to ask my wife to translate sometimes...

[banjo1985]

I must say I text message almost exclusively, my phone voice isn't the best, and it's often easier to and cheaper to text than to phone someone outright...

However I am an anti-social whatchamacallit so go figure

[Ceska]

For me it's cheaper to just call than to message. First, I'm really really bad at it, thus it takes me very long, second I'm good at keeping it short if I want, thus it takes me not more than one or two minutes, which costs me less than actually messaging.

[Hannes]

Text messaging is actually a step forward! Imagine you having to communicate with your boss while extremely drunk. Instead of slurring all over the phone, you can write text messages, which you can proofread and edit before sending, which DOESN'T end in an embarrassing moment next time you see him.

[Charity]

Ikkie has lead me over to the darkside... I use predictive text.

[KuReshtin]

I love text messaging. To be honest I prefer texting people and because of that, I got me a phone that takes that into account.

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Nokia 6820 - With full Flip-up Qwerty keyboard.
It's awesome.

Also, I talk on the phone for a living, so if I can get away with not having to talk on the phone on my free time, I'll try to avoid it.

[Dispozition]

I use it because it's much, much cheaper, and I'm a cheap ass...

To call someone, even if it only lasts about 10 seconds, costs at least 50 cents...a text is 33...So, go figure...

Also, it's just easier in general, unless it's a long string if texts, in which case it's annoying as hell, but still

[banjo1985]

To call someone, even if it only lasts about 10 seconds, costs at least 50 cents...a text is 33...So, go figure...

33 cents?! Good god, I'll never complain about paying 3p for a text message ever again, that's outrageous!

[Dispozition]

33 cents?! Good god, I'll never complain about paying 3p for a text message ever again, that's outrageous!

3p...Wtf, so cheap...Is that a plan or prepaid? Mine is prepaid, so that's most likely why, but still...3p?

[banjo1985]

It's pre-paid too. Though that is only to the same network, otherwise it's 10p, but that's still better than 33 cents...

Having said that, they do take you for a ride when you call, so I suppose it levels out!

[The Prince of Cats]

3p...Wtf, so cheap...Is that a plan or prepaid? Mine is prepaid, so that's most likely why, but still...3p?

That is fairly normal for the UK. I think I pay 5p for a text message, maybe 7p, but I seem to remember that we have had texts for longer than you. They started out quite expensive over here in late '99 and then got cheaper.

[Ikkitosen]

Ikkie has lead me over to the darkside... I use predictive text.

Texts are great when you want to convey info your "listener" needs to remember since they have it recorded. Texts are also less of an interruption to receive, so I can text someone I know is busy and I know that I won't be dragging them away - they can just get back to me when they're free.

Also, predictive text ftw (oh, the irony). Proper spg is important to me. Saving one of my free monthly texts by using "l8r" isn't.

And for a relative oldie I text very quickly, so it's not like they're onerous to write either.

[Timberwolf]

I hate it. It takes me twice as long to write a text as it does to ring someone and say what I want.

And then there's text speak, words fail me (or rather the forum filter) so I can't adequately write my impressions of it down.

[Ikkitosen]

I hate it. It takes me twice as long to write a text as it does to ring someone and say what I want.

What if they're busy when you call though? Texts are a great "fire and forget" messaging system, you don't have to call back later or whatever.

[Timberwolf]

It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Believe me, I hate texts that much. Besides, I have a stupidly overpowered phone contract that I have some huge amount of rollover minutes for. Time on the phone is nothing to me anymore (until October anyway when I can see about getting it down a bit)

[Charity]

Spoiler

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Nokia 6820 - With full Flip-up Qwerty keyboard.
It's awesome.

I used to have one of them *sob*
Now I am forced to use the darkarts of predictive text.

I loved the way the screen flipped round when you open it up as well... *sigh* Oh those Halcion days...

[Mr Croup]

I use text messaging a decent amount. It's a convenient means of communicating when you're in a situation where you can't actively talk on the phone, but need to get a bit of info out to somebody. As far as efficiency goes, my phone has a full QWERTY keyboard, so I don't have to bother with multiple button pushing or T9 mistakes.

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Personally, I can't stand abbreviated text speak, or whatever you want to call it. I'd rather spend a couple sense more and send two messages than truncate everything down to that short hand gibberish. But then, I don't pay per individual text message, so it's not an issue for me anyways.

[North]

Yeah i didnt do the text messaging as much before but its really easier. Its also nice to be able to converse back n forth at work and such. And I love the fact I can just ask someone a question without having to make meaningless chatter sometimes. I gots a blackberry with the full keyboard so typing is way easier. Also 15cents a test in Canada, if your not on a plan.

[Tom_Violence]

While we're on the subject, does anyone know of a good package that will allow me in the UK to easily communicate with a mobile in the US, mainly via text but also occasionally by an actual phone call?

[sktarq]

Personally I love text messaging. Admitedly my friends think I'm wierd for using proper grammer and puncuation in them. I love them because I use them for stuff I don't need an imediate response. I think of them like passing notes. It is a much less pressing way to find something out and I don't feel like I am interupting whatever they may be up to. Also I can re-read it which is great for directions.

[Kitya]

I don't text, and I encourage my friends not to text me. Now admittedly, this is partly selfish on my part because I NEED to hear another adult voice occasionally instead of my kidlet. Heck, There are days I go thru my address book and say mmmmm.. who can I call? I need to chat with someone!! (This is MUCH worse when hubby is out at sea) Now if it's something like directions, and they dont have a computer, then yeah, I can see them texting the info to me. Otherwise? Call me and talk to me. I'm lonely! You're my friend, and if you can't actually come over, calling me is the next best thing! I don't care what your "phone voice" sounds like. You're my friend. Heck, my sis in law and I will chat for an hour and a half simply because we NEED that occasionally. It's an excuse to dump the kids on our spouse and get some me time. *grin*

[horseboy]

Bah I worked in the cell phone industry for so long, I refuse to even have one, let alone deal with texting. Nothing anyone said to me over a cell phone was important enough to bother me when I clearly didn't want to talk to them.

[KuReshtin]

I used to have one of them *sob*
Now I am forced to use the darkarts of predictive text.

I loved the way the screen flipped round when you open it up as well... *sigh* Oh those Halcion days...

They have the new version of that out now, the E70 (I believe it's called). When my current phone dies, I'll get one of them. Or the current equivalent.

Maybe I should get a contract that gives me a bunch of free texts, though. Right now, I don't have any free texts...

I also agree with all previous posters who absolutely abhor TXT speak. The way some people can't seem to type a whole proper message without throwing in some stupid acronym in a regular e-mail or on a forum really ticks me off sometimes.

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Example of a post that really gets on my nerves:
"Dood you've got to be joking. Thats jus so im keepin you guys in the loop an u know wot i've sed to him."

[Space-Is-Curved]

I text every now and then, and my friends always think it's weird that I actually spell out my words and use punctuation. I don't mind chatspeak, but I still prefer to use actual words. My friends never use T9 so I can usually text just as fast as they can even though I do write more.