Jack,

In a few years, you will be texting. Why? Because you will want to communicate with your children.

I lyk txt bcuz u dnt hv 2 uz spelchk f u dnt wnt 2. And it allows the recipient to reply when it is most convenient for them, rather than feeling guilty for not taking your call.

I have never gotten spam texts. How does that happen?

I also shut off my ability to send and receive text messages, after starting to receive 8 or 10 per month. The messages appeared random, some without any content at all. My provider, Verizon, gives you the option of blocking all messages from a given number, but only for a prescribed period of time (I think 90 days). After hearing that, it made me wonder if some Verizon robocall software was generating the messages to nick subscribers for $1.00 to $2.00 per month if they chose not to have a texting "plan".

I have never gotten a spam text.

I text more than I call any more. I hate chatting especially at work, but need to be able to have phone on.

Besides, my wife loves getting little love notes at random during the day.

As an Iphone user, I never send messages with misspelled words, the damn thing won't accept it.

I have an iPhone, e-mail, and a street address. No text messaging.

It's not about being "current", for me; it's about managing the firehose of information and the amount of contact. People simply don't need 7-10 different ways to communicate with me 24 hours a day in whatever location I'm in--it's comically absurd to arrange all that.

I know people who have:

1. e-mail
2. blog
3. Facebook
4. Twitter
5. phone #
6. Texting
7. 1-3 other "social networking" contact profiles
8. LinkedIn

Yep--some have a total of EIGHT ways or more to contact them. I think a few woud get the shakes if they had to reduce that number.

Some friends can't even process the notion of not having a Facebook account. One asked--how do people contact you? When I explained that I had e-mail, a phone, and a street address, they paused and said "yeah, but...". Then, I presume they went back to "Facebooking".

And isn't that one of the most surreal verbs you've heard?

Those having "EIGHT ways or more for others to contact them" don't have time to deal with the real world. Chewing gum for the mind and if they smoke pot they don't need all that much.

I am the exact opposite. I resent having to have a voice plan with my iPhone. I've never activated the voice mail on it b/c I would rather get text messages. I never give out the cell number and use Google voice (it rocks BTW) to screen calls. It converts voice mail to text messages. Text is way more efficient as people are much more likely to get to the point over text. I only get telemarketers over the voice... but I never pick up 800 numbers or blocked calls. Texting is fantastic for curmudgeons...

eco, it's funny that you forgot to list "face to face" and "mail" as other ways that those people could be contacted too.

it allows the recipient to reply when it is most convenient for them, rather than feeling guilty for not taking your call.

I have that, too. It's called "e-mail" -- you may want to look into it.

I lyk txt bcuz u dnt hv 2 uz spelchk f u dnt wnt 2.

Yes, you do.
This is why we are failing as a nation.

Text is way more efficient as people are much more likely to get to the point over text.

No, in my experience people are more likely to take something you said out of context. There is no emotion when texting.

As for spam texts, I have never received one.
We pay for an unlimited messaging plan because I have three teenagers. Last month our family totalled over 17,000 messages. Nearly 7,000 of those were for my youngest daughter's phone. Can you imagine if we had to pay .30 cents per message for those?

It is amusing to watch all the vehicle drivers who sit at stoplights, staring intently at their laps.

What is not so amusing is seeing vehicle drivers staring intently at their laps as they drive along city streets.

I agree with Joel. Just wait until you want to communicate with your kids. It's how almost everyone over 40 I know starts texting.

And I hardly doubt the empire will crumble (or that we're failing as a nation either) because people use a shorthand while texting Jon.

LOL

;)

And I hardly doubt the empire will crumble (or that we're failing as a nation either) because people use a shorthand while texting Jon.

I don't mind stuff like LOL or IIRC. Those are used on the internet too. But shortening words that only have 3 or 4 letters is the first place makes you look like an idiot.

And most kids I know dont even use shorthand any more. Most of them can type faster on a phone keypad than on a keyboard.