OMG! Txting has bcame the nu language of luv. Yes, I have better grammar skills than that but here in 2009, text messaging, is the way most people who own a cell phone communicates with everyone else.....who also happens to have a cell phone. Lets face it, Kindergartners are carrying blackberries and even Grandma has her Jitterbug, so it is only natural that texting has became an integral communication tool in our everyday lives. Its ideal for a number of reasons, most notably, its convenience. We can send a quick text to say " I Luv U", ask " whr U @?", greetings such as "sup?" and even give a sideways smile with a " ;-)"
Texting is just like anything else in this world. There are those of us who are amateurs and can barely manage to reply to an incoming text message, and there are those of us that are pros who can text faster than we can speak. The amateur text messenger only uses texting for emergencies because spelling out words with numerous tapping of the number keys is just too confusing and takes way too long.
No one else texts the Amateur because they know that a reply may not ever come, because the Amateur uses their cell for phone calls and phone calls only and probably wont even notice that they received a message. The Pro text messenger, literally speaks by text message. There is nothing that a text cannot handle. Pros can text while sleeping and move their fingers so fast you may not even notice that they just sent a text while looking you right in the eye.
Somewhere in between the amateur and the pro, are the some-timers. Those who would rather just make the phone call and save all the back and forth bantering but someone who doesn't mind the occasional quick chat by text. No matter what category of user you fall in, there are some basic dos and dont's in relationships, especially romantic relationships, that you should be aware of.
-DO send that daily text to your lover saying whatever "loving" phrase or words that you want. Send at least a "hi/hello" and carry on about your normal business. Unless you have something else pressing to say, either wait patiently for a reply or move on to something else.
-DON'T expect a text right back from your lover or friends with the same sentiments. They may be busy or otherwise occupied, moody, or not even aware you have texted them. Be aware that a person will respond if, when and how "they" want to. That is the beauty of text messaging, you can do it at your own convenience and very discreetly.
-DO make short suggestions or plans for dates by text message but keep it short and sweet. No one wants 15 messages in a row, sent simultaneously to their phone that only turns out to be a novel from you. Leave important details for eye to eye conversations.
-DON'T engage in serious conversations with close friends and lovers via text message. These types of conversations are better face to face so that the true emotion and context of the words can be seen or sensed. Sometimes an innocent text could be misconstrued and cause an unwanted reaction from the recipient.
-DO send your lover and friends the occasional "picture or multimedia" message. A "kissy" face, or even a picture of you flipping the bird is fine but NEVER send anything provocative or racy to another cell phone. We've all heard the horror stories of those leaked and published photos, that the sender thought "no one else would see". This is a hackers jackpot and your worst nightmare if you are the subject of a "private" photo exchange gone public.
-DON'T assume you are being ignored if you send a text expecting a reply and dont recieve one. Texting has its quirks and one of those is the unreliability of the message to always make it to the recipient. Check the sent messages folder on your own phone to confirm delivery. You have to be patient when texting.
-DO save text messages of relevance. Text Messages are now a common form of evidence in legal proceedings and disputes ranging from casual to serious. A message in your inbox cannot be fabricated by you so it is considered a true "record". Text Messages have been used to solve murder cases and are now more often used than regular call records for those seeking information. You can also save those that are meaningful to you, like a sweet sentiment from a friend or lover, to look at and smile on a rainy day.
-DON'T give your phone number to any party you find suspicious. Your text Messages both received and sent, can be used for numerous things that you wouldn't consent to. Hackers find it amusing to find those naked pics of your girlfriend or that funny video of your drunk Uncle at Thanksgiving and post it on the Internet for the world to see. It can also become more serious if your texts contain personal informational that could be stolen for criminal use. Not only hackers, but what I like to call "attackers", can also become annoying by sending those unwanted jokes and spam messages to clog your inbox.
-DO use slang and abbreviating when texting friends and lovers. There is really no need to spell out every long thought or question you have. Just be careful that your message doesn't seem sarcastic when you're genuine or serious when you're joking. The use of smilies ( ;-) can lighten the tone, if your words are flat.
And finally, DON'T fight via text message. Its pointless and a waste of a cell phone's battery. Feelings can really be confused and the outcome of the fight may be altered by false undertones that written text often displays. When you are reading a short-handed, abbreviated text, it is hard to tell exactly what emotion the sender relays by written words alone. If used properly, Text Messaging can be a great way to communicate in any relationship.