by Bobby Coles

Created on: June 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 08, 2012

Dating is a complex endeavour to undertake, and it requires your full attention. Text messaging while in the company of your girlfriend or boyfriend is an absolute mistake. Your focus should be on your date, not on text messaging. There is nothing so pressing that it cannot wait.

For centuries men and women were able to go a few hours without being in constant contact with every other person they knew, so why should now be any different?

Relationships need a hearty dosage of trust, and if you are in constant contact with another person, the jealousy levels will rise to unhealthy heights, and this will be detrimental to your relationship. There is a time and a place for texting, and it does not belong on a date.

Text messaging has become a global phenomenon in the past couple of years, in spite of the fact that it is merely a step above Morse Code. Texting has become commonplace, and it is seen in elementary schools, secondary and post-secondary schools, and in the workforce.

Text messaging is raging out of control, and there is some proper etiquette and knowledge that should be gleaned when texting in the dating realm.

The dos and dont's of texting in a relationship revolve mostly around the actual verbiage used in the message. When in a relationship, and you feel as though you just have to send that little reminder that you are completely needy, make sure that you are not putting in anything incriminating, or that could be used against you in a court of law.

Be extremely careful with what you write, no matter what the abbreviated form of your text actually says.

The problem with text messaging while in a relationship occurs once the relationship has soured, and your drunken three in the morning love declarations are now fodder for lunchtime laughter amongst her friends.

You never want to put out there something that may return some day to haunt you, so try and keep your texting to the bare minimum.

Some things to do while texting include making thoughtful comments, or flattering remarks about a particular item. Be specific, since generic comments can be applied to all sorts of other things. The english language is very easily twisted around to sound seamy and otherworldly.

Do reply right away if at all possible. This act of courtesy keeps the lines of communication open, and shows that your interest level has not waned. Do save anything that may be threatening or abusive, since this can save you down the road if trouble arises.

Do not send anything too sappy, lest the whole world will have a good chuckle at your expense. Do not, under any circumstances, fall into the current trend of sexting, which is sending provocative images of yourself to another, no matter who they are.

Currently in the court rooms are many cases of these pictures being considered pornographic, and, worse, involving child pornography if the person is not yet of proper age. This is becoming quite a realistic scare in many areas right now, and the problem seems to be mostly arising out of the teenage population.

Do not send anything risque, because these messages and pictures can float around in cyberspace for the rest of your life, ruining any hopes of future happiness and sanctity. Many people are falling prey to the world of text messaging, and this hard copy of your words is going to prove to be a major source of frustration somewhere down the line.

If you are in a relationship, call the person, or better yet, pay them a visit. A surprise visit to them on their lunch hour will gain you far more points than a thoughtless, probably incorrectly spelled text message. Don't allow the lines of communication to be broken down into tiny abbreviated chunks. Especially not in the dating circles.

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