by L. Merlino

Created on: December 16, 2009   Last Updated: December 17, 2009

Texting is a rapid fire way of keeping in touch with friends. It bridges moments that would otherwise leave a gap in social networking - yet it is sometimes used to blow off unwanted attention from people who pester us. A few carefully chosen words texted on the fly will keep hangers on hanging on without our ever having to muster the guts to tell them where to go.

No one likes to appear rude and outright tell someone to bug off. Those who call at odd hours with unsolicited advice or who lean on us for more support than we can offer ... persistent complainers, moochers, even psycho stalkers ... we've all met them. Not answering the doorbell or hanging up the phone on them is often mistaken for playing coy. Text them into sweet oblivion to keep them at bay, without ever needing to trigger the retaliation than the rejected or jilted will often stoop to.

Case in point: Dickhead (yes, it's in the dictionary) tells Jane that you bumped him as a friend, and Jane tells "Joe", and before long, Facebook - or the local coffee klatch - is buzzing with gossip that you are a rude, social misfit. After all, one person's gadfly is another person's buddy. Before long, you'll find friends ostracizing you because you dared to drop so-and-so like a hot potato - even if it was well warranted on your part.

Texting to the rescue! If someone ignores your plea for privacy - don't block his caller ID - whip up some clever text like: "We'll catch up later ... XOXO"

Later need never come, if you follow up with the occasional "Thinking of you XO" or just plain old "Soon XXX." That one word can buy you up to several months of time out, depending on how many X's you follow it with.

I guarantee, for the small investment of a few keyboard strokes, your social "stalker" will never know what hit him or her.

"Catch you later! (emoticon of choice)".

Of course, I've been being cheeky. Texting is an ideal way of saving trees while cultivating long distance relationships that we cherish. Oftentimes, it is the beeline between two friends who are negotiating busy schedules. It saves on the phone bill and it saves postage stamps. It lets people know that we are tuned into them even when daily demands prevent a face-to-face or voice-to-voice meeting. It should never be abused.

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