by Amber Alexander

Created on: October 03, 2007   Last Updated: February 11, 2008

I'll admit. I'm addicted to text messaging. Morning, noon and night I'm pecking away at those buttons and firing off messages at lightning speed. It hasn't always been that way. Just a few years back I had never sent a text in my life. Didn't understand the draw. My, how things have changes.

Let's start with the advantages of text messages.

They are discreet and can be used when a phone call might not be appropriate. This includes quiet environments such as libraries and waiting rooms but also just everyday errands. There is nothing more irritating to me than having to listen to some loudmouth blab away on their call phone about their personal business. No one wants to know about that weird itch you have or whether Uncle Joe is getting out of jail next week. Private conversations are not possible in public places. Except via text message.

They allow you to get straight to the point. Say you're arranging to meet someone for a quick bite. A traditional polite phone call to arrange the time and place usually calls for some small talk padding each end of the conversation. You can't just call up your friend, bark "Applebees, 7 o'clock, be there!", and hang up. But you can do exactly that via text message without being considered the least bit rude.

Texting also forces you to think through what you're about to say. I have avoided many an argument in my relationship this way. When I'm angry or upset, I find it much easier to text than talk. Because in a conversation, the communication is instant. Things fly out of your mouth without a thought and you can't take them back. But texting you have to type it out. Look at that message and realize, ouch, maybe I shouldn't say that.

Now let's examine the disadvantages of text messages.

They are discreet and can be used when a phone call might not be appropriate. If a phone call is inappropriate, that doesn't always mean that a text is an acceptable alternative. It's very irritating to be sitting in class or in a meeting while the person next to spends the entire time texting furiously. It's rude to those around you as well as your instructor/boss. There are some times when it is just not appropriate to be having an outside conversation at all. Unfortunately, for many texting has really blurred that line.

They allow you to get straight to the point. What happened to human interaction? I have "good friends" whose voices I have not heard in months because all of our communication has become text based. With all the conveniences that texts provide, I miss that personal connection.

Having serious conversations via text can lead to huge misunderstandings. The same words stated in person and written via text can have vastly different meanings. It is difficult to convey sarcasm, anger, joy or playfulness through a text message. Human emotion and conversation relies heavily on things like tone of voice and body language. It is very easy to be misunderstood when texting because these outside factors simply don't exist in that realm

It is no coincidence that the pros and cons of texting are largely one and the same. As with most things in life, texting is best kept in moderation. Take advantage of it's convenieces but be careful not to become too dependent. Now if only I could take my own advice.

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