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 Something
Like a Phenomenon
Text
messaging: simply a modern form of instant information, or
the next nail in the coffin of proper communiqué?
By
Kathryn Lurie
In March, text messaging played a rather large role in
the biggest argument a friend of mine and I had ever had.
It started out as a miscommunication, but it was continued
because of a complete communication breakdown. My friend and
I were on the verge of a massive fight, and the principal
cause of it was our chosen methods of communication (text
messaging and e-mailing). We were both under a lot of stress;
she was planning her wedding, in which I was a bridesmaid,
and I had just gone through a breakup. For almost a week all
we did was write to each other to say how we were pissing
the other off, and since we were both on the defense, there
was no room to interpret the simplest text messages (even
“I’m sorry u feel that way”) as anything but aggressive. The
only way to resolve the fight was a F2F discussion. (For the
uninitiated, that’s face-to-face.)
The old adage of less-is-more is true for many things. Decorating,
eating, bikinis, whatever. But in most circumstances, it should
not apply to communication. We already exist in a world where
it’s practically unnecessary to speak to each other. In much
the same way we transfer money and accounts around on the
Internet without ever touching a dollar, we can communicate
with someone for days and weeks on end without ever going
to the trouble of hearing each others’ voices.
Text messaging, texting, Short Message Service, whatever you
want to call it, is an easy, quick way to make plans; to be
able to chat subtly during long, boring meetings; or a way
to converse while you’re in a noisy bar or other circumstances
where cell-phone use would otherwise not be possible. Above
all, it’s quick. We’re such suckers for instant gratification,
aren’t we? But short-direct-simple is not always the
best policy. I’m not going to argue against the numerous merits
of texting; however, we should pay attention to how this form
of contact can aid and abet simply dreadful communication.
Even a couple years ago, when texting was not as omnipresent
as it is now, CBS did a story about how linguists are alarmed
at the amount of abbreviating going on in texts. They “worry
that the proliferation of text messaging . . . will enforce
sloppy, undisciplined habits among American youths.” LOL!
No kidding. At netlingo.com or webopedia.com, you can even
find a dictionary of text-messaging abbreviations. Did you
know that UV is shorthand for “unpleasant visual”? And that
F2T means “free to talk”? And T+ means “think positive”? There
are dozens more of these irksome little acronyms. What is
happening to our language, people?
It’s no secret that text-messaging has become an enormously
popular way to “talk,” and it’s becoming more ubiquitous by
the day. According to BBC news, mobile phone users in the
U.K. sent a record 3.3 billion text messages in May, and they
expected that figure to increase in June due to World Cup-related
messages. The foreign minister of Finland even set new rules
of diplomatic engagement at the start of his country’s European
Union presidency at the beginning of this month by stating,
“Don’t call me, I’ll text-message you.”
Convenience aside, this means more and more people (including
politicians and others whose job it is to talk) aren’t
talking. This, my friends, is a big problem. Text messages
lack the accompanying inflections and intonations of the voice,
not to mention facial expressions and body language. Sarcasm
is always harder to detect in written messages than spoken
ones, the result of which can be detrimental to interpreting
a message properly.
There are plenty of problems beyond the inevitable miscommunication
that one can identify about texting—the inevitable crises
caused by texting while driving, and texting too much in general
(causing injuries to your fingers, wrists and arms, as physiologists
are warning against these days) are two of the popular gripes.
Hollywood has even blamed poor box-office sales (for movies
like Gigli and Charlie’s Angels) on movie-goers
texting each other that movies stink. But all that aside,
texting has allowed an already comfortably passive-aggressive
society to become even more passive. A good example is the
growing trend of people ending relationships over texts. (Think
the Sex in the City episode where Berger breaks up
with Carrie on a Post-It.) According to relationship experts,
text messaging is “ruining our love lives.” The Scotsman
says, “an increasing number of men and women are using text
messages as a way of avoiding real communication, informing
their partners of life-changing announcements by text, and
shunning conversations in favour of a simple SMS.”
Texting isn’t just affecting people’s personal lives, either.
Professionals are being affected by the ease of personal avoidance
in the workplace. According to an article called “Y Texting
Maybe Bad 4 U” by Skynews (sky.com), “Standards of spoken
and written communication in the world of work are being ‘destroyed’
by the use of e-mails and text messages.” Great. Our CEOs
aren’t only mind-numbingly rich, their minds are just going
numb.
Use text messaging; I’m all for it. I use it every day. Once
in a while, though, pick up the phone, and remember what it
feels like to have an actual conversation.
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