Texting

Oh my goodness! Could the title of this post actually be pertinent?

It wouldn't have been if I had written about my awesome new chair from the side of the road in Fenton.

Anyway, here is a story about texting.

Alex was one of the first people to ever send me a text message. Once I got the hang of it (this was way before keyboard phones), we began regularly texting each other random thoughts, observations and inside jokes throughout the day. This early experience greatly shaped my perception of the purposes of text messaging. I text people much like I blog. The content of my messages is chiefly humorous. I like to quip, remark, concur, synthesize, provide evidence, and make noise. I like to reflect on interesting conversations I may have had with the recipient.

I do not text generic, meaningless things like "hey." I do not use emoticons or abbreviations. I punctuate, capitalize and spell correctly in my text messages. I don't do chain texts. "What's up" makes me cringe alongside texts that simply say "lol". I don't really text to update my every waking move and have met people who do. I like texting better than calling because I am more articulate through written language than spoken.

Whenever I come into text-contact with someone whose style is different from mine, things can get lost in translation. If I have your number and you have mine, I assume I can text you because this is 2010 and, honestly, who doesn't have texting? In addition, if I text you, I am going to do so in my style and format, and if you don't understand my sense of humor and don't enjoy receiving randomness 24/7, then perhaps we should work out some other form of communication.

Either that or you just suck.

Really, who doesn't like getting a text? It's so exciting.

I have the hiccups and I'm going to bed.

Oh, nobody peed their pants again today so that was a milestone.

Ttfn!