Louisa Cornell, ladydawgfan, KateS and Kelly Ryan are the winners of Fun Contest Saturday!
Lori Austin's (aka Lori Handeland) An Outlaw in Wonderland has been named one of Publisher Weekly's Best Summer Books of 2013!!
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Goddesses Lori Austin (Lori Handeland) and Sabrina Jeffries for being named as RITA finalists for their historical romances BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER and A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS!
Sign up for our newsletter by filling out the JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER form in the right column of this page!
Time Magazine recently had an article about how everyone has a cell phone now, and in that article were some interesting stats. One that caught my eye was that in the USA, almost 40% of cell phone users prefer texting to talking on the phone. Another sizable percentage said they were now closer with family because of cell phones.
That is sooooo my family. None of us have ever been big phone talkers. Big talkers in person, but not on the phone. It’s always seemed more of a chore to us.
And then came texts.
Now, we fill cyberspace with text chatter. Even my 79 year-old mother has gotten in on it. I’ve had some very lengthy discussions via text. I can hardly see what I am typing, but that doesn’t stop me–we have learned to interpret each other’s unique style of texting. It seems a lot easier to stay in touch via text. I will text my brother and say, “What up?” To which he will respond, “Nada. You?” And I will say, “Ditto. C u at (next family event).” I know he is doing okay, and he knows I am, which neither of us really knew before texting because of that chore thing. We relied on our parents to give us big news, and that might not have come in the timeliest manner. 
Texting is also pretty handy in my line of work. I text my agent, and my friends who live around the country. At the RWA conference this summer, several people remarked that they didn’t know how we connected before texting. I know, right? I know how we did it–we hung out in bars, nyuk nyuk. This time, I confirmed meetings, changed them, located them, and took pictures of them with my cell phone and texted those pictures, too.
Texting is also great when traveling (We just touched down! Come pick me up). And you don’t have to get the dump of what all went wrong at home while you were gone before you have gotten your baggage.
Texting is a great invention, but I do think at times we take it too far. I have a hard time getting my sister on the actual phone. Sometimes, I just want to talk because first of all, I can’t see the screen very well without glasses (which are never handy when texting) and second, sometimes the topic is so long, I don’t want to type it all out.
I am very against texting and driving, and I won’t do it, no matter how much I am dying to look and see what the text is. I can at least wait until I get to Starbucks 
.
I might feel differently about the fabulouness of texting if I had a teenager. A friend told me just this week that her fifteen year0old daughter cannot lift her head from her phone even when she is speaking to her. So she took the girl’s phone for a week and an enormous meltdown ensued. ENORMOUS. They are still reeling. I can avow that I don’t love texting THAT much.
Do you text? Has texting changed the dynamic in your family? Do your kids have phones, and do they sleep with them? Do you text and drive? When contacting a sibling, child, or parent, do you prefer text, phone, or email?
85 Comments on “Text? Or Phone?”
You can track this conversation through its atom feed.
Julia, I just had this very same discussing with my students this week — text or phone! Two of my girls (teenagers) abhor talking on the phone (one of them actually said the happiest day of her life was when her mother sent her a text so she wouldn’t have to talk to her mom on the phone anymore), and will have texting any time. The two older guys text, but will talk on the phone, even prefer it sometimes.
I prefer texting, too. I never liked talking on the phone much — except for a few short years when I was a teenager — and texting makes everything easier. I text all the time. And, yes, I text while driving, possibly more than any other time. Traffic here is HUGE, and I get bored. My phone stays on the seat next to me when I’m driving alone because I’m stopped a lot. Of course, if I’m in a conversation, I end up texting while I’m moving, too. But I don’t actually look at the screen, I can text without looking, there’s that. I text like a beast. And, by text, I mean text/WhatsApp/Tweet/Facebook. It’s all the same to me — communicating in writing via cellphone.
I’m also one of those people who’ll text during dinner, and that sort of stuff. But I’ve found that many times, especially with my family, there’ll be nothing to talk about, and BAM, “OhMyGosh, I just saw that on Twitter.” and, then, conversation sparks up
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:32 am.
I was chastised by an older sister for texting during a family dinner one night. We had to have a family talk (all adults, mind you) — no texting during family dinners or outings.
None of us have quite lived up to it
But B, seriously, texting and driving is not a good idea!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:04 am.
My parents are finally getting into the whole text speak thing or so I found out today. Dad went out with my sister and left a message for mum letting her know where he was going in text speak. Dad uses his phone for calls and sometimes doing Facebook stuff. Mum doesn’t text but she is now on Facebook too which is a minor miracle for someone who only a year ago was uncomfortable with computers and similar technology. I usually call my parents and sister but save the texting for New Guy and Sci Fi Guy.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 6:15 am.
My father is not on Facebook and does not text and shows no signs of dipping a toe into that pool.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:05 am.
My husband and I text for small things – “I’m home, where are you?”, “Don’t forget the milk!”, stuff like that and don’t really talk on the phone to each other anymore. My best friend and I text what starts out as short stuff and ends up being novels. Usually it starts out trying to set up a time when we can talk for 4 hours on the pohone and ends up a mini-update that takes 12 texts and as many replies and will be elaborated on in the phone call. My sister blocked texts to her phone she hates them so much, and my parents still don’t have smart phones and won’t text so I talk to them on the phone every night.
I just don’t know how I lived before smart phones though. I didn’t get one until late last year and feel silly for holding out. They are wonderful and I do enjoy being able to facebook and play and call and text all from one device. Wonderful!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 6:47 am.
I wonder how I lived before smart phones, too. That memory is distant and hazy
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:06 am.
I love texting too. Everyone in my immediate family texts, though it took IV a while and he still has the number phone and not a smart phone so if I were him I wouldn’t bother.
One nice thing is that my kids will answer any question almost immediately. When I called them I often got voicemail. Of course they also know if they DON’T answer I will call, which might entice them to answer.
My kids have had phones for quite a while and they do sleep with them. I was trying to tell youngest that he needed to set it across the room so that when his alarm went off he had to get up to turn it off and therefore wouldn’t fall back asleep. But as that would entail NOT having the phone in his hand he looked at me as if I’d said “throw it off a bridge.”
I never text and drive. Gives me the willies. There have been too many accidents because of it.
I prefer all contact lately by text or email. I wish my mom would text.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:33 am.
I know, me too, Lori! I am much likelier to answer a text or email than I am the phone. I have to know who it is before I will pick up.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:07 am.
I’ve got a babbler who would die before she’d start a call with “is this a good time to talk?” in my circle so texting has been a blessing.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:36 am.
Oh and love the igniting kids text.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:37 am.
Exactly! Chatty Cathies are minimized!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:08 am.
I text with my husband and my sister mostly. I would rather have a conversation on the phone, but for quick questions, texting is good.
My kids are 3 and 8, so no phones… yet.
My 8 year old has been bugging for one, but will be waiting a few years.
I was at a wedding last year, and I look across the table at my younger cousins, and they all had their phones out texting. The running joke at the table, was that they were all talking to each other, but they had forgotten how to do it face to face.
I also have a problem with people who text and walk. The ones that don’t pay attention to what they are doing. I had a girl step out in front of me the other day. She is lucky I was going slow through the parking lot, and saw her before she saw me.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:24 am.
Somewhere (probably FB) I saw a video that someone had put together of people walking into buildings and poles while texting or looking at their phone. I know I am not that coordinated and just don’t do it.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:09 am.
Oh, I text. I text my kids all of the time, and Hot Cop and I text about twenty times a day. Just little texts – a hello, or articles we’ve read, or things people have said that we thought the other person might enjoy. It’s a nice way to keep in touch without interrupting someone. I’ve never been a phone talker.
Btw, no one in my TN family texts. None of them. It’s rather annoying.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:35 am.
They don’t text?? How is that possible?!?
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:10 am.
Don’t forget our “did you see that?” “isn’t he adorable?” “wow, what a play” and “I heart Clay and Aaron” texts during Packer games.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:46 am.
Honestly, I can’t stand talking on the phone. So when the whole texting thing came along I was very happy. Want to know someone else who appears to be happy? My mother. Just last week I deleted over 3200 texts from her. And just for the record I had deleted over a thousand of hers a few months before. Some of my closest friends have just reached the one thousand plateau. So yes, texting has changed my family dynamic. Before then I would talk to my mother via phone at least five times a week. Now? Maybe once or twice. And she has become one of those that texts when instead she should call and tell me something, ie, Your brother just had a stroke. Thankfully everything turned out alright, but I had to tell her to never text me something like that again. She said she didn’t have time to call. Hmmm. One button to have me live on the phone or many buttons to text me. I’m still shaking my head. So to answer your questions, yes, yes, no, no, and text! Sorry I rambled, this must be a hot topic with me!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:39 am.
Kelly, I feel that way, too. There are only a couple of people I like to talk to on the phone, and only in a certain mood. Texting & email have saved my relationships
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:06 am.
Hear, hear, Barbara!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:51 pm.
Yeah, I would want the big news by phone for sure! That would be too startling. Especially if I were walking (which I just said I don’t do, but now I am wondering if that’s true).
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:11 am.
Fun post! Yes, love texting. It’s so much faster than a phone call, and you have less of a chance of getting off topic and rambling. You can be to-the-point in a text, and it seems less rude than if you were to-the-point on the phone because you’re in a rush. Less of a social requirement for chit-chat.
I never text and drive… but then, I’m not in my car often. I can see where it would be more of a temptation for people who spend hours each day in their car. Still not advocating it, of course. Dangerous!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:50 am.
That’s right, Susan. A simple yes or no is all you need to do sometimes without all the talking you would have to do if you called to say yes or no.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:12 am.
DH & I text each other almost every day. He will text that he is on his way home from work.(He speaks to Siri to do that). And when he’s away fishing he texts every day. I have a difficult time walking and chewing gum, so I can not imagine trying to text while walking! LOL
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:07 am.
That’s me Sue. I need to come to a full stop. And put on my glasses. And then find some place not in the sun so I can see the screen
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:13 am.
I really talk a lot via text with my kids. It’s fast and easy and doesn’t feel intrusive.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:08 am.
Exactly
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:14 am.
I generally don’t have the patience for texting. There are so many apps that allow free calls that its not worth the bother.
My close friend is very careful with the amount of time she allows her kid to use technology. Once when we were out, after a certain amount of time, she took her daughters phone away and had her just sit with us. Most of us at the table were like oh but she’s a kid she’ll be bored now. She replied that she wanted her kid to know that its now always everyones job to entertain her and that she should learn ways to also occupy her time without technology and should be able to sit and listen. It made a lot of sense to me.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:11 am.
The little kids in my family don’t have phones. But honestly, a couple in the first grade class had them. I cannot imagine what a first grader would need with a smart phone. They can’t even read, LOL
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:15 am.
My friend’s sons had smart phones when they were in fourth and fifth grade and flat screen tvs the year after. They’ll be the kind to get cars when they’re seventeen. They have no sense of responsibility. What will she give them next now that they’re entering high school? AVTs and motorcycles? The primary way I contact her is through texting unless it’s work related. Even then there are texts involve.
I prefer phone calls when it’s a lengthy conversation or something of a personal nature. I use FB a lot for keeping up with family. Also, DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE, period! My daughter does it, plus talks on her phone while driving, and it makes me a nervous wreck because of the amount of time her eyes are off the road. Our family does use texting for keeping up with day-to-day stuff and information such as letting me know they’re on their way for a visit.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:17 am.
Sorry, forgot where I was and put my entire post here. *g*
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:18 am.
I talk on the phone all day, every day, at work, so the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone at home.
I usually text or e-mail, but I will talk occasionally to people that I don’t talk to very often.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:35 am.
I do like to talk on the phone to catch up with certain people. Sometimes, texting is too long. I am not one who likes having long conversations via text.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:57 am.
Texting has certainly helped with my cousins and my siblings…but not so much with the parental units. My mom is anti-tech…which translates to “Come visit or pick up the phone if you want to talk”….it we get a text from her, we’re in big trouble or something serious is in the works.
I like the convenience of text, but I miss having actual conversations with people. I had a friend who just got out of a relationship with a guy–she said the text conversations were so much more interesting than their actual conversations–also that by the time they got done constantly texting each other all day–they didn’t have anything else to say at the end of the day. That’s just plain sad to me.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:36 am.
I couldn’t do that. I would tell the guy to wait until I saw him because I really don’t have time to text all day. I marvel at people who do.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:58 am.
I love texting!! It’s so much easier, especially if you just want to ask a quick question. I still talk on the phone to my mom, because she doesn’t want to text. But we all text our boss and he texts us back… I love it! We don’t have to talk to him!! bahahahahaha
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:44 am.
That’s the beauty of texting, too. Keeping people you don’t care for at a cyber-arm’s length
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:58 am.
I know I’m not the only parent who can only get an answer from offspring if I txt… My adult siblings are the same at times. Spousal unit will txt all if IF he has his phone with him in the same room. But it has gotten to the point now that said offspring is in college, that I can barely get a response from a txt any more. We need something new. Oh, wait, Talking..! Maybe talking will work. If she’ll ANSWER THE PHONE..!!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:58 am.
Ha! Let us know how that works out for you, Lori
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:59 am.
Great topic! I was always a talker–love to talk on the phone, and since I write all day the idea of texting and e-mailing for everything is a pain to me. I’d MUCH rather chat, but then I’m an extrovert in a world of introverts (writers *G*). Only my sister and my parents like talking on the phone. My brothers hate it. One of them doesn’t text much either. Hubby doesn’t text and neither do my parents. But my assistant texts and some of my friends do, so I do it.
I agree with you–at places like conference or for traveling, it’s invaluable. Unfortunately, Hubby doesn’t text at all. He barely even uses a cell phone. So that avenue of communication is out.
My family actually lives on Facebook. We probably do more of our communication that way than any other, from the oldest to youngest.
I have to say, I find all the phones out at meals and social occasions to be rude. But everybody does it now, so I just accept it. I mean, why are you going to hear a speech or meet someone for a meal if you’d rather be online?
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:16 am.
THey might be tweeting your speech, Sabrina. They can say they got the pearls of wisdom from you and their friends heard it from them first!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:00 am.
That’s true, but what did they miss while they were busy tweeting it? I think that’s some of my problem with modern technology. I’ve read articles about this–if you’re always trying to get the picture for FB or tweeting the funny remark, you miss BEING in the world. And that’s a loss.
But of courses, you make gains, too, so it’s all a matter of what you want.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:07 am.
I agree any technology creates that filter, and the current ones are not really new in doing it. I remember the first time I went to Europe and all the tourists spent all their time taking pictures—so much that they only saw everything through a camera lens.
I keep waiting for a reaction to take hold and become the newest social movement. The U.S. has a long tradition of periodic “back to nature” and anti-technology movements, and I figure we are due for one soon.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:43 pm.
Funny you should say that, because I was thinking that exact thing, Madeline!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:51 pm.
Not a texter, but also don’t have any children… seems to be one reason…
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:30 am.
Kids definitely are a factor
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:15 pm.
I am fine with texting, but don’t like having entire conversations via text. I’d much rather talk with someone – especially since I live in the boonies and don’t get to actually talk to many people. Not good for a social butterfly.
I don’t text and drive – though I recently Facebooked while in the car as I was stuck on the PCH for 4 effin hours. Stopped or at 5 mph (with occasional gusts to 10) but otherwise, no way. I have had too many friends in fender benders and collisions because of it.
If I am with friends, my phone is usually in my purse on vibrate. I would much rather talk with them than mess with the phone – unless there is some wager or “What was the name of that….?” that needs looking up.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:42 am.
Or, if you come down from the mountain top and need to see if anything has happened to your house/family/career while you were watching bluejays hop around
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:16 pm.
I have a smartphone now so texting is easier but I still prefer to call someone and just talk about what I have to say. My 79 yr old mother is a text fanatic and sends them EVERYWHERE, even if I am driving!!! I NEVER text and drive since not only is it beyond stupid and dangerous, it is also illegal here in Vermont, with a very high fine for first time offenders if you get caught.
I urge everyone NOT to text and drive, even if you think you can handle it. We recently had a 19 yr old local girl mow down an elderly lady out walking her dog. The driver was texting and driving and not paying attention to the side of the road and didn’t see the lady and her dog until they flew over her hood. She is now facing vehicular manslaughter charges because she chose to text and drive. Call the person instead or pull over to answer that text but please don’t drive and text. Next time it could be you.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:48 am.
I agree 100% ladydawg!!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:17 pm.
I text when I have to. I just cannot type on those small keys. I would rather sit at the computer and type an email and send it. My kids text me more often (surprise there, eh?) They do not have smart phones but they do use the texting feature on the ipod.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:50 am.
I don’t like it either, and I have an iphone, which really throws off any typing. I do the one finger jab when I text.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm.
This is the problem I have with texting; I don’t think I use it properly. I’m one of those people that if I send a text, I do nothing but sit there and wait for the other person to respond. Kinda’ like waiting in front of the microwave for my Lean Cuisine to cook.
I’d rather pick up the phone and say: Hey, we still on for lunch tomorrow? Friend: Yeah, but I might be a few minutes late because Suzi needs to be picked up. Me: Would you rather move it to 1:00 instead? Her: Yeah, that’d be great!
In text talk I would have sent the first text, sat and stared at my phone, waiting for her response, which could be in 3 minutes or 30 minutes, then do it all over again for the next sentence. By then, I’m fuming saying, just forget it, I’m too busy to wait around on people…My damn Lean Cuisine is ready!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 11:56 am.
There is that, Nitty. Sometimes, only a phone will do.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm.
I had one of the first beepers since I was a stay at home mom that was usually not at home. Now with the cell it’s a lot easier. My oldest will answer a text right away but don’t ever expect him to answer a phone call unless it’s from cute chick. The youngest ignores no matter what unless it’s Dad calling because he knows he can get away with anything with Dad. My sister and I give up after the third reply and usually just call each other since we could text all night otherwise.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:17 pm.
Yes, I am the one who insists on talking on the phone with my sister. I have too much to say to type it out one letter at a time.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:19 pm.
LOL, Julia. I text with one sister, call one, email my bff, call my parents — it’s all depending on their comfort zone. Does this make me multi-lingual? *g*
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:23 pm.
It makes you super flexible!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:17 pm.
My husband and I have this discussion all of the time. Our oldest (a junior in college who doesn’t even like to talk in person all that much) and I can carry on whole conversations by text! We get along much better when we text than we we try to talk on the phone. He actually has personality in text. It is like pulling teeth to speak on the phone with him…our youngest (a college freshman) will text short messages, but will call when she has something longer to relay! My 78 year old mother started texting when my children went away to college, too!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:29 pm.
Its funny how some people are so much more chatty on text than in person. There is some killer psychology there, I think
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:18 pm.
I do like texting, but I do not do it much. Probably because I refuse to give out my cell phone number (so I don’t talk on that much either!) My older son texts all the time and it is the way we communicate with him the most. Younger son not so much.
When older son first met his fiance, he first told us about her because he needed to prepare us for the phone bill. She texted him all the time. Even as he sat explaining the sudden surge in data costs, she must have texted him 30 times. It works for them, but it would drive me nuts.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:35 pm.
The bill would drive me nuts, Madeline. I hope you’ve all moved to unlimited texting plans
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:18 pm.
It sounds like I’m about the same as most people, texting the kids and only calling if it’s too convoluted or important or texts. Sisters – definitely calling. It’s funny how a quick question turns into an hour long call. But for my parents, who recently moved from far away to far far away, it’s Skype. Nothing like a video chat to make you feel like you’ve actually just seen the person. Well, almost.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:39 pm.
Yes, we do a lot of skyping, too. But I always feel like I need to put on mascara or something to skype
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:19 pm.
I prefer to talk on my phone.. Of course I am hardly on my cell phone… My phone is too small for me to text. I really need to upgrade I guess. But it is just not a priority with me..
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 2:20 pm.
kathleen, if you are like me, you can upgrade and still not see what you are typing.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:20 pm.
No texting and driving. That’s just crazy. I do a lot of texting, especially when I can’t get on the phone to talk to someone, but need to vent because I need to make sure the kids are doing their homework. Getting it out to someone outside of the situation helps.
I recently had a whole conversation via texting about a necklace that I made and sold to a friend. She saw a necklace that I had made for one of my sisters on facebook (in exchange for writing a check at an antique store that doesn’t take credit cards) and wanted it. I made her a similar necklace with a different token that’s on my sister’s necklace, sent pictures via text, gave her the total, and received the money via paypal. So easy. I’ve already seen pictures of her wearing it on facebook.
I wish my dh texted more, but some reason he doesn’t get many texts or he just doesn’t check his phone for texts. I can’t figure out his problem (maybe I should blame it on his Blackberry, lol). So instead of texting him, I have to send emails to him. I wish my mom texted. Talking to her on the phone eats up HOURS. I end up cleaning my house when I’m on the phone with her because there’s not much else I can do.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:00 pm.
my sister had a blackberry and its not very text friendly. Now she has a droid and its too text friendly, LOL.
I have a good friend like that, Janae. I love her to pieces, and I want to hear all her news. Just maybe not all at once.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:22 pm.
I am of an “older” generation and I have what I call a Barbie phone without texting capabilities. Since I don’t text, I’m sure it would be easy for me to sit back and look down on people who do. However, it has become a huge part of our everyday lives. (If someone older than I am who had never used a computer told me I was stupid to use mine, I would be forced to call them an Old Goat!) No, I don’t believe in texting and driving. When I see someone doing that and their car is swerving on the road, it’s really scary. Although it’s against the law in many states, too often people ignore it just like most of us ignore speed limit laws. You just hope it doesn’t catch up with you. Texting is great – in the proper place. It saves time when communicating with someone. It’s much easier than making a call and it’s short, sweet and efficient!
Connie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:00 pm.
People who text and drive make me nuts. They are usually going too slow and are so clueless that cars are screeching to a halt behind them, then whipping out into oncoming traffic. Really dangerous
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:24 pm.
we text, its the only way to talk most of the time. There are some family members we still have to call. We don’t text and drive. We ask the other person in the car to do it for us. We all have unlimited texting in our house. I made my mom switch her plan to include text so I could send her a message easier.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 4:18 pm.
Another family made closer by texting
.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 4:41 pm.
I text but very seldom. I am not very good at it and I have an older cell phone. I like it for quick answers but I rather talk to someone if its going to be a long text
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 4:52 pm.
Same here, Judy!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:02 pm.
I had two nieces sitting next to each other at Christmas texting each other. Really. sigh
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 4:53 pm.
Oh, my brother and wife do that, too. When they were having problems, one of our sisters told them to stop texting each other and talk to each other.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:07 pm.
That. makes. no. sense. LOL!
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:03 pm.
When it comes to my family members a weekly call update is nice, it makes me feel good to hear them on the phone and get an idea of how things “really” are. I also love the written word, so taking them time to write a letter, a quick note, so they know how much they mean to me, so that they get something other than bills in their mailbox makes me feel good. I find texts very impersonal and if I dont care for you I might send you one so I dont have to deal with the person face to face or over the phone.
My children both can not look up and communicate without those phones. I have “taken” their lives away when they are punished. Of course they text in class, they text while family activities, they text with someone right next to them — thank goodness there are programs that I have installed in the car and with the phone company that shuts down that ability
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:27 pm.
Carla, I didn’t know there was such a thing! I must investigate. I don’t have any of driving age right now, but I would install that in a heartbeat.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 5:42 pm.
I text sometimes, but mostly I still talk. It’s quicker, and a lengthy conversation via text can easily be spoken in under 5 minutes.
My kids aren’t old enough to have phones… (3 1/2 and 2), but I’m sure they’ll be as addicted to theirs as I am to mine.
I’ve had a cell phone since I was in high school (and then it was very rare). I had it because I was once attacked by a stranger and my mom became worried. So from then on I carried a cell phone so I could call for help if I needed it.
When it comes to contacting family I usually call. My family uses hands-free while they’re driving, so when I call I can actually talk to them, versus having to wait until they’re parked to receive a text back. Here in Canada it’s illegal to text while driving, and the police actively search for and ticket cell phone users who don’t use hands-free. So calling is more practical than texting.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:36 pm.
Here, too. But there aren’t enough police for all the texters. I do like the handsfree phone, tho. That’s really nice.
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:54 pm.
I don’t have a smart phone and I only acquired a cell phone about five years ago for my first RWA National Conference in San Francisco.
I didn’t start texting until a few years ago. My niece and nephew demanded it and went to a great deal of trouble to teach me how to do it on my “stupid” phone (as opposed to smart phone!) I must say I hear from them more since we started texting.
They do, however, talk to my Mom every day on the phone. She does NOT text and they know the only way they can talk to her is by phone. (One is a junior at Bama studying engineering. The other is a freshman at Jax State studying forensics.) I’m just pleased they love their Nana enough to talk to her every day no matter where they are.
I talk to her every day as well, usually as I am driving home from work. Notice I said “talk” not text! NEVER text while driving.
My cell phone was such a great help at Nationals this year coordinating lunches, drinks at the bar, meetings, parties. Especially when my roommate locked herself out of the room with no wallet and texted “Help! Locked out of room. No money. STARVING!”
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:25 pm.
that’s an emergency text, Louisa, hahaa! Thank goodness you had your stupid phone and saved her
Posted on September 4, 2012 at 9:34 pm.
I don’t text, I prefer to email. Everyone knows that’s the best way to get my attention.
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 4:01 am.
I rarely text, when I do, I text my brother or niece by using Verizon’s website to send a message.
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 9:01 am.
I just started texting, but really prefer to talk to someone. Several people I work on committees with prefer to be texted, but I really need to talk with them. A short conversation would answer the question rather than the pain of texting back and forth for 20 minutes.
I do text my oldest daughter. She is a college department head and works with students and has lots of meetings. It is hard to know when she is available. I can text a short question or just say call me and she will get in touch with me when she is free.
My son works hanging from buildings and trees. Not a good time to answer the phone. If I need to get in touch with him during the workday, I will let him call me when it is convenient for him.
As for everyone else, a phone call is what they get.
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 9:59 pm.