Text talk

[bevdeforges]

I despise text talk when it's used in inappropriate places. For text messages on phones, fine. But consider your audience. Like most things used to excess, the real issue is "context, context, context."

I have to grapple with text talk in two languages - though fortunately I know only very few people who text me on the phone (or need to). But in French, it took me years to figure out that "K-7" was shorthand for "cassette" - used in all the stores that sell the things - because that's how that combination is pronounced in French. (I don't verbalize in my head when I read French text.)

In short, don't use text speak for e-mails, especially if your recipient is over the age of about 30. Don't use it in SMS's if you want them to understand you and there's any doubt about their familiarity with it.

[LCF]

you know... I actually like the ID-10-T Error.

[lene1949]

I have a hard time understanding the language... too old, I guess... but if I do text back, it's like anything else I write - in full

[Mortis]

By the comments in this thread I am guessing that the average age of the negative responders is about 40.

Don't go all psycho on me, I agree, the shorthand used is irritating and a pain in the arse.
The problem now is that it is finding it into every day life, magazine advertising seems to be embracing it, making it their own.

I hate to admit it, but I can't spell to save my life and I think that the whole texting thing makes spelling irrelevant hell how can you spell "l8r" wrong? When teaching English, yes I giggle about it too, I had students that would turn in exams with tthat type of crap, I would have failed them if it was possible. I do think that spelling is a big part of why it is so popular with kids.

[astra]

I dislike texts.

One of my friends almost never checks his emails, but he always texts. I have 100 free texts/month from my ISP, O2. So, whenever I received a message from him, I login to my O2 web account on my PC and send him a text. I use normal keyboard and standard language
I hate typing a messages on mobile phone though. I think I sent less than 30-40 messages in my entire life. Small buttons, small display...

[thrawn_aj]

Originally Posted by astra

I hate typing a messages on mobile phone though. I think I sent less than 30-40 messages in my entire life. Small buttons, small display...

I'm with you on that one. They should make an Edward Scissorhands glove for those of us who are phone-keyboard challenged . When I had my Palm Centro, I would keep my nails at a respectable size simply to be able to use the annoying keyboard.

[John Carroll]

idk what any of you are talking about.

My teenage daughter literally sends thousands of texts per month. She types insanely fast and she's not too bad. My 13 yr old son spells terribly when he talks to me on IM though. It's kind of like speaking a different language . . . . . . lol.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by thrawn_aj

Indeed

this shirt works only because plenty of nerds ar far too shy to react

If I'd ever meet a girl in such one I'd have asked her if its meant as a written invitation

[Mortis]

So what did the shirt say?

[jbcohen]

I am going to attempt to argue a point here. As an IT tech supporting texting or not is not an option I am require to understand it and exactly how that phone acomplishes the job, thus my opinion is completely irrelevant. What I do know is this:

Older generations did not have texting or cell phones so instead we attempted to covert communications by a much older means of communications referred to as note passing. How many times did you pass notes under desks or behind your backs, I know I did it and pals of mine did it. How many times did a teacher slam a ruler down on your desk and demand the note? Happened to me a few times.

What has changed is the method that kids employ to do the covert note passing. Texting is nothing more then the note passing in electronic form. How many times did your wife or sisters rush home from school to get on the land line and yack to her friends? My sister did a lot, and the texting is old wine in new bottles.

Email is not available for this purposes since it does not exist outside desktop and laptop computers. Instant Messaging is preferred because unlinke email (which gets stored in the PC or laptop's memory then its sent, and thus is called store-foward) its sent without any record being kept. Troubble is that instant messaging is not available outside desktops and laptops. The only thing that is available is something called text messages, thus they have no choice to use that for covert communications.

Think about it for a moment, stick a cell phone to your ear and its a lot more ovbious that you are talking on the phone then texting is. However, they can use a blue tooth headset to do that simply walk down the hall way mumbling and it looks like they are simply mubling or talking to themselves. But don't tell that to your kids blue tooth head sets are a lot more covert then texting is, expecially on the women with long hair which will cover up the head set. Mumbling on the headset is less obvious then a kid walking around with a cell phone in his/her hands.

So I understand why they do it and how the phone does that. Doesn't mean that I like it just means that I know why and how they do it.

Just don't tell your kids about the bluetooth head sets - makes it harder to detect that they are talking on the phone.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I am going to attempt to argue a point here. As an IT tech supporting texting or not is not an option I am require to understand it and exactly how that phone acomplishes the job, thus my opinion is completely irrelevant. What I do know is this:

Older generations did not have texting or cell phones so instead we attempted to covert communications by a much older means of communications referred to as note passing. How many times did you pass notes under desks or behind your backs, I know I did it and pals of mine did it. How many times did a teacher slam a ruler down on your desk and demand the note? Happened to me a few times.

What has changed is the method that kids employ to do the covert note passing. Texting is nothing more then the note passing in electronic form. How many times did your wife or sisters rush home from school to get on the land line and yack to her friends? My sister did a lot, and the texting is old wine in new bottles.

Email is not available for this purposes since it does not exist outside desktop and laptop computers. Instant Messaging is preferred because unlinke email (which gets stored in the PC or laptop's memory then its sent, and thus is called store-foward) its sent without any record being kept. Troubble is that instant messaging is not available outside desktops and laptops. The only thing that is available is something called text messages, thus they have no choice to use that for covert communications.

Think about it for a moment, stick a cell phone to your ear and its a lot more ovbious that you are talking on the phone then texting is. However, they can use a blue tooth headset to do that simply walk down the hall way mumbling and it looks like they are simply mubling or talking to themselves. But don't tell that to your kids blue tooth head sets are a lot more covert then texting is, expecially on the women with long hair which will cover up the head set. Mumbling on the headset is less obvious then a kid walking around with a cell phone in his/her hands.

So I understand why they do it and how the phone does that. Doesn't mean that I like it just means that I know why and how they do it.

Just don't tell your kids about the bluetooth head sets - makes it harder to detect that they are talking on the phone.

you are sorely mistaken if you think that text messages are not stored somewhere. as far as not telling kids, especially teens about bluetooth technology, you'll find that they are light years ahead of us with any new technology trends

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Email is not available for this purposes since it does not exist outside desktop and laptop computers. Instant Messaging is preferred because unlinke email (which gets stored in the PC or laptop's memory then its sent, and thus is called store-foward) its sent without any record being kept. Troubble is that instant messaging is not available outside desktops and laptops. The only thing that is available is something called text messages, thus they have no choice to use that for covert communications.

Email and IM are both available on most cell phones now. The reason texting is more popular is because it doesn't require a data plan or internet connection like most email and IM functions do, and it doesn't require any additional set up other than the recipients phone number.

Also, most email is not stored on the providers server somewhere not the users local hard drive. Unless it is configured to do both.

I'd agree with your covert communications theory except for two things:
First and most importantly, people use it all the time, whether in school or out, at home or in the car.
Secondly, in my daughter's school, and most others I'd bet, if they get caught texting in class they get their phone taken away.

[natasha_fawn]

Text speech doesn't bother me that much as long as it's confined to texting or instant messaging (and IM is cutting it close). I was finally dragged into using text messages this year, though I still use proper spelling, etc. even on my non-qwerty keyboard. (Yes, you can call me a stick in the mud. )

Unfortunately it doesn't stay confined to that. I've seen some college student's papers that used it. Argh! What really gets me is when people speak in text shorthand. Saying "lol" or "idk" or the like. Or even worse, "lolol."

Ah well, progress, hm?

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by natasha_fawn

Text speech doesn't bother me that much as long as it's confined to texting or instant messaging (and IM is cutting it close). I was finally dragged into using text messages this year, though I still use proper spelling, etc. even on my non-qwerty keyboard. (Yes, you can call me a stick in the mud. )

Unfortunately it doesn't stay confined to that. I've seen some college student's papers that used it. Argh! What really gets me is when people speak in text shorthand. Saying "lol" or "idk" or the like. Or even worse, "lolol."

Ah well, progress, hm?

I used Argh! long before the internet!

[natasha_fawn]

Oh, but I find this fascinating. Regional accents in twitter.