Simmermon: Texting finds unique purpose
Messages easier, more exciting than old-fashioned phone calls
Text messages can be great for flirting, organizing plans or passing time during a lecture. But set some limits for yourself, too.
Monday, October 15th, 2007
Nowadays, picking up the phone and making a call can feel like an overwhelming burden. Why call when you can just text? From “lunch at Union?” to “OMG look at that ridiculous girl in the front row wearing Ugg boots and sweat pants,” no conversation is too big or important not to text. This lackadaisical form of communication has made its way into the dating scene, making text flirting a revolutionary phenomenon in casual conversation between the sexes. There is no longer just the “booty call;” now there is the “booty text” allowing people to express there desire in non-confrontational way.
1:45 a.m.:
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Nothing what are you doing?”
“Nothing, want to hang out?”
“Okay.”
“Cool, wear that little thing I like.” And they’re off.
For the shyer, more reserved person, text flirting has opened doors to relationships never thought possible. It’s much less stressful just to send a text, if the other person doesn’t reply. At least you didn’t call.
Plus, texting isn’t just fun, it’s exhilarating. Seeing a new text is way more exciting than missing a call.
A text does not hold the same weight as a phone call; it’s less invasive and at times an easier way to communicate. At night when you’re in a loud bar, who wants to answer the phone anyway? Replying to a text takes seconds. Also, when just getting to know someone, texting is always the best way to go. You don’t want to look like the crazy guy/girl who called three times in one night. But three texts in one night, that’s excusable. For me, I have a problem with being awkward, I’m awkward at least 75 percent of the time and it’s increased by about 35 percent when I’m sober. Texting is an easy way for me to be witty while avoiding any actual face-to-face contact, because boys make me nervous.
Plus, texting isn’t just fun, it’s exhilarating. Seeing a new text is way more exciting than missing a call. However, there are some inappropriate times to text. If you’re in a big lecture it’s okay because your not really disrupting anything because no one is probably paying attention anyway, but if you are in a small classroom it’s a little weak to be texting on your phone the whole hour. Especially the people who have their phone on vibrate and keep receiving texts all class long. Whoever decided that putting your phone on vibrate is the same as silent must have been deaf or something. It’s not a secret, we can all hear your phone and you look like a tool for texting all through class. Texting doesn’t have to be like AIM. You can wait awhile in between texts, leave them hanging, make them get a little nervous, then text them right before they jump off the cliff. The text has become an entity in itself; it can be your best friend or (after a drunken midnight texting fiasco) your worst enemy. A person has to find their own text-balance. Make a set of texting rules for yourself and live by them.
Simmermon is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Nowadays, picking up the phone and making a call can feel like an overwhelming burden. Why call when you can just text? From “lunch at Union?” to “OMG look at that ridiculous girl in the front row wearing Ugg boots and sweat pants,” no conversation is too big or important not to text. This lackadaisical form of communication has made its way into the dating scene, making text flirting a revolutionary phenomenon in casual conversation between the sexes. There is no longer just the “booty call;” now there is the “booty text” allowing people to express there desire in non-confrontational way.
1:45 a.m.:
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Nothing what are you doing?”
“Nothing, want to hang out?”
“Okay.”
“Cool, wear that little thing I like.” And they’re off.
For the shyer, more reserved person, text flirting has opened doors to relationships never thought possible. It’s much less stressful just to send a text, if the other person doesn’t reply. At least you didn’t call.
A text does not hold the same weight as a phone call; it’s less invasive and at times an easier way to communicate. At night when you’re in a loud bar, who wants to answer the phone anyway? Replying to a text takes seconds. Also, when just getting to know someone, texting is always the best way to go. You don’t want to look like the crazy guy/girl who called three times in one night. But three texts in one night, that’s excusable. For me, I have a problem with being awkward, I’m awkward at least 75 percent of the time and it’s increased by about 35 percent when I’m sober. Texting is an easy way for me to be witty while avoiding any actual face-to-face contact, because boys make me nervous.
Plus, texting isn’t just fun, it’s exhilarating. Seeing a new text is way more exciting than missing a call. However, there are some inappropriate times to text. If you’re in a big lecture it’s okay because your not really disrupting anything because no one is probably paying attention anyway, but if you are in a small classroom it’s a little weak to be texting on your phone the whole hour. Especially the people who have their phone on vibrate and keep receiving texts all class long. Whoever decided that putting your phone on vibrate is the same as silent must have been deaf or something. It’s not a secret, we can all hear your phone and you look like a tool for texting all through class. Texting doesn’t have to be like AIM. You can wait awhile in between texts, leave them hanging, make them get a little nervous, then text them right before they jump off the cliff. The text has become an entity in itself; it can be your best friend or (after a drunken midnight texting fiasco) your worst enemy. A person has to find their own text-balance. Make a set of texting rules for yourself and live by them.
Simmermon is a Leawood senior in journalism.
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