The text message turned 20 years old this week (hard to believe, I know). It has evolved from being something very few had and used on their mobile devices to now being a staple in millions of daily lives. Unfortunately, it’s evolved and grown at a cost – it’s caused the use of language to devolve terribly, as this article link I posted to our Facebook page would suggest.
While texting someone is quite often convenient and effective, it really is degrading many people’s communications skills. Trying to fit a complete thought into 160 characters (140 for Twitter) is challenging. That’s a big reason I like iMessage (and BlackBerry Messenger before it) so much, as there are no per-message limits. It allows me to complete a thought correctly.
For others, though, text messaging is their primary mode of communication and shortcut phrases are a way of life. The problem is, it’s hard to read. In some cases, I’ve asked people to call me, rather than look for my “decoder ring” to decipher their messages.
I try to use proper grammar/punctuation in my text messages, at least when auto correct doesn’t try to “help” me. If I can’t make it work, it’s time for e-mail or a phone call. Following that plan ensures that I’m presenting myself and my thoughts in the best way possible.
So, do you pay attention to grammar/spelling, or are you a “decoder-ring” type of texter? Let us know here – looking forward to the conversation.
