Let's face it: we love to text. We love it so much that we send about 2.3 billion texts every day.
And why shouldn't we? It's quick, it's convenient, and it's something we can do pretty much wherever we are, no matter what we're doing. I can have an entire conversation with a friend while sitting in the middle of a crowded movie theater without disturbing anyone, all thanks to the almighty text.
But, as Peter Parker was told in Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. We text so much that we often forget how easily it can get us into trouble.
Have you ever sent a text to a friend that was meant to be sarcastic, but they took it seriously? Have you ever gotten into a fight because of it? One of the biggest problems with reading a message from someone—whether it's a text or an e-mail—is that you're not getting their tone of voice. Without a well-placed smiley face or a "J/K, " a texted joke can be misinterpreted and suddenly turn into a confrontation.
What if you accidentally text the wrong person? In my cell phone, my best friend Mia is listed right above Mom in my Contacts. Even though I try my best to be careful, there have been a couple of times where I've gotten too excited about sharing something to double check the recipient box beforehand. One time, my mom got a text from me describing a guy I had a crush on, in detail. It certainly could have been worse, but it wasn't something I wanted her to read, either.
Maybe it's the sheer speed of text conversations that makes them so susceptible to misunderstanding. But one of the best things about digital communication is that you don't have to respond right away. When someone texts you, it's not like they're standing there tapping their foot, waiting for your reply. But for some reason, we forget this. We get into this mindset where, because we're reachable by text, we think we're supposed to be readily available to everyone we know twenty-four hours a day.
This isn't the case, though, and it's not a fair expectation to put on yourself—or the person you're texting. When someone sends you a text, feel free to take a few minutes (take a few hours—you have a life!), process what they've said, and then respond. And remember that once you've texted it, it's out there in the world, permanently. You can't take it back or stop the person you've sent it to from showing your text to other people. So if you happen to be in an argument, really think before you text.
There are many ways to avoid potential texting mishaps, but there's one easy alternative that'll cut down on most of them and, if nothing else, keep your fingers from cramping up:
Use your voice.
If you choose to talk instead of text, there's a much smaller chance of your tone being mistaken, you know your messages are getting to the right person, and unless that person is recording your conversation, it won't go on your permanent record.
Plus, talking is good practice for the future. It's a skill you'll need for class presentations, college interviews, and, later, job interviews and work relationships. You might get away with conducting an entire friendship over text, but you wouldn't end a job interview with a "Thx, TTYL!" Would you?
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