Text messaging has been around for some time now. But with the proliferation of portable texting devices, it has encroached more and more into our social fabric with each passing day.
I am not new to the technology. As a matter of fact, I can say with some pride that my entire family did regular text chats as early as 1994. Fifteen years ago, that was cutting edge communication. It was expensive for everyone to participate, but we did it because it was a convenient way to stay in touch and get the latest family news.
It was conversational. We talked. When we were finished, we said goodnight. It was as if we had all gathered together in a room and had a nice chat.
Fast forward to 2009, an era in which we are constantly bombarded with one line text messages. Some are of little or no significance, yet one wonders what the proper protocol is for dealing with these textual assaults. What is the expected etiquette?
Does every text message merit a response? Are we then obligated to engage in a text conversation? And when we do respond, is it proper to continue until the conversation is officially ended?
If I get busy and just don't answer at some point, am I being rude? Can I possibly offend someone by doing nothing?
I don't know what is considered proper these days, but I am old-fashioned and think that any conversation should have a greeting, some useful stuff in between, and a "goodbye" at the end. That way all parties know that a conversation has occurred and that the session is officially over when you have finished.
Just like now. This post is over, so goodbye already!
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Hi Richard:
I'm really an old fashioned kind of gal! I would rather pick up the phone, as opposed to texting...I like to give a Hello, how are you and an official good bye!
In the lines of texting etiquette....I just saw someone on a bicycle yesterday, riding his bike on the highway and texting at the same time. Now THAT was a first!!!
Richard, I text in all caps just to show what a cad I am - LOL. Not really, Texting is full of TLA's 4 folks that r HBB. If you are not in the groove, U need 2 B...
Richard, you and I are in the dark ages. And, I agree with you. Have you looked at any of the kids texts these days. I have to have a decoder card to understand it. Today's version of pig-Latin!
Sometimes I respond with a simple "k"
which of course means "ok"
boy am I lazy
your friend for Charlottesville Real Estate!
I personally love the text. It is a non-evasive way of communicating with your clients or fellow agents. Makes the most of their time and yours. My husband is an old fashioned guy and would rather pick up the phone, but he too has joined the 21st century and now wants a cell phone that will enable him to text easier.
Toula...
I guess we just don't get it? A bicycle, of all things! lol and thanks.
Michael...
I never use any abbreviations when texting other that "lol!" THX my friend.
Gabe...
It's a form of shorthand, that's for sure! Thanks, as always!
Richard, etiquette in texting - not sure if that's an oxymoron or not but it feels like it :) I have another pet peeve. How about the meeting you're in and the person across the table is either on twitter or texting the whole time. Now that I have a problem with. Good points you bring up - it's a convenient tool - but let's do remember our manners.
Pamela
Ohhh boy I love texting. It's so easy- I never have to worry about how to get off the phone with "chatty cathy". Texting is short...to the point...and such a time saver. That being said- I agree some people need a lesson in communication skills. Gimme that one liner "k" to let me know you get what I said...or gimme a "TTYL" as your official goodbye. TTFN...
Good by.........
OOPS forgot the Greeting.......Good morning Richard
Texting has been a boon for geting info like phone numbers or email address to people, and communicating with colleagues while they are at seminars and getting bored LOL
When someone sends me a text that I feel is worth a response, then I reply back. But when it's someone randomly forwarding me another joke or funny picture, I never send a message back. In the end I don;t think it's rude if you can't respond right away, just like sometimes your calls go to voicemail.
Richard, I am using texting more and more in my business. I think I feel a blog coming on about this!
Charles...
Yeah, gotta save that "O" for something really useful! lol and thanks.
Bridget...
It's "email on the go" I expect ... but there are MANY times when a call would be more efficient. Thanks for the comment.
Pamela...
I think that is very distracting ... and quite rude. Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment.
I pay a lot of money for an exclusive 800# for use by the public. I have no intention of paying for texted messages that are borderline imcomprehensible.
Back in the 1870s, I used e-mail at the SEC. We were trailblazers. In the early 1990s, I used chat rooms.
Today, I focus on e-mail and the phone. It just works for me.
I have to agree with Mike; texting IS a way to avoid a half hour on the phone with "Chatty Cathy!" It's equivalent to leaving a message on someone's answering machine when you're sure they aren't there, to avoid being "stuck."
Richard - I was an early adopter of email, an early adopter of voice mail, an early adopter of the internet (started with it when it was Arpanet in the late 70's), I was an early adopter of chat rooms, but I have still not become an afficianodo of texting. One, my fingers are too big. Two, I would rather talk then text. I do receive text messages, but, I usually respond by phone.
On the other hand, in 2000/2001 I was leading a world-wide program that require I travel, well, world wide. My S.E. Asian project manager, from the Phillipines, texted with his girlfriend all the time, from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, etc. It was a lot cheaper than voice conversations, less than a penny a message instead of dollars per minute.
Thankfully I don't get that many text messages, more emails. No client or colleague uses text to get me. I am off the hook on this one.
And because Richard is on an ettiquette thing, I will let the fact that Lenn was emailing in the 1870's pass.... :D
Have you seen the 'Texting and Driving PSA' video they made in the UK? It made me never want to text again, EVER! It is available on youtube.
I thnk txtng iz gr8. it dsnt reqir a phn cll, but gets ur mssg acrss. & thn, tag ur it! :-)
Richard ~ I finally bought a BlackBerry phone about a week ago and I love it. I do not pay for texting. You can do this for free BlackBerry to BlackBerry. Joe (husaband) and I are already getting used to texting and thought our fingers were too big at first too like Mike up there but now its getting easier as a I go.
The best feature is I get my emails on it and I can be anywhere and reply.
Featured @ Club Chaos
Richard,
Sometimes when I do try to IM, the person I'm attempting to contact is carrying on multiple conversations at the same time. :)
Steve
You are absolutely correct - and it's just good manners. But unfortunately we have become an abbreviated world that moves much to quickly sometimes. I was always taught that you closed ANY conversation - no matter the topic or the medium.
Thanks for a great refresher! Have a great day!
Hi Richard,
I love texting and advertise in my local ads, "TEXT ME NOW" I get a lot of buyers who really appreciate instant answers. I also understand the other side of this, not getting names and numbers from people (actually, you get the number) but I feel that people respect me for not being overly zealous with them about getting their info. I've picked up many buyers this way. I get straight to the point, no, "hello's" and "goodbyes" however I do always end with a "thank-you". Cindy
Richard: I wish my cell phone didn't even have the ability to text. If you can text me, you can email me. For God's sake, take the time to spell out a word. The English language is being mutilated for the sake of convenience. I find portable email a great thing, but I will only text when necessary.
I agree that you need to know morse code for some text messages. I actually think it is a pain in the butt, I'd rather just call the person, if I can. It promotes such bad grammar, too.
Chris Hallmark - http://www.freerealestatemarketinglab.com
Follow m on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/remarketinglab
I love texting for certain circumstances, like a quick comment or a quick answer to a quick comment/question. I think it has probably gotten out of hand for some, but it has its place in a business environment, too. As others have said, though, we should mind our manners, which are quickly disappearing. We should not let technology determine what's right or wrong. And I totally agree with Chris Ann about the effect it is having on the English language.
No I don't think so - texting is not the same as email, phone calls etc. Short to the point with not a lot of frills. I don't take offense -seems normal to me when my clients text me with no greeting etc.
What I do take offense to is grown up professional people that sit through entire meetings texting the entire time. There is a guy in a chamber group of mine that this is all he does. Doesn't pay attention to the speakers - not one bit. Would I use his services. NO!!!! That is flat out rude in my book - and really stupid biz practice. I'm not the only one who notices he does this. He's in his late 20's . Has that become acceptable to that age group?
I also think a conversation should have a hello and goodbye. We may be getting so used to Tweeting that we forget to end the conversation or run out of space.
Richard,
My kids think I'm amusing because I don't use abbreviations and I do use punctuation in my text messages. I took enough rulers across the knuckles in grammar school to forget now.
Rich