I read an article in the Sunday edition of a local newspaper that a fifteen year old girl had sent and/or received an astonishing 14,590 text messages in one month. At first glance I thought that it was a typo, but upon seeing this figure repeated over and over throughout the article, I was blown away.
14,590 text messages?! I cannot fathom doing that; I don't care how much time I have on my hands, arthritis would set in before I could reach such a milestone. Don't get me wrong, I like texting. For me, it's one of the best methods at my disposal to keep in touch with friends of mine that I don't see all that often. I have friends throughout the country as well as the world and a text message is perfect in order to say hello and see how they're doing.
Another great aspect is that texting is less intrusive than a phone call. Some people feel obligated to answer the phone, regardless of where they happen to be, which can be annoying and disrespectful. A text message is something that you can receive, read, and then reply at your leisure.
You also don't have to commit a lot of time to sending and receiving text messages, although the figure mentioned above would suggest otherwise. A phone call can go on for hours, distracting you from what you're doing. A text message is something that you can get, reply to and then go about your business, and then come back to it and take it from there.
There is one thing that I don't like about texting. It has become a substitute for face-to-face conversation. I was walking through the mall the other week, and saw two young girls texting each other, even though they were only a few feet apart. I don't get that. I prefer face-to-face, but sometimes it's just not possible.
Maybe we're too dependent on technology as a way to communicate with one another. But I'm guilty of this reliance, like most of us likely are. I am lost without my cell phone and the options it gives me in keeping in touch with friends and family. The irony of it all is, is that I'm a huge fan of the old fashioned written letter. It's a lost art in my opinion and one that I strive to keep alive in my own little way.
I will never send or receive anything close to 14,590 text messages, not even within a year's time, and I hope I never do. I like texting, as I'm sure most do, but I can't help but feel that this new technology is making our personal interaction impersonal.
