Ah, text messaging. It's become the new-age letter writing. I text when I can't talk on the phone, I text when I'm in a busy meeting, I text whenever I feel like I just need to say hi to my sweetie. But I have a beef.
Some people are still without unlimited text messaging service. And this pisses me off. I have taken the extra step of making sure that whenever I want to send a text, or if I get a text, it's already included in my bill plan. This is the in-thing to do. This is like crack to techies. Some of you will say, "But Ryan, a text message will never replace a good old-fashioned phone call." Well, maybe so. Maybe texts are never the appropriate time to say, "Honey, I think we need to break up" or "You're fired." But for those of us on the go, and like that instant communication without a lengthy phone conversation, this is the perfect solution to grab a cyber kiss during the day.
All I'm saying is that if I make the effort to include unlimited text messaging on my phone plan, then everyone should. In fact, I think phone companies should only include unlimited te
xt messaging. But for them, when peope don't sign up for unlimited, they stand a chance to gain a whole lot of money at $.10 a message for those who pay by the message. People like me like to annoy the $.10 a message people by sending them messages anyway. The other day I sent a text message, and the person called back and said, "Why don't you just call?" Umm, because I did not want to have this long involved conversation. I wanted to know one thing. Why do I have to waste 5 off-peak minutes to get one simple response?
On the flip side, I met a contact who gives me information for my job here and there. The same week I met him, he was texting me with some information. I have unlimited text messaging, so this works out great! Life is just so much easier this way.
Then there are the people who I send text messages to, and whether they have unlimited service or not, I still get no response 1/2 the time. Please, for the sake of my nerves, respond, or at least call back (which I find highly irritating, but not as much as a non-response to a text message).
Text messages are here for a reason. Let's use them! It's a great thing. My mom, for the first time ever, sent me a text message back the other day. If MY mom can use text messaging, so can you. But she is on the $.10 a message plan, also like my "mother-in-love" Mary. By the way I'm not directing this at Mary or my mother! That's my disclaimer. I think this commentary is mostly geared toward my generation. WE need to get with the program.
Just don't make me feel bad about sending a text message if I happen to share an interest in how your day is going... and it charges you $.10. I guess that means you're going to have to either assume the charges, or join me and the growing number of people who have unlimited text messaging on their plans. It'll save you the money, and me the headache.
4 comments:
Disclaimer: This is a little vulgar, but it just came to mind, so I'm sharing it anyway.
This blog is like a guy who just bought a bottle of viagra telling women... "Hey, I bought the unlimited hard-on plan, why aren't all you women letting me have sex with you all the time?"
Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but close. Not all women want to have sex just cause they can... same as not all people want to text just because they can.
My personal opinion, I like texting. I love technology. However, since my employer pays my phone bill, it's not up to me to decide if I can text or not. Plus, texting on a piece of crap phone like mine, is not much fun. You've got to press thirteen buttons just to say "hello". Someday, I will join you and the rest of my generation with my own snazzy phone so that we may text to our hearts content.
As a busy workin' lady who doesn't always have time to sit and chat, married to a busy workin' man whose schedule is unpredictable (that's you, babe)... I looooooove my text messages. And we definitely get our money's worth out of our $10 a month plan. It's nice to be able to send a quick little message just to remind one another that we're thinking about each other.
Oh, and when you're trying to plan a night out where you will actually be chattin' it up with friends, and everyone is at work... it's so easy to just send a few text messages around and then agree to meet up, at which time the real face-to-face conversation will commence. I'd rather talk to people in person than on the phone any day... I tend to reserve the phone for folks I don't see on a regular basis because idle conversation on the phone with people I see often is just boring.
So there. :)
Oh, and Michael... that's, like, really vulgar. Wow!
Well I disagree with the article, but I like how it was written. You took a stand and started some conversation. Good job!
I'm 100% with Mike and the viagra comment. I also hate text messaging. I don't like hitting a button three different times to get one letter. If I had a keyboard on the phone it'd be different, it's just not user friendly.
Also it's so much easier to call people to talk. You could spend what two minutes typing on the cell, when a call could last 30 seconds.
So the GG is against texting and hates the dime he's charged everytime people forget I don't have it.
But great article, keep it up Ry-Dog
BD
Post a Comment