My kids had blackberries and we used BBM (Blackberry Messenger) a lot, which is a sort of texting. They just switched to iPhones, so now we are using actual text messaging.

Kids seem to prefer text over making a call, though I am trying to teach them that there is a time when a call is appropriate (I don't check my phone constantly, and my phone rings with a call but doesn't buzz for a text, so if you want me to pick you up from the bus you better call me!)

I still use mostly proper spelling and grammar when texting. I appreciate that texting has space limits, so short cuts might be cheaper, but it just seems wrong.

LAST EDITED ON 12-04-12 AT 07:31 PM (EST)

I have an iPhone and a teenager, so the only way I hear from him is through texting. Personally, I despise texting as the keyboard is so damn tiny and that it keeps autocorrecting into the wrong word as my finger might slip ont the next key! ARGHGH. Much prefer email. Much prefer talking.

I don't get it when teenagers virtually refuse to actually speak to each other to make plans, but text each other obscure posts and nobody is quite clear on what is exactly going on as they just won't make the damn call! (yeah, you can see how frustrated I am with the whole fiasco, which I witness every Friday night with my son making plans (or not) with his friends or girlfriend) It boggles my mind that he won't just call his friends to confirm when and where they are meeting, but relies on getting the text that has no information!! ARGGHGHGH. And yes, my texts, when I MUST text, are always in full sentences.

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LAST EDITED ON 12-04-12 AT 10:31 PM (EST)

REally puts my 0 texts into perspective.

and try not to use. But when you're communicating with someone much younger it is pretty much the only way you'll get them to respond. At first it seems fun because it is a novelty. But a short phone call can accomplish everything a 10 text textathon can in so much less time. Part of my dislike about texting is how people get so wrapped up in it they disregard everything else going on around them. The small screen has sucked in a huge part of the population. We already had the big screen do that but it was limited because it was not portable. I just don't see this as a good thing. Now get off my lawn.

But a short phone call can accomplish everything a 10 text textathon can in so much less time.

This is true, and true of email as well.

LAST EDITED ON 12-05-12 AT 02:07 PM (EST)

1. Can't translate those texts on your phone?

There's an app for that!

In fact, research shows that 84 per cent of parents get texts from their children they cannot read.

2. Do you wonder how long it really takes to type and read a text message instead of English?

One study figured out that while it takes a little bit less time to text text-speak instead of English, it takes a lot longer to read it.

She says the message, which spanned two mobile phone screens, took 260 seconds to write in normal English, but only 220 seconds in textisms.

The participants took 14 seconds to read the normal English message, but 27 seconds to comprehend the textism message, and in many cases made mistakes.

In other words, it's about 15% faster to type, but it takes almost twice as long to read!

I'm lucky, I have two teenagers to translate for me!

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