I like using the text messaging feature of my phone. I use it a lot with my family. Hubby always makes fun of me and tells me to just call, it’s so much faster. It is, but I’ve been texting for about 5-6 years now I think and it’s hard to stop. I used to send as much as 100 messages a day, if not more, but I’ve cut down to maybe 10 a week? So that’s pretty good.
Last night something happened that kind of showed why text messaging is not good.
I received 2 text messages from a girl. I assume it’s a girl based on the message, when you read the message you wouldn’t think it came from a guy either.
Text#1:
From: KIMBK44@……COM
Our su-gang2 R U having a sweet dream?”I wish good luck to U,especially today..HIM NAE-
Received: 1:40:46!!!!!
Text#2:
From: KIMBK44@…….COM
Did you get a Good sleep? Today is foggy..I saw the pictures in UR CY..kk.awesome!!I just have 24 more days..T.T I am sure U do well”
Received: 9:00:10
When I heard my phone go off last night, the first thing I thought of was that there was a family emergency. My parents are on vacation back in Asia. And it would have been daytime for them. I almost threw my phone, I was so mad.
The numbers it came from were 30600002 and 30600001. A quick google shows it came from ROGERS’ 2-way text messaging service via their website. I just signed up to make sure and sent myself a message, it came up as 30600003. Gonna go contact ROGERS now and make sure they block that girl from my phone. There were some people saying they’ve received very disturbing texts from porn companies. I can’t believe I’m getting junk mail on my phone now too.
From the top of my head, here are some text messaging etiquette:
- Keep your messages short and sweet. If you need to send a detailed message, use email instead.
- DON’T USE ALL CAPS, and be aware of your tone. As with email, it’s hard to read your tone. You could be mad/joking/flirting and the other person might not get it.
- Don’t use text for serious matters.
- Don’t forward chain messages. I already get enough in my inbox, I don’t need it in my phone.
- Don’t drive and text.
- Don’t drink and text.
- Don’t get upset if you don’t receive a reply right away. Give people time to respond. They might be busy or not as adept at texting as you are.
- Don’t text at any hour of the night, unless it’s an absolute emergency. See text #1 above, R U having a sweet dream? If the person who was supposed to receive this is the same as me, he would have been thinking “You woke me up and you’re asking if I was having a sweet dream!!!”
- Make sure that you’re recipients really want to receive your text. I’m not sure if it has been implemented but some companies were gonna charge for incoming text messages. You don’t want to add to your friends phone bill, do you?
Do you have any other text messaging tips?
