It's the Little Things
#12 - SMS Culture
Almost ten years ago, when I was visiting my friend in Germany, I noticed that everyone there communicated by text message, rather than actual phone conversations. Having just gotten my first cell phone maybe a year earlier, I don't know if I'd ever sent a text message in my life, let alone have it as part of my everyday mode of communication. This was all very perplexing to me.
Eventually, in the last few years, the U.S. got with the times and people started texting more and more. I found out that I LOVE texting because I hate talking on the phone so very much - could we possibly come up with a more awkward form of communication? But, I would still not consider text a "mainstream" mode of communication, and by that I mean that you might text your friends, but you would not do business that way. And there's a good chance that your mom doesn't know how to text, am I right, America?
Like in Europe, text messages (SMS) are a common form of communication here in Australia. It is pretty fair to assume that most people you may have contact with, young or old, probably know how to text and do so frequently. My favorite thing is when I make an appointment for, say, a haircut, rather than getting a reminder via auto-dial phone, it comes via SMS. For my last hair appointment, I got a text from the salon the day before that just asked me to text "yes" or "no" back to confirm. Yesterday, I gave blood at the International Red Cross, and I even got an appointment confirmation via text for that.
Back in the Dark Ages, it took me a long time to write a text message, especially since I never mastered T9, and typed out every letter manually. But with the Smartphone era, what's not to love about SMS culture? My phone even has that amazing Swype keyboard thingy. So fast. So fancy. I heart you text messages. Let's never talk again.
I am such a fan of this! I loved that at my last job, my district manager was a great fan of text messaging, and I would just send him a message to get approval or an opinion on something. If it was really necessary (complicated), he would call, but otherwise it was all texts. I completely agree with your last sentence!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would have LOVED to have been able to text my boss! Less talking, more texting (except in person, of course. I am actually happy to talk to people in person ;-) ).
ReplyDelete