Wednesday, March 25, 2009

.02


Apparently, in this tech-savvy-text-messaging-society, .02 means "my two cents worth." I did a Google search of chat language, and I was overwhelmed!
While I use the occasional acronym, I think it's sad that so many teenagers are losing the art of writing due to constant texting. English is becoming a second language and Text-speak has become common-place. Gone are the days of Pig-Latin and decoder rings, now we need chat acronym dictionaries.

While I don't think that teenagers actually use Text-speak when they're talking (though, I don't personally have teenagers yet), I've read about how some have a hard time writing research papers; and it's no wonder when some are sending up to 8,000 text messages a month! The comic Zits even makes fun of how texting has replaced speaking as a way to communicate.


While I'm all for technology and it's advancements, there comes a point where the convenience factor outweighs the benefits. I wonder what would happen if there was a National No-Texting Day. Would we cease to exist? Wander aimlessly wondering what to do with all of the free time? Curl into the fetal position and rock back and forth waiting for tomorrow?

I have witnessed the effects of no-texting as a punishment for a teenage boy. This boy could not get through eating dinner, playing a wii game or a having a normal conversation without answering/sending a text. When the phone was turned off he was pouting more and talking less. Perhaps it was out of anger, but apparently some people don't realize how rude it is to be carrying on another conversation when you're already in one.

Anyway, I've had my ".02" and I suppose I may look out-of-the-tech-loop, but hey, give me conversation and a cuppa coffee over an "OMG, did UC the QTPI @ the PRT?!" any day.



Thank goodness this commercial has subtitles! Ironically, going with unlimited text sounds like the wrong idea.

6 comments:

Jennifer said...

I'm with you. I've even told my MOM (who is otherwise quite classy)to get off the phone in a public place...not texting, but still, geesh!

Lorissa J. Longfellow said...

I like your .02. Really coffee or wine and friends talking is so much more interesting. Texting conversation has not depth. I'm on Twitter, but I don't feel connected to anyone on there, not that Facebook or MySpace is much better. I hope language doesn't suffer, but you do hear kids talking like they text. sad.

Anonymous said...

Well said! My teen does NOT have a cell phone nor does she text. Therefore her vocabulary is excellent!

Anonymous said...

Some friends of ours got what they thought was a phone book in the mail - turns out it was just their phone bill, but the company listed all calls & texts - their teens and tweens had sent so many that it was something like 250 PAGES printed out and sent along with the bill.

Caitlin said...

ha! Great post.
And I agree, too. My dad just added texting to my cell plan (well - I'm paying for it...), but it's only 250 a month. Because my friends did't seem to understand "no, I DON'T TEXT."
lol

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

i agree. i don't text. I do twitter, but not on a regular basis. I hardly ever use my cell phone. My friend came over yesterday and she was texting and on the phone the whole time. It was quite rude. She stopped by to visit me....?

=) melanie

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