This post did not start out to become a lecture, of sorts, about texting.  We all know the good, the bad and the very evil of electronic communication.  As I picked up my phone to see my last text exchange, I stopped to research some thoughts from others…

• Texting creates, and, by nature, almost encourages, poor grammar habits. It also makes communication much less formal and can even make genuine statements seem insincere.  Yet, we are a society of gadget-bearing humans, rushing down streets on our way to somewhere, more focused on our phone screens than oncoming traffic.

• Text messaging cannot accurately convey tone, emotion, facial expressions, gestures, body language, eye contact, oral speech, or face-to-face conversation, it is more than likely messages will be misinterpreted or misunderstood. The real meaning of your message gets lost through the medium.

• Texting and using abbreviations for words means that we are losing our ability to have—or are at least avoiding—the traditional face-to-face conversations that are vital in the workplace and in personal relationships.

• Texting creates bad liars. “Sorry, I didn’t see your message!”  “You sent me a text? I didn’t get it.”  “Hey, sorry, I haven’t looked at my phone all day.”  Sound familiar?  Don’t lie, we’ve ALL done this!
  

• When people communicate primarily via text, they’re much less likely to have meaningful conversations.

All of this is just the proverbial drop-in-the-texting-bucket.  Nothing will change going forward, electronic communication is here to stay.  Phones have become our alarm clock, appointments, email, source of news, social media, camera, weather source, bank accounts and more. 

I am, therefore, guilty on all counts and this…is the last text on my phone, just the other day, to my daughter in Florida….

“When we come down I’m bringing a third NEW big rolling duffel bag with “provisions “ and leaving it there for Jake if he ends up boarding at college. I have new luggage for daddy and we don’t need it here.”

(Allow me to expand on the “provisions” comment which involves nothing subversive, just delicious. Trips down to our Florida family always involve bringing Auricchio Provolone, Pepperoni, New York Bagels, Lox and more.  Especially…bread… because any found in Florida is good only to clean frying pans and shower gunk.)

From Mama Kat’s Workshop’s Writing Prompts for 2/14/19….Pick up your phone, tell us about the last text exchange you had.

Wow, given the text exchanges most of us have each day, my response might have been far more interesting but at least it represents something special in the months ahead.  Time spent with precious family, celebrating a wonderful event!  Then, I gave some thought to the various texts we all send…and receive.  Certainly, this electronic medium is wonderful for sharing instant photos of places and things but, caught in the middle are the chances to hear someone’s voice and a more honest response from both parties concerning what’s involved at that moment.