So, I'm usually an "early adapter" of technology, and love all the new gadgets. But one thing I just can't seem to care about is cell phones and texting. To me, phones should be all about calling and actually talking to someone. Not sending little 3 or 4 word "sound bites" to each other. I can honestly say that I've never sent or received a text message. Twitter? Don't even know how it works! What about you, have you adapted to texting and 140 character or less dialog?
I bought my first cell phone a few years ago and really took to texting. My phone has letter buttons, like a mini-keyboard, so I don't have to use the number keys to write out words. I am a long time user of Twitter, although I don't tweet a lot. I much prefer forums like this one for interaction. I think it's because I find it easier to express myself in writing. I'm less articulate when speaking and I've never liked using a phone.
I have an iPhone, so it has the virtual keyboard. I really preferred the actual little flip phone keyboard that my old cell phone had over the virtual keyboard, although it helps a whole lot that the phone tries to "guess" what word I am writing; so often I don't have to type the whole word. I only send texts when forced to do so, and now that the texts also come through on my iPad, it makes it much easier, and I just answer on the iPad bluetooth keyboard, which is so much easier than trying to use the virtual keyboard. I do have a Twitter account; but I seldom use it. I never check it either; but sometimes when I am doing a survey or similar program, you get extra points for tweeting something, so then I do tweet it.
I never have gotten used to texting. I use it during the summer sometimes, when I am working on our camp. The area is wooded, and I can't get a good enough of a cell signal to make calls but, for some reason, texts will usually go through. Otherwise, it is certainly not a preferred mode of communication for me.
I hate having to type anything on my cellphone's tiny keyboard, but I will send a text message if I really have to. Fortunately I don't need to do so very often. I have a Twitter account but mainly I only use it to promote articles I write on sites like Best Writers (formerly Elite Visitors) or to get information about a trending news story.
When we had the bad tornadoes go through Alabama a few years back, the cell towers were also knocked over, or oterwise damaged; so for a few days no one could make a phone call or send a text. Once they started to get some of the cell towers up and working again, we were able to send a text, even though we were not able to make phone calls. There were just so many people that were trying to use their cell phones and let family know whether they were okay or not, that the lines were clogged all of the time. Since it only takes about a second or two for a text to send; they went through much easier than a phone call could possibly do. In an emergency situation like that, it is definitely a good thing to have a cell phone with texting capabilities.
I prefer talking to someone in person. I rarely use my mobile for calls as usually the content of the caller is just nonsense or things that do not really matter (OK, I may sound like a snob, but I am not). My door is always open and if somebody wants to yak all day at me in person, I have no problem. I text mostly to friends when we are planning an event or canceling.
You say you write articles? Are you able to make good money at it? I've been looking for ways to make a few extra bucks, and have always enjoyed writing, but just don't know how to make it pay off. If you could share some ideas that would be great and much appreciated!!
I don't think we should hold off from texting and taking part in modern fads just because we are older than the target audience. I think we should embrace the stuff which is cool at the moment, as we'll be seen as cool by kids too.
For me it's not so much that "I'm too old for that", it's that I really don't like the impersonal nature of it. I see people, not just kids, who can no longer communicate. It's sad, my husband and I will go out to dinner, and sitting across from us will be a group of people, friends presumably, and all of them will be on their cell phone, either talking or texting - and quite literally ignoring each other!! Or you see the videos of people walking through public spaces and crashing into walls or falling in fountains because they're so intent on their phone screen. I think it's sad that the days of sitting down together with a friend or family member, and just leisurely talking seem to be gone. The days of going out to lunch to just "catch up" with someone, or going to a friend's for "coffee" have disappeared. Don't get me wrong - I love technology - you'll have to pry my iPod out of my cold, dead fingers, but sometimes the "old" days were so much better.
I refuse to text illiterate messages full of corny abbreviations, and devoid of punctuation, and my fingers don't navigate keyboards that are only a few inches wide very well, so I am not fond of texting. It seems particularly odd that I would spend ten minutes creating a text when I could press a different button and talk to the same person, getting it done in a few seconds. There are times when texting makes sense but there's no point in using that method of communication when more logical and convenient ones are readily available.
Right!! And remember when we were younger, you had "long distance" phone rates, so you couldn't call anyone who lived more than 20 or 30 miles away - because it was so expensive. Now, we can call anyone in the country, and talk for as long as we want, and it doesn't cost any extra!! Wow, I wish that were available when I was younger - we moved when I was 13, and I couldn't talk to any of my old friends, and ended up losing touch with them - boo. If I'd had the ability to talk to them for free, without my mother breathing down my back yelling about long distance fees, I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
Often I will send a text or (more often) an IM to one of my family, rather than call them. My two boys live at the other side of the country, and even though my daughter lives close by, she works and sleeps at odd hours. If I call, it could either wake her up, or disrupt her at work. If I just message her, and say "call when not busy", then she knows to call me; but that it is not an emergency. If it is seriously important, then I call her, and leave a message if she can't answer the phone. I usually do the same with my sons, just because i know they both have families and busy lives, and unless it is important; I don't want to disrupt anything. Mostly, I do not make calls or text either one; but I do enjoy the IM app on the iPad. It is easy to use with the hard keyboard, and I can send pictures when i want to. If a lot needs to be talked about, then of course, we call, since talking is much faster than typing.
I write for https://www.textbroker.com/ It pays on time and is a good site. The only thing you need to have is a good command of punctuation! I am always getting pinged for my comma usage, But if the client likes the article, the pay comes in regardless!
Oh, I get what you're saying. When my nephew got his first girlfriend, and I saw what they were doing when I went to pick him up, I thought I was going insane. No, they weren't doing any out of the line stuff, but something extremely stupid. They sat on the same bench, next to each other, and instead of talking face-to-face, they were texting. TEXTING when they were right next to each other!!! So yeah, technology is a blessing, but to some it is a curse.