Parents and text messaging
Text messaging, or “texting” is everywhere. If you choose to do so, it’s a great way to keep up with tweens and teens.
I became proficient at it after Hurricane Katrina. We had friends from New Orleans living with us when they were forced from their home and though their cell phone service didn’t work, text messaging still did.
I think it’s handy now because I can communicate with my teen without causing her too much (more?) embarrassment and she can send brief messages to me at work if needed. Also, my husband is a teacher and can’t always make or receive phone calls, so it’s nice to be able to send him a short message.
And, no it’s really not necessary to learn an entirely different language in order to text.
Although I’ve been doing it for quite a while, it’s apparently news that parents are getting in on the act.
U can do it 2!
(I was reading the referenced article and enjoying it until I got to the part:
“Text messaging is perfect for moms because it doesn’t require a BlackBerry or high-end data device, but can be used on any phone,” said Roger Entner, a senior vice president at IAG Research.
I was just a bit distracted. What is that supposed to mean?
Perhaps it’d be better to say, “Text messaging can be used by almost everyone with a regular cell phone?”)
hmm, sounds like that caveman commericial, but moms are now Cavemen.
And this coming from a guy working at an audience research firm? I guess that explains why they were cheap enough for Nielsen to buy them out.
Though I can’t figure out if he is slapping women for being “too stupid to use a high end device” or “assumes all moms are of the Stay-At-Home variety and thus wouldn’t need a ‘corporate’ phone” Not that it matters, since either way proves he is an idiot.
Ouch.
My kids aren’t quite old enough yet to need or want to text, but I’m sure they will soon enough (or whatever’s in vogue at the time). But I text all the time with friends, colleagues and Twitterers, and one thing I’m determined to do and teach my kids to do is spell correctly. None of this “I thnk u r kool” crap. “i m goin 2 pick u up @ 2″. No way. I text, and they’ll text, in more or less grammatically correct sentences or else.
We have unlimited texting on our plan and it is wonderful.. I can send my kids a message, and they read it, because they are obsessed with texting. Generally, they answer, and I don;t see any eye-rolling, shoulder-shrugging attitude. It is lovely. And, I text in complete, gramatically-correct sentences. It drives them crazy.