While texting is a common form of communication these days, it still requires that we maintain a level of basic etiquette. And while this may sound simple enough, often good manners are ignored. When this happens, texting can turn sensible people into rude and thoughtless people.
Here are a few items to remember.
Texting is casual communication to be used in combination with face to face and other verbal methods.Spell all words, eliminate confusion.Never use all CAPs, it is the equivalent to yelling.Texting doesn't require a response.There is always a time and place for it. Not anytime and anyplace.Texting while dining with friends or family is rude.Never text to someone while you are driving a car. It is very stupid because it is very dangerous.
In today's world, high tech has replaced high touch in many instances. We are geared to multi-task. We are self-absorbed and don't realize many our communications are simply sound bites. This is especially true for texting. Text messaging transmissions are limited to 140 characters per text. Any more than that becomes multiple texts. If the original text or response is more than 140 characters, it probably should be an email or verbal instead. Voice and face to face communications are imperative for any relationship.
Be aware of it becoming a habit. The tendency today is to text although it is just as easy to pick up the phone and call. Communication, according to dictionary.com is defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". The operative word is interchange. Texting etiquette sometimes fails at this. In a text, the sender is not necessarily looking for a response. If you want a response, then you should ask for it in the text.
Texting is casual. It can minimize the strength and meaning of your communication. Think about the message you are sending and consider how your words might affect other people. For example, sarcasm is extremely difficult to communicate in a text. Spell all words out instead of abbreviating. This will keep your message clear and alleviate miscommunication, confusion and often time's annoyance. It is also important to distinguish between casual or more formal methods of communicating. For example, invitations to planned events are formal and wouldn't be appropriate in text form.
Texting while dining is completely out of line. Whether home or in a restaurant, it's rude to the people around you. And if everyone at the table is texting, why are you together? The same goes for movies. Yes, it's rude, but you also do yourself an injustice. You miss key features and nuances of the movie and the light from your phone is probably distracting others in the theater.
Texting is a tool that requires the sender to be cognizant of his or her surroundings. It requires us to focus on the words we are saying and make sure that we are succinct and clear in our messages. It is important to follow these basic rules of etiquette and support the high tech human world we live in.
Karen Anise has over 20 years' experience in private, public and corporate finance. She enjoys sharing her commonsensical knowledge about current topics recognizing that her subject matter comes from practical experience in various environments. She is committed to sharing to encourage people to be deliberate in all aspects of living peacefully.
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