What is the point of text messaging?

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NeutralMunchHotel

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Jun 14, 2009
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I think someoneone is confused as to how life works/ trying to pick holes in things that make most people go 'Hey! This makes my life easier'/ running out of ideas for threads.

Take your pick.
 

Cpt_Oblivious

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Jan 7, 2009
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Because, if the receiving phone is on silent, it's a more discreet way of sending a message. If you're telling someone you'll be late for something then it's also quicker than ringing them.

Texting is generally used for shorter, snappier messages. Like a "While you're out, can you pick up X for me?" which is a lot easier than calling someone.

It's especially useful for kids, whose parents will be worrying about what they're up to, to send a text saying they're OK and what the plan is, when they'll be home etc. than stop all your friends and ring your parents for a bit. Less nagging too.

Again, I'd have to go for discretion. My Dad sends me texts telling me he's outside, waiting to pick me up when I go to a party. Partly so I get the message and I'm not competing with background noise, but partly so i don't run off to answer the phone when I may be busy ;)
 

happysock

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Jul 26, 2009
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Because it's more discrete than a phone call, I can text someone while at work and not get caught were as I'd get a good bollocking if I was walking around on my phone having a conversation.
 

Cinnonym

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Mar 3, 2010
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I actually don't find it to be faster to call than text--while you may or may not get the person to answer their phone, your message will always be delivered to their inbox. Also, people check texts and hardly ever their voicemail (at least for everyone I know), and it rids us of the disadvantage of awkward pauses, holding phones to our ear or speaking loud enough for handsfree to work, multi-tasking distraction, etc.

Personally, I hate talking via phone. It always takes up more time than I wanted to waste and I can't do anything else at the same time without seeming an inattentive jerk.
 

AndyFromMonday

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Feb 5, 2009
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It's for telling people crap you wouldn't want others to hear. Like for e.g. that you want to buy weed, or that your Dog just "happened" to throw itself out the window.
 

Viptorian

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Mar 29, 2010
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Outside of the stuff other people have said, one of the reasons I text is so that I don't have to bother the person right away. A friend of mine is a PhD student and teaches a class as well - I never know where she is, so instead of calling her with stuff and potentially interrupting, I text it to her and she gets back to me when she's free.
 

MinishArcticFox

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Jan 4, 2010
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If you're in a crowded loud area this is a good thing I also occasionally text and play video games. Plus some things just don't seem to be worth the time it takes to make a phone call when I could easily say it in a few lines; for example 'I'll be home soon" doesn't really warrant a call.
 

thekrimzonguard

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Jun 8, 2009
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A phone call demands attention now, whereas a text can be replied to at one's leisure. If something needs sorting out right now then I'll call, but otherwise I like texts.
They don't force the recipient to drop whatever they're doing; they're great for loud environments or when you have poor signal; and good for non-urgent questions which don't need answering straight away where you'd have to write the answer down anyway.
I think I see the OP's point in that if you want to have a conversation, then calling is the best way to do that. However, you can still do a lot with texts!
 

reg42

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Mar 18, 2009
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It's cheaper, and you're hardly gonna call someone to say "Don't forget to turn off the stove".
 

Andalusa

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Feb 25, 2008
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So you can have a conversation with your friends in other classes without the teacher noticing? They're much more convinient than phone calls and I get them free on my phone, so cheaper as well.
 

KdS_22

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Dec 9, 2009
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A lot of people have said this so far, and I agree wholeheartedly: texting is more convenient for the person you're communicating with, especially if they may be busy or in a crowded area. I text more often than I call simply because of that reason. I also like texts because it gives you a little more time to think about your response or come up with a funny phrase. I love sending jokes through text messages, because with emoticons and other little changes you can actually convey your meaning better sometimes than you could in a phone conversation.

For longer discussions or important conversations, I always call. It's a little more personal that way.
 

rainman2203

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Oct 22, 2008
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Sexting is a lot easier to hide then phone sex in a public place.
...
Seriously though, it should be obvious why texting is popular and useful. Its like telepathy, but slower, less stealthy, and not nearly as cool. Talking on the phone makes you 'that asshole' in any public place, while texting just means your more likely to walk into oncoming traffic because you're not paying attention.

Plus the less time your phone isn't at your ear, the less your chances of getting brain cancer.
Now carpal tunnel... that's a different story.
 

Mr.Pandah

Pandah Extremist
Jul 20, 2008
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Haseo21 said:
I never got what the big deal about text messaging was. Its faster to call someone then send messages back and forth.
Can someone please elaborate.

Oh yea, and dont give me that "so you can talk to your friends during class" bullshit, you should be paying attention
Seriously? My explanation is the lack of commitment of a phone call. You can actually multi-task without having a phone stuck up against your skull. You can have private conversations when in public. And for some people, its just a lot easier.

Not everything is urgent either. Would you like someone to call you every time they're bored just to say whats up? I wouldn't.
 

elvor0

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Sep 8, 2008
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Because it's considerably cheaper? I barely ever phone people unless it's an emergency, I can cram a ton of stuff into 10p (provided I use broken english), which would cost tons more to ring someone.
 

Chester41585

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Mar 22, 2009
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I text because I usually have crappy reception where I'm at, or because I'm only sending one or two lines of information. Something like "Where's the ladle?" Or "How many gallons of vodka does the recipe call for?"
Usually something that requires a quick response, not warranting a full telephone call.