My love-hate affair with text messaging

There was a time when I maligned the idea of text messaging at every opportunity. In fact, when I got my first cell-phone contract about six years ago — which alone was a huge step for me — I specifically opted against including text messages in my monthly plan. I truly did not understand the point of it: Why would I type out a message to someone when I could simply call the person and tell him or her what I intended to say? Especially when it takes many times longer to type out a text than it does to simply dial a number, the whole idea seemed like a waste of time. The only practical use for text messaging, in my mind, was scenarios where phone conversation was impractical — in a noisy bar, for instance, or in places that need to stay quiet. Neither scenario was compelling enough for me. I associated "texting" with 14-year-old suburban kids at the movie theater on a Saturday night.

I still don't have text messaging on my phone plan, which means it costs me extra to send or receive texts. Recently, though, I've discovered uses for the feature that I never would have considered in my formerly close-minded mentality. Sometimes I wish to communicate something, but the thought alone doesn't merit a full phone call, which necessitates standard pleasantries and small talk that a quick text wouldn't require. Or occasionally the nature of the communication recommends a simple text over a phone call: If I need to decline someone's invitation, it's easier to text my regrets rather than call and explain in person, which would require an extensive apology and potentially awkward conversation. Contrary to my previous assertions, text messages are sometimes more practical and time-saving than phone calls. Consequently, I've been using them a lot more recently than I ever did in the past.

Nevertheless, because text messaging still isn't included on my phone plan and still costs extra, I need to be judicious in my use of the service. Thus, I offer my apology to anyone who has sent me a text and hasn't heard back. Chances are, you're in that group if you sent me one that didn't directly call for a response. Please rest assured that my silence does not stem from personal animosity. At this point, I'd still advise an old-fashioned phone call as the best way to reach me — unless, of course, you're bitter that I haven't responded to your message and wish to avoid an unpleasant conversation. In that instance, another text may be the best way to go.