Text Messaging Causes Illiteracy and Death
Text messaging by cell phone, not by computer (most of the time), promotes illiteracy and can even result in death. You may be thinking to yourself that I'm completely full of shiitake or some other colorful metaphors, but I don't have to prove I'm right.
In The News
While I was in back in the US in February and March, I watched the news on television almost every day. Reading the news on the Internet just isn't the same. I was surprised by how many of the local automotive accidents were attributed to cell phone usage while driving and even more surprised that text messaging was the culprit instead of voice chatting.
Some of those accidents resulted in the death of drivers, passengers, or both.
"Texting" Observations
Before I brought a cell phone back with me to the Philippines, I observed my relatives in the US sending and receiving text messages. Since I've returned, I've observed relatives in the Philippines sending and receiving text messages. Now, I'm starting to send and receive text messages on a regular basis. I've seen all kinds of abbreviations for words and phrases I'd never expect to be abbreviated, along with the usual suspects.
When I worked at a trucking company, every single text character transmitted from operations to the individual trucks cost money. It made sense to abbreviate as much as possible. We even had lists of appropriate abbreviations for use on our end as well as by the truck drivers. Text messaging by mobile phone is charged per message, not by text character. Why is it then that no one seems to want to spell out anything?
If you're annoyed by the text abbreviations that people use, put yourself in my position. Not only do I have to figure out the abbreviations for the English words, I also have to figure out the abbreviations for the Tagalog (Filipino) words. I never send abbreviated text messages because I want to be understood by every recipient. I even send text through the IM to my wife's cell phone in the US. Neither of us abbreviate anything to each other. Despite English being her second language, her spelling and grammar is better than most native English users.
Other Observations
If you've ever observed people walking and talking on their cell phones, or seeming to talk to themselves because you don't see the earpieces they're using, you ought to watch people keying in text messages or reading text messages while they're walking. Locally, they pay more attention to their cell phones than what's going on around them. You can't imagine how many times I've had to slam on my brakes for people walking into the street while gawking at their cell phones.
The most annoying thing I've dealt with is when I'm having a conversation and the person I'm talking to interrupts me so he or she can read a text message and reply. By the time his or her attention is back on me, I've forgotten what I was going to say next.
Proposed Text Messaging Improvements
As part of an experiment I've been conducting for more than a month, I've been asking people to spell out the word they're abbreviating on their cell phone. Guess what? More than half of them can't spell the words correctly, even in their own language. I'm no spelling bee champion myself, but I find it very sad when an American can't spell simple words in English or when a Filipino can't spell simple words in Tagalog. They abbreviate the text messages because they don't know the correct spelling and don't want to look like fools by trying to spell them out.
Cell phone manufacturers can promote literacy if they choose to do so. It shouldn't be too hard to include acronym finders and auto-complete functions that expand abbreviations into full words and phrases in the operating systems of even the cheapest cell phones. Common abbreviations would eventually be standardized and people would at least be able to read in full text.
There are no improvements I can suggest to replace human stupidity.
What do you think?
Cell phones aren't the only devices where people abbreviate needlessly. I see it on the instant messengers and even on blogs. Thank goodness the people I follow on Twitter only abbreviate the website addresses they point me to (using short URL services).
Am I naive in thinking that people will eventually change, or that the companies that make cell phones (or control the operating systems) will ever make text messaging a better experience? Am I the only one being annoyed on a regular basis? Am I the only one who cares?
Similar Posts:
At a company I used to work at our boss was a big Blackberry user. She had a car accident because she was texting on the Blackberry and talking on her cellphone at the same time as she was supposed to be driving.
Frank C’s last blog post… Phillumney – The Hobby of Collecting Matchbook Covers
About 10 years ago I loved to do the abbreviation thing, but I don't do it anymore. Yes, it takes me longer to type my text messages, but otherwise it just looks so juvenile.
On the other hand, my nephew's spelling has improved SO MUCH since he started texting. Then again, he also doesn't abbreviate.
What I think is ironic is when I work at the mall and there are people who are obviously there together and each one is on a cell phone holding a separate conversation. Together, yet worlds apart.
As of July 1st, talking on a cell phone while driving will be illegal here in California. Funny thing is that people can still use headsets. I don't think holding a cell phone while driving is what causes accidents…I think it's preoccupied people trying to talk while driving that causes the accidents.
Lisa’s last blog post… My CVS Deals 5/11 – 5/17
I don't hold conversations while I'm driving either. It also distracts.
For some reason I can't bring myself to abbreviate words while text messaging. Even if I'm pressed for time, I can't do it, it just makes me feel stupid.
I don't think most folks can drive if they don't either have the phone stuck to their ear or they are text messaging. You are right that their English is awful too. I wonder if they allow some of this in school? Just saying. Have a great day RT.
Comedy Plus’s last blog post… Mimi's Labor of Love
I don't think it's allowed in most schools, but I'm sure students are doing it discreetly.
THere was a UK series called Grumpy Old Men where they interviewed famous people about all manner of topics and one time they dealt with text messaging. One guy insisted on spelling and punctuating his IMs perfectly just because he could.
I wouldnt abbreviate either, but the truth be told, I cant text message to save my life, mainly because of the backspace key on my zoolander phone ie I dont which key does the delete, so my texts are misspelt, abbreviated and almost illegible even to seasoned text messagers to the point I need to phone the person up to tell them what the message says.
Driving and texting is retarded, texting at dinner or with friends is downright rude. Sorry, I am turning into a grumpy old man!!
Ed’s last blog post… Of Burma, elephants and teak
If you need to call to explain the text, well you just need to cut out the middleman (the text). It's like duplicated effort.
Here in Alberta, there are a lot of jobs that require your work truck to double as your office. My truck is complete with an inverter, laptop, hi speed internet and printer. And, of course, phone. Mine is a handsfree system which connects wirelessly via bluetooth to my Razor handset.Now I can answer the phone without holding it to my head.
I can barely manage that while sitting still!
I think the problem comes in when some of these guys I work with try to take notes while driving. Ask the person on the other end to hang on the line, pull over and write from a parked position. Of course, you can always let a call go to voicemail and take care of it later.
Texting while driving?
Tim’s last blog post… Discovery Ridge in Calgary
I suppose each person is different. Truck drivers use headsets and it doesn't seem to be a problem. I tried that once and nearly had an accident. It's too distracting for me.
Texting while driving absolutely diverts attention from the road. Anyone doing it is an idiot and I don't care what they think of me for saying so.
Ok, I had to come back to make a confession. I text while I drive. I know, I AM an idiot
Okay, Lisa, go and sin no more.
Texting while driving is dumber than skydiving without a parachute.
That being said, I think extreme texting encourages kids to lose what little literacy they might possess.
Chatspeak is utterly banned in my home.
Data points,
Barbara
Barbara Ling’s last blog post… 21 Days to a more profitable blog – Day 1! Internalize from where online money comes.
I agree. Text messaging does seem to promote illiteracy.
What drives me nuts is that kids actually think this is the way we write these days. Take 43T for example. It's a popular social networking set that allows people to list and share goals with each other. A large number of the users on the site are teens and most of them use text writing to communicate. I can't even read it anymore. It drives me crazy.
Do their teachers allow them to write like this in school?
Carrie’s last blog post… Callas From Yangmingshan
I don't text often, it is bad for the fingers and my mind.
[...] Text Messaging Causes Illiteracy and Death [...]
Here in OR, USA we just got a new law that makes it illegal to do a lot of distracting things while driving including having dogs on your lap or eating while driving. It is also illegal for teens to use cell phones when driving, although not adults. I hope eventually they will add more things to the list of distracting activities soon since there are way too many people being killed and injured in cars each day.
Here in California you have to have a hands free device when using your cell phone while driving and texting is totally against the law. I still see people doing both all the time though.
I think it is an excellent law though, especially since there is evidence that a major train wreck happened in California recently because the train engineer was texting passengers on the train. Texting is just plain bad.
My latest blog post: Kids GPS Phone: A Brief Introduction
I just want to say thanks. In a world of idiots, keeping up proper grammar is so hard. Something that is second nature to even second graders is looked down upon by today's youth. Without people like you, this would would crumble back into the dark ages.