Text Message Madness

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by euro Same here, but it is VERY hard to explain to people (even friends and family) that we pay by the text and by the minute, so please don;t include us on group texts that go on and on and on until everyone has added their comments or approvals Most of our friends and family think we are hailing from the last century - some are too young to even know that there are cellphone plans that are not "unlimited everything"

The issue is they all think paying $70/month for cell phone services is normal

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braumeister Many years ago (at least ten) I started getting emails from people who thought they were contacting a small business owner in Canada. His email address is the same as mine, with one letter different. They were usually things like contracts, progress reports from contractors, etc. At first I tried forwarding them to him with an explanation, but they kept coming. So I contacted him directly and asked him to be sure his contacts were using his address, not mine. His response was "Don't worry about it, just delete them. If they're that sloppy I don't want their business." I'm still getting (and deleting) them now and then.

I had a similar situation and started replying that he no longer works here. Problem was totally solved in a week.

[Cobra9777]

I rarely just pick up the phone and call someone anymore unless it's an emergency or extremely time sensitive. Even if I just want to chat with my brother, I'll first send him a text or email and say, hey let's catch-up, you got time for a call? If it's just a quick message or question, text is preferable because each party can respond when it's convenient.

I get very few if any commercial texts. I do get some email requests to fill out surveys and such. I don't mind it. If I have something to communicate, I'll do the survey. If not, I just ignore it and move on. Completely harmless IMHO.

[Bestwifeever]

My kids wish I didn't know how to text.

[Scuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever My kids wish I didn't know how to text.

[emoji23]

[Music Lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra9777 I rarely just pick up the phone and call someone anymore unless it's an emergency or extremely time sensitive. Even if I just want to chat with my brother, I'll first send him a text or email and say, hey let's catch-up, you got time for a call? If it's just a quick message or question, text is preferable because each party can respond when it's convenient.

Some of my friends run their own businesses and are very busy, so a text is often the most convenient way to send a short message. If I need to talk to one of them, I will send them a text and ask them to call me when they have a couple minutes.

[Scrapr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Lover Some of my friends run their own businesses and are very busy, so a text is often the most convenient way to send a short message. If I need to talk to one of them, I will send them a text and ask them to call me when they have a couple minutes.

this. Our dispatcher uses text all day long for jobs called in. Much easier than trying to transcribe what you are hearing (as you drive) an address. Now i just say I'm driving can you text that address? Works great. Then at the end of the day our dispatcher can scroll through and put his schedule together

Mrs scrapr called the other day as i was entering in payroll. You do not want to mess up payroll! So i pull off as we chit chat about dogs, family and other important stuff. I wish she would make an appointment to chit chat w/me

[GoodWishes]

Agree with others that text is less intrusive, quicker and more convenient.

DH and I talk to our parents about once a week. Our children text us much much more. Last night, DS texted us about his soccer game. He plays in a rec league after work. After working all day, playing soccer into the night, he would never call to tell us about it but he would take a few seconds to text us. We watched his every game when he was growing up. Now that he lives about an hour away, it is so nice to be in touch for such daily lives that is not important enough for a call

DS: Star forward scored a hat trick but wasn't enough
Me: You didn't help
DS: I was like 0-5 shooting haha

My cousin just learned to text so she can be in touch with her grandchildren often

[ncbill]

Never texted before the kids had smartphones.

Texts are just so darned convenient...I've come to prefer them over an actual call.

[exnavynuke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by euro Same here, but it is VERY hard to explain to people (even friends and family) that we pay by the text and by the minute, so please don;t include us on group texts that go on and on and on until everyone has added their comments or approvals Most of our friends and family think we are hailing from the last century - some are too young to even know that there are cellphone plans that are not "unlimited everything"

Have you considered just giving them the info on how to contact you on your (likely) preferred method of communication, telegraph?

[Rustward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Incoming text message... My response... Incoming message... My response... Incoming message... My response... Incoming message... My response...

Why don't you just ignore the texts?

I have to ignore a lot of messages on this forum.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustward Why don't you just ignore the texts? I have to ignore a lot of messages on this forum.

Can't put the messenger on ignore like I can on this forum.

Plus, my phone alerts me each time I get a message. Since I don't have a "spam" feature for text messages, I have to look at the message to be sure it isn't important. PITA.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Can't put the messenger on ignore like I can on this forum. Plus, my phone alerts me each time I get a message. Since I don't have a "spam" feature for text messages, I have to look at the message to be sure it isn't important. PITA.

You appear to suffer from a bit of last-text-itis (I am a fellow sufferer, and this is part of why my children wish I didn't know how to text) in responding to even the first text from the dealer.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever You appear to suffer from a bit of last-text-itis...

No I don't.

[wrl11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh If I operated this way, I would have zero social life.

Me too. Times are changing. I'd rather embrace it and be involved.

[Philliefan33]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Can't put the messenger on ignore like I can on this forum. Plus, my phone alerts me each time I get a message. Since I don't have a "spam" feature for text messages, I have to look at the message to be sure it isn't important. PITA.

You can change the settings on your phone so you do not get a notification/ alert every time a text comes in.

[audreyh1]

Back when I had an old flip phone (just two years ago!), it cost me 20c to send or receive a text, (as well as being super cumbersome to compose one), so I didn't like getting texts. And I couldn't have that feature without breaking my cheap legacy plan.

So it was some relief to migrate to a smart phone and have free unlimited texts. And now we are actually paying less for both smart phones and unlimited everything than we were paying for one smart and one dumb with restrictions on minutes, data and texts.

I mainly use it to receive alert texts from various financial institutions/credit cards etc., for receiving alerts about debits, etc. and for security notices, codes for 2-step verification , etc. It's super handy for this and if something suspicious happens I am notified immediately - $5000 charge on my Fidelity VISA - what?!?! Also to get status on trains/planes when traveling, etc.

But also family members send photos and messages by text rather than email. And texts are free for me overseas. And DH and I text each other occasionally - I'm just got done at the Doctor's, blah, blah.

So - it's super handy!

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philliefan33 You can change the settings on your phone so you do not get a notification/ alert every time a text comes in.

And if I do that and get an important text from someone I won't know it until I look at my phone, maybe 3 or 4 hours later. Not worth the risk.

[Koolau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by exnavynuke Have you considered just giving them the info on how to contact you on your (likely) preferred method of communication, telegraph?

Our kids refuse to use the waxed string and tin cans we prefer. But seriously, our $15 phones WILL text, but it takes a while since the letters are like ABC DEF GHI, etc. etc. YMMV

[imoldernu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby I have never texted, tweeted, snap-chatted or instagrammed. And, given that I have no cell phone and no plans to obtain one, it's likely I never will.

+1... 'cept for the cell phone... Only for when I go up to the loake for a day or three... Have only called my DW, and it's for emergency and "I love you" calls.
No one else has the number.