Living Text Free

Ranked #5,529 in Parenting & Kids, #186,475 overall

I Don't Text


When the text messaging phenomenon swept through the world, I simply refused to participate. I immediately discovered that this is not a popular position to take. My children hide their heads in shame. My friends are appalled. Everyone wants a reason. So pay attention. I am only going to explain myself once. Can you hear me now?

Just Because I Am All Thumbs

Does Not Mean I Should Text

Let me point out that I am not anti-cell phone. I happen to own and have been known to occasionally use one.I am a proponent of spoken conversation. I simply do not text.

First of all, I choose not to pay for texting. Originally, I had my youngest daughter on my family plan. We had 700 shared minutes, of which she typically used around 692 minutes and graciously allowed me the rest.
She also needed unlimited texting. If you run over your allotted texts they are hugely expensive, even more than the unlimited text feature, and this girl is a very rapid and prolific texter.She is no longer on my plan.
I now have a very basic cell phone plan that is extremely affordable because it does not include texting. Why pay for a feature that I will never use?

We were on vacation in Canada and one morning I found a text message on my phone. It was from a couple in Southern California, thanking me for the lovely time they'd had visiting us and saying that we were welcome to stay with them the next time we were down in the Los Angeles area.
That was very sweet, but I had no idea who these people (I think their names were Gunther and Berta) were. They texted while I was out of the country which involved roaming fees on my bill.
I did not reply, hoping they would realize that they had the wrong number.
They texted the next morning and sounded annoyed that I had not replied. When I still did not respond, they decided to text me in my native tongue, which is apparently... German.This was the last text. I had to pay for them.

The thing that really annoys me are the spam texts. I started getting a lot of them and was very upset at the thought of being charged for them. Then I came across the article below.I followed the instructions and it worked.

How to Block Cellphone Spam

Pogue’s Posts Blog - NYTimes.com
David Pogue enlightens readers with little-known tips for blocking cellphone spam.

I Don't Do Hieroglyphics.

No Wonder Spelling is Becoming a Lost Art

I was amazed to discover that in the text messaging world, you don't even need to have a basic knowledge of spelling or grammer. In texting, everyone is encouraged to communicate in abbreviations and code language. The cell phone itself, aids in this endeavor by pre-programming the shortcuts and remembering the new ones that you add. Many of these abbreviations are codes designed specifically for teens.
For instance-
P911- Parents coming into room alert.
PAW- Parents are watching.
POS- Parent over shoulder. And so on.
As quickly as parents learn this lingo, it changes for teen security purposes.
The picture on the right is an example of what currently passes for communication.
It is taken from the Suite101.com article below on decoding text.

Decoding Text Messaging Lingo: A Beginner's Guide to SMS Etiquette
Does that look like gibberish for now? Don't worry; by the end of this article, it will all make sense.

I Rest My Case

Cartoon by Dave Coverly at Parade.com

Are You Really LOL?

How Can I Be Certain?

One of the main reasons I don't text is because when I speak with someone, I want to hear their voice. I want to hear the nuance, the texture, the emotion, the expression, the sound!
I cannot emotionally connect with a string of gibberish on a screen.
If you truly are laughing out loud, prove it. Let me hear that hilariously contagious sound so I can join in.
One of the last remembrances I have of my mom and dad is a recording of their voices.
It is the unique sound of them. It speaks to my heart.
No amount of saved text messages from a loved one could ever replace that.

THIS is LOL

Hear the Difference?

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Better Use Of Opposable Thumbs

Dial Telephones

Bring back the art of speaking out loud.
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Texting Can Cause Injury

Ha! I knew It

Beware the 'Blackberry Thumb' - US News and World Report
New repetitive stress injury caused by typing only with thumbs on hand-held devices.

And She is Not Alone!

Dangerously Scary Behavior

A person texting while driving is, according to the most recent data, 23 times more likely to crash, in some cases literally texting to death.
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Say What You Mean To Say

Don't Speak In Thumbs

Clumsy Thumbsy
by TheEllenShow | video info

4,356 ratings | 577,437 views
curated content from YouTube

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  • Reply
    ladykida Dec 21, 2011 @ 6:10 pm | delete
    Gr8 l3n5! Just kidding, nice job and I couldn't agree more about having basic. My cell company doesn't have contracts, instead they charge a flat rate for unlimited phn txt and internet. I don't want texting and internet and was told, "Well, don't use them."
  • Reply
    Close2Art Nov 9, 2011 @ 10:45 am | delete
    Great page, you make a good point about LOL, are they really laughing? Blessed...:)rob
  • Reply
    agoofyidea Nov 5, 2011 @ 9:52 pm | delete
    I don't text because I live in a bad cell phone area and usually forget to bring my cell phone with me. And I like it that way. Great lens.
  • Reply
    aesta1 Oct 23, 2011 @ 9:04 am | delete
    I have very limited use of my phone...I just have not gotten used to texting.
  • Reply
    kiwinana71 Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:41 pm | delete
    Love your lens. I do not have to worry about a cell phone or texting, because the area I live in has not got cell phone reception, they do not work in the hills, so I have no problems with texting. Thanks for sharing I know how you feel.
  • Reply
    Harshitha Aug 30, 2011 @ 3:11 am | delete
    I have just started with the text free life, and I am enjoying it. I was a texter and how! I would text notes and pages from the text books!
  • Reply
    Positivevibestechnician Feb 24, 2011 @ 2:53 pm | delete
    kids won't even answer their phones anymore the yjust text you back, how crazy is that
  • Reply
    WindyWinters Feb 23, 2011 @ 4:05 am | delete
    It's hard to keep up with technology. We have cell phones because we no longer have a home phone. I text between my adult children but use my cell like a regular phone. I don't agree with children having cell phones but that's another story. :)
  • Reply
    JeremiahStanghini Jan 28, 2011 @ 7:00 pm | delete
    I'll do you one better... I don't even have a cell phone!

    With Love and Gratitude,

    Jeremiah
  • Reply
    vernessataylor Dec 6, 2010 @ 11:01 am | delete
    LMAO! Just kidding, but I am laughing. Like you, I refused (for a long time) to join the text messaging craze. I really insist that it makes young people less literate by legitimizing their (already appalling) lack of grammar. For my peace of mind, my kids and niece were already finished with the English language basics before texting arrived.

    Well, I do text, ocassionally, but not on my cell phone. Since I use Google voice as part of my telephone "strategy," I use it for texting, too. That way, it doesn't cost me anything. And I can use my full-size keyboard, instead of those itty-bitty numbers on the cell. Hold the fort, stick to your guns. I'm still LMAO! :)
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jgelien

Welcome to my lens.I'm Janel. I am married, have three grown daughters (who ALL text) and I have quickly become a Squiddo addict. more »

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