Life Altering Questions

I tend to rely fairly heavily on text messages for my main mode of communication. However, I've made it very clear that there are topics that are best left face-to-face, or at least through a telephone conversation. In past blogs I've listed a few things out, and have even gone over reasons why texting isn't always the best form of communication. The list isn't comprehensive, and every once in awhile I get a text message that breaks basic textiquette.

A few days ago I received a text message from a friend asking: "Hey, do u want to move in with me?"

The reason that this text message makes the list is not because of my friend necessarily, we'll call her Tonya. I used to work with Tonya for years, and even though I no longer work at that particular company, I've remained close with those people. We get together about once a month; they're like a second family to me. Moving in with Tonya is not far out of the realm of possibility.

This text message makes the list because the question itself does not fit within the medium of texting. Text messages are fast. Messages are sent and received from phone to phone within a matter of seconds, and people reply just as quickly. But, the concept of moving is a life changing decision. It needs to be deliberated over, and many things such as location and cost must be taken into consideration. The text message begs for a quick response to the question but a quick response to this question is not wise.

So please remember, texting is a convenience, and should not be used to ask life altering questions.

Unknown Texts

Recently I have gotten text messages from a number that I don't recognize. I've actually received two from one number in particular. On occasion I have given my phone number out to people that I've met, never to hear from those people again. So, when I received a holiday greeting from a number that I didn't recognize, I figured it was a mass text from one of those guys.

Until I received another text from the same number a few weeks later asking, "What's up? How've you been?"

It seemed to personal to be a mass text message, and I have no idea who this person could possibly be. I ignored this text message as well, not wanting to start a text message conversation that would inevitably turn into, "Who are you?"... "Well, who are you?"

Perhaps I was wrong to ignore the text message, it could have turned out that I did, in fact know who this person is. I guess when it comes right down to it, I'm unsure what the proper textiquette would be in this case. But one thing is for certain, I did not want to start a text message war with someone that I don't know.