"The medium is the message". Marshall McLuhan.
What McLuhan, a communications thinker, is saying is that you can text somebody saying you adore them as much as you like. But if it doesn't go on a greeting card every so often, you will be out of favour.
A text is actually quite special these days. But it is a cat medium. Awkward, time-consuming and touchy. One of my friends likes to synchronise exiting our cars at the same time. BY TEXT.
Instant messaging has an "Entertain me - you'll do" quality about it. It is instantaneous. No resonance. But you are more likely to have the luxury of a keyboard and a screen larger than 4x3".
Texting slows down conversations: great for the slow-witted among us who want to banter. Not great if you want to go walking with a friend and the sun is faltering.
Nevertheless, texting is big across most age groups right now. It's due to a mixture of glossy advertising, habit and your price plan.
Here are some ways to improve your text relations:
1. Answer texts immediately. It's very practical, which excuses you from writing a lot. Otherwise, it's all, "Sorry for the delay, was just, you know, busy...".
2. Tell your nearest, dearest and most robust that you are changing your texting style. Cordial invites will now be receiving one-word answers, etc. Explain you are doing it to save time and energy. They won't take it personally.
3. Your phone has a ringer. If it hasn't made a noise, you haven't got a text. No need to check.
4. The toque. Pronounced "Toe-kay" the toque is a Spanish invention. They communicate by ringing each others phones and hanging up.
It usually means:
'I'm on the way.'
'I'm here.'
'Did you take the cake out of the oven?'
'Yes, I did.'
5. Don't answer a phone call with a text. The medium is the message. And it means more texting.
What McLuhan, a communications thinker, is saying is that you can text somebody saying you adore them as much as you like. But if it doesn't go on a greeting card every so often, you will be out of favour.
A text is actually quite special these days. But it is a cat medium. Awkward, time-consuming and touchy. One of my friends likes to synchronise exiting our cars at the same time. BY TEXT.
Instant messaging has an "Entertain me - you'll do" quality about it. It is instantaneous. No resonance. But you are more likely to have the luxury of a keyboard and a screen larger than 4x3".
Texting slows down conversations: great for the slow-witted among us who want to banter. Not great if you want to go walking with a friend and the sun is faltering.
Nevertheless, texting is big across most age groups right now. It's due to a mixture of glossy advertising, habit and your price plan.
Here are some ways to improve your text relations:
1. Answer texts immediately. It's very practical, which excuses you from writing a lot. Otherwise, it's all, "Sorry for the delay, was just, you know, busy...".
2. Tell your nearest, dearest and most robust that you are changing your texting style. Cordial invites will now be receiving one-word answers, etc. Explain you are doing it to save time and energy. They won't take it personally.
3. Your phone has a ringer. If it hasn't made a noise, you haven't got a text. No need to check.
4. The toque. Pronounced "Toe-kay" the toque is a Spanish invention. They communicate by ringing each others phones and hanging up.
It usually means:
'I'm on the way.'
'I'm here.'
'Did you take the cake out of the oven?'
'Yes, I did.'
5. Don't answer a phone call with a text. The medium is the message. And it means more texting.
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