Are people too impersonal now?

[mikejet]

With so many different ways to communicate, are we just to impersonal now?

So I have a friend that came back into town after being away for a while. I texted him last night to let me know if he would be busy tonight or if he wanted to hang out. He texted back that he would no longer be replying to texts and that he's not trying to be mean but he always makes an effort to call me so I should do the same.

Well, I text my wife, I text my brother, all my other friends, he is not that important so I didn't know what to say. If I can text my wife I think I can text anyone. She's fine with it and so is everyone else I text.

I can understand him to a point but I don't think in this day and age a simple text message in different from a call. I'm constantly on my Blackberry texting, emailing, and on the messenger. In fact I do that more than making actual calls.

So is this just to impersonal or is that just the trend now? Just curious.

[Chordata]

Well, it's more impersonal than a phone call or face-to-face meeting, I agree with that.

But texting, IMing, e-mailing, Facebooking, etc., also allow us to keep in touch with TONS AND TONS of people -- way more than our parents were able to keep in touch with.

Heck, I now "chat" or message people I haven't talked to in 5 or 10 years and I love it. I love keeping those friendships alive.

I use text messaging as a quick, easy way to talk to my friends and family. It's not my exclusive means of conversing, however, and I hope that never happens.

[Gaius Marius]

I think that is the greatest irony of our generation. We have so many ways to communicate, but I feel that we are too isolated now. Messages are too impersonal, and people don't communicate as they used to. Things like texting and Twitter have people communicating in small bites rather than meaningful conversations. I prefer to call people rather than text, and prefer to talk to people in person than call. But maybe I'm just strange that way....

[Banjo]

I'm deaf and I own a BlackBerry Curve, I always text on it since that's how I communicate with my family and friends. It's not impersonal, it's a different form of communication and it is one that I rely on the most when I use my phone. Some people just don't see it that way. *shrugs*

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Gaius Marius

I think that is the greatest irony of our generation. We have so many ways to communicate, but I feel that we are too isolated now. Messages are too impersonal, and people don't communicate as they used to. Things like texting and Twitter have people communicating in small bites rather than meaningful conversations. I prefer to call people rather than text, and prefer to talk to people in person than call. But maybe I'm just strange that way....

But what about something simple like "Wanna goto a movie?" or "Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?"

I think things like that are fine for texts. If I have something really important to say of course a call or face to face is better.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Banjo

I'm deaf and I own a BlackBerry Curve, I always text on it since that's how I communicate with my family and friends. It's not impersonal, it's a different form of communication and it is one that I rely on the most when I use my phone. Some people just don't see it that way. *shrugs*

You have extenuating circumstances; certainly no one can ever yell at you for using texting to communicate more than talking.

[Gaius Marius]

Originally Posted by mikejet

But what about something simple like "Wanna goto a movie?" or "Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?"

I think things like that are fine for texts. If I have something really important to say of course a call or face to face is better.

I agree texting is great for simple yes or no questions where you don't feel the need to carry on a phone conversation. But if you're having a conversation over texing, then just call the person. It is more personal, and more efficient IMO.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by mikejet

But what about something simple like "Wanna goto a movie?" or "Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?"

I think things like that are fine for texts. If I have something really important to say of course a call or face to face is better.

I'm with you 100%. That is the brilliance of texting and e-mailing -- quick and easy questions and answers.

Obviously if you have cancer, you're not going to only text people to tell them that.

There's a time and a place for texting. It's a great tool.

[Dexter Morgan]

I find that I text the people that I talk to and see most often. That's because we're not "catching up", and a lot of our exchanges can be simple yes and no types of questions, or things such as "I'm running about 30 minutes late from work. You need to pick the baby up.", or "Can you pick up a gallon of milk on the way home?".

If I were to try to reconnect with someone I hadn't spoken to in a while, I'd be much more inclined to call them than to text. I don't feel you can completely catch up in one long text, and texting back and forth multiple times in the same situation would just feel kinda awkward. Much better to dial 'em up IMO.

[fatediesel]

I rarely talk with friends that live out of town but we text/email constantly. One of my best friends lives in Minnesota. I haven't actually talked to him since Christmas but we text/email several times a week. I personally hate talking on the phone and would rather use other ways to communicate. I prefer talking in person but that often isn't possible.

[mikejet]

My personal feelings on my friends reaction was that he wants to be more important. That may not be the case and he does have a point that he always calls me and doesn't text but sometimes I wish he'd rather text. Like he would call and ask if I was doing something and wanted to hang out. While that's nice I don't always have the luxury of answering my phone. I hate having to check voicemail too lol.

[Banjo]

Myself, if it was quite personal, I tend to do it in person rather than over the phone or through the video phone. What makes texting impersonal is how you say it. For instance, saying "Sup, what's new?", that's somewhat impersonal because not much thought is put into it. If you think about it, a lot of phone calls are impersonal too as well.

Remember, people used to write letters to each other back in the ol' days. It was considered personal, it's even considered more personal than a phone call, but that's because it took time and a lot of thinking to write down in the letter.

It's the thought that you put in the text message that makes it personal, just like the thought you put in a phone call or a letter.

[Mike53421]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Well, it's more impersonal than a phone call or face-to-face meeting, I agree with that.

But texting, IMing, e-mailing, Facebooking, etc., also allow us to keep in touch with TONS AND TONS of people -- way more than our parents were able to keep in touch with.

Heck, I now "chat" or message people I haven't talked to in 5 or 10 years and I love it. I love keeping those friendships alive.

I use text messaging as a quick, easy way to talk to my friends and family. It's not my exclusive means of conversing, however, and I hope that never happens.

I agree with this. While opposed to the potential of people being too reliant on the internet and texting, it can be very useful for small "chat".

[Hammie]

I would probably text more but most of my family and friends either do not have text plans or don't use their cell phones in that way, including my wife. She would prefer to talk, especially since texting while driving is illegal in our State.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I would probably text more but most of my family and friends either do not have text plans or don't use their cell phones in that way, including my wife. She would prefer to talk, especially since texting while driving is illegal in our State.

Here too, but then again so is using the phone without a headset. I don't usually bring my headset with me either.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I would probably text more but most of my family and friends either do not have text plans or don't use their cell phones in that way, including my wife. She would prefer to talk, especially since texting while driving is illegal in our State.

It should be illegal in every state and it's insane that it's not.

I'm sure you all have the same experiences as me: people crossing over lanes while looking down at their laps texting, people sitting at traffic lights waiting for the light to turn green and then it turns green and they're still looking down at their laps texting, etc. etc.

Can't wait until they figure out a way to turn off texting while driving. People just aren't smart enough to do both.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I would probably text more but most of my family and friends either do not have text plans or don't use their cell phones in that way, including my wife. She would prefer to talk, especially since texting while driving is illegal in our State.

People shouldn't be talking on the phone or texting while driving. People have a tendency to go faster without knowing it when they're on the phone. Texting is even more dangerous since they tend to swerve much more, both aren't safe to do.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

It should be illegal in every state and it's insane that it's not.

I'm sure you all have the same experiences as me: people crossing over lanes while looking down at their laps texting, people sitting at traffic lights waiting for the light to turn green and then it turns green and they're still looking down at their laps texting, etc. etc.

Can't wait until they figure out a way to turn off texting while driving. People just aren't smart enough to do both.

Tell me about it. People playing around with the GPS while driving is dangerous too as well.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Many of my relatives/friends won't answer the phone if you call them, but promptly respond if you text them. So yes, we are getting impersonal.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Many of my relatives/friends won't answer the phone if you call them, but promptly respond if you text them. So yes, we are getting impersonal.

If I get a phone call during a meeting, etc., I can't answer it. I might be able to answer a quick text though, if it's important. Doesn't mean I'm impersonal. In fact, it means I'm more accessible.