Improper texting...drives me nuts. Who's with me?

[hallux]

I don't text like that . I always use full words.

I go a step further. I write in sentences, including commas and other punctuation! I never really texted on a non-smartphone. I think T-9 input was a major factor on "txt-speak" evolving, entering full words with that was PAINFUL, you'd be better off calling the person.

 

[GoCubsGo]

idk ifwm bihff.

The people who text me like that generally seem to also overuse "lol" as though it serves as a transition between thoughts. I see it in forums, in texts, and in e-mails.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I caught my mom using shorthand once, and I got mad at her for it. I actually made her rewrite the text she was about to send to someone.

My brother does it too, and he's starting to use it by accident in his school work.

Bad, bad stuff.

 

[Tomorrow]

I can't think of an excuse for not writing in complete sentences, with proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

If you have more than 160 characters' worth of stuff to say, call me. The phone has many purposes in addition to text.

 

[obeygiant]

Get off my dern lawn with yer mobile phones and yer typing!

 

[localoid]

Unless this scourge is stopped, chickens will stop laying eggs and cows will give sour milk.

 

[OneMike]

It's not that serious.

As long as I can understand the message, no worries. That said. Very few that I txt type that way.

 

[uhslax24]

I hate slang texting. With a passion. I'd rather the person use Siri in public.

 

[SHNXX]

Ur weird dood

 

[Misskitty]

I have one friend and she is a legal assistant. When her and I text, she said it drives her nuts cause I intentionally take shortcuts in spelling certain words. She always lectures me on how one should text the exact same way they do at work, with proper punctuation and grammar.

I told her, why. I have two different writing styles. Outside of work I write like how I want. Why should i have to revise my stuff and make it perfect when i dont have to? I already do it at work and anything business related but thats because the situation calls for it. Outside of work, it doesnt. I just dont see why the extra effort has to be needed in someones personal life. I mean all we are doing is texting. Texting is all about getting the message in and sent as fast as you can. But it also depends on who im texting. If its friends or family, i skip out on the punchation. If its my boss, then of course I completely change my writing style.

Now I dont text anything like in the O.P, but I however intentionally skip out on punchuation cause it saves time. Like "cant...dont"...I dont bother with the punchuation. Same thing with online forums like here. My words are all over the place but i dont care. I get what i have to say across.

 

[BenTrovato]

To say there is "improper" texting would indicate that there is "proper" texting which should be adhered to at all times. To which I'm sure we have not all agreed on what would be "proper" texting.

I would say... accept that certain people do not text in a fashion that leaves you proud and happy for their use of characters and despite that, go out in the world and contribute something great. Make something of yourself and be an example to others! How bout it? Let's do it!

 

[RiddlaBronc]

It pisses me off when they type like this

i LoVe YoU sO MuChxoxoxox

 

[TechGod]

I don't know why but this happens to me during texting, but when people type slang it drives me insane. I mean, I don't mind but sometimes I'm like "goddamn it just type the whole damn word". If it's real bad then I feel like throwing their phone. I don't actually do it but man it does frustrate me. I feel like I'm one of those few weirdos who's like this. You or anyone you guys know like this?

Eg. "Hey, wut yu doing 2night?"

It annoys me extremely.

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Yes, OP. I'm with you on this. Completely.

Of course, I understand the background (limited space, high costs, hence the development of an abbreviated language which became a new norm) but, speaking personally, I cannot abide it, and shudder at these attempts to massacre the English language.

When writing emails, or texts, I write in full sentences, and make it clear that I expect my interlocutor to respond in like manner. (They do, almost all of the time).

I adore your writing style.

 

[wordoflife]

Can't say I get or send any slang texts to that extent - I do see and write things myself such as "btw and tmw" and stuff like that, but I don't care about that.

The mix of capital and lowercase letters, though, looks obnoxious.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I don't know why but this happens to me during texting, but when people type slang it drives me insane. I mean, I don't mind but sometimes I'm like "goddamn it just type the whole damn word". If it's real bad then I feel like throwing their phone. I don't actually do it but man it does frustrate me. I feel like I'm one of those few weirdos who's like this. You or anyone you guys know like this?

Eg. "Hey, wut yu doing 2night?"

I definitely agree, last time I checked, Apple did include ALL of the letters of the alphabet in iOS 7.1. No excuses to not use them!

 

[Scott M]

Yeah, it's annoying, but I find improper use of words (like, there when they're should have been used, etc) more annoying.

 

[SHNXX]

Are you guys all professors?
Honestly I don't see what the big deal is.
I'm a little curious about the demographics of posters in this thread after reading these opinions.
Given the preponderance of improper texting these days, i can't help but think this opinion is a contrarian one.

 

[TechGod]

Are you guys all professors?
Honestly I don't see what the big deal is.
I'm a little curious about the demographics of posters in this thread after reading these opinions.
Given the preponderance of improper texting these days, i can't help but think this opinion is a contrarian one.

I'm a 16 year old male that simply hates text language it drives me insane.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I just use Android's swipe keyboard.

Faster than shorthand nonsense.

 

[Dustman]

Don't blame your friends blame the networks. Back when it was expensive to text you had to squeeze a whole lot into 160 characters. This lead to txt speak as my kids call it. The problem is now it's the norm it won't change.

I remember having to go back through my txt and remove spaces and periods so i could finish my thought in one message.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have one friend and she is a legal assistant. When her and I text, she said it drives her nuts cause I intentionally take shortcuts in spelling certain words. She always lectures me on how one should text the exact same way they do at work, with proper punctuation and grammar.

I told her, why. I have two different writing styles. Outside of work I write like how I want. Why should i have to revise my stuff and make it perfect when i dont have to? I already do it at work and anything business related but thats because the situation calls for it. Outside of work, it doesnt. I just dont see why the extra effort has to be needed in someones personal life. I mean all we are doing is texting. Texting is all about getting the message in and sent as fast as you can. But it also depends on who im texting. If its friends or family, i skip out on the punchation. If its my boss, then of course I completely change my writing style.

Now I dont text anything like in the O.P, but I however intentionally skip out on punchuation cause it saves time. Like "cant...dont"...I dont bother with the punchuation. Same thing with online forums like here. My words are all over the place but i dont care. I get what i have to say across.

I have already made my view on the mangling of language some people permit themselves while texting known. I will pass with averted eye over the question of whether they are merely uneducated (and so do not know better), intellectually lazy (and so cannot be bothered to write properly), or simply selfish (and so cannot be bothered to take the care and thought while showing some consideration to others that writing properly demands).

However. This is not why I have chosen to post again. Rather, reading your post (and highlighting in bold, certain thought provoking sentences), I am struck by this post, and some of the other threads which you have started.

Is this how you normally choose to communicate by text? Am I to assume that in the thread which you started asking whether a 'texting relationship' can be considered a dating one, that you write in text-speak, or in full sentences?

Improper texting is sloppy; it is intellectually lazy, and careless of language; moreover, it is careless of the impression it gives, and it is dismissive of your interlocutor. Unless it is a case of one teenager communicating in this manner with a pal, classmate, or other sort of peer, (in which case it is a normal form of communication between equals), it smacks of a casual, careless and dismissive attitude, to language (which is a cultural and biological achievement of the human race) and to the person you are addressing.


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It annoys me extremely.

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I adore your writing style.

Thank you for your very kind words. I love the English language and pay close heed to how it is used, in life, art, and situations of power and politics.

 

[Gutwrench]

I don't know why but this happens to me during texting, but when people type slang it drives me insane.

Eg. "Hey, wut yu doing 2night?"

I wouldn't like it much either but to be honest the people I get texts from don't do that. Maybe it's largely an age group thing? I get 20-30 texts a day and the closest any one of them come to that style is a "sigh" from my daughter.

It does drive me up the wall when I see it showing up in a few company emails. If it warrants a reply I'll answer but if I'm feeling cheeky I'll send "try again." I'd estimate my inbox gets 100-150 emails a day which I carefully read about 40% scanning the rest. I see nothing wrong with using abbreviations for brief business unit messages such as "rcv'd" "will do, by COB tomorrow" though.

 

[Tomorrow]

Improper texting is sloppy; it is intellectually lazy, and careless of language; moreover, it is careless of the impression it gives, and it is dismissive of your interlocutor. Unless it is a case of one teenager communicating in this manner with a pal, classmate, or other sort of peer, (in which case it is a normal form of communication between equals), it smacks of a casual, careless and dismissive attitude, to language (which is a cultural and biological achievement of the human race) and to the person you are addressing.

This cannot be overstated. Thank you.

 

[Micky Do]

I have already made my view on the mangling of language some people permit themselves while texting known. I will pass with averted eye over the question of whether they are merely uneducated (and so do not know better), intellectually lazy (and so cannot be bothered to write properly), or simply selfish (and so cannot be bothered to take the care and thought while showing some consideration to others that writing properly demands).

However. This is not why I have chosen to post again. Rather, reading your post (and highlighting in bold, certain thought provoking sentences), I am struck by this post, and some of the other threads which you have started.

Is this how you normally choose to communicate by text? Am I to assume that in the thread which you started asking whether a 'texting relationship' can be considered a dating one, that you write in text-speak, or in full sentences?

Improper texting is sloppy; it is intellectually lazy, and careless of language; moreover, it is careless of the impression it gives, and it is dismissive of your interlocutor. Unless it is a case of one teenager communicating in this manner with a pal, classmate, or other sort of peer, (in which case it is a normal form of communication between equals), it smacks of a casual, careless and dismissive attitude, to language (which is a cultural and biological achievement of the human race) and to the person you are addressing.


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Using twenty words when two would be sufficient is also mangling language. Your view on that is patently obvious.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

[I]Using twenty words when two would be sufficient is also mangling language. Your view on that is patently obvious.[/I]

No, it is glorying in the rich, varied and nuanced vocabulary that English has acquired over nearly a thousand years of evolution.

Truly, I pity those who fail to take pleasure in - or even recognise - the subtlety and flexibility of the language we use on a daily basis, and would instead, seek to reduce it to the linguistic equivalent of the inarticulate illiterate's muffled grunt.

But each to their own. I relish beautifully written prose (and text speak does not fall into that category); others disdain it. Their loss.

And while my view may well be patently obvious, this is a battle I will continue to engage in - because - to my mind - language wars are well worth fighting for.