R U there?

Somewhere on my long and winding road to enlightenment, I read that the invention of the printing press was said to have destroyed the medieval sense of community and social integration. After doing a bit of research, I remembered my source for this kernel of knowledge, and can attribute it to Neil Postman. He was a prominent American educator and media critic who was also a successful (and proliferate) writer. A common theme for Postman was rapidly changing technology and how it relates to communication and social interaction. More specifically — television and its demeaning effects on political discourse and education.

There are many compelling passages in Postman’s work, but I am captivated by the following excerpt from a speech he gave at a meeting of the German Informatics Society, sponsored by IBM-Germany.

“Anyone who has studied the history of technology knows that technological change is always a Faustian bargain: Technology giveth and technology taketh away, and not always in equal measure. A new technology sometimes creates more than it destroys. Sometimes, it destroys more than it creates. But it is never one sided.”*

Postman died a few years ago at the the age of 72. I wonder...did he happen to see any of the Catherine Zeta Jones commercials before he left us? The commercials I refer to feature children hiding from their parents while texting on their cell phones. They’re in the closet, in the car and on the pot — frantically (and furtively) texting away to their friends. I can’t help but wonder what this esteemed scholar would think of such anti-social “social” behavior. Actually, I have a pretty good idea — which leads me to my point.

If the printing press destroyed the medieval sense of community and social integration, what will be said of texting? Studies show that the majority of those under 25 use texting as their major form of communication. Will future generations decide that texting created more than it destroyed — or is this just another Madison Avenue gimmick that will fade away like the 4-track cassettes of the seventies...a footnote of a short-lived technology?

I’m not talking about email or instant messaging from computer to computer. I am specifically talking about the current craze of “texting” messages back and forth on a cell phone. Let me stop and point out the irony here. “Texting on a phone.” Hmmmm. I believe Alexander Graham Bell spent a lot of time developing the telephone. His entire endeavor was devoted to transmitting sound, as in the sound of one’s voice. Personal interaction, if you will. Not telegrams…with short abrupt sentences (stop). Just the sound of a voice, in current time, in current place. Now, our teens and tweens (preteens) use the modern day cell phone, the device that led to the final demise of the telegram, to transmit short, abrupt and abbreviated messages with little or no punctuation...never mind the spelling. Texting has become so popular that it has its own language. Is this déjà vu? Is history repeating itself...or is this our future?

My future has me worried. For the first time in my life I find myself resisting modern technology. I refuse to partake in or learn the finer points of texting. I am mortified by my lack of interest and utter disdain for this medium of communication. Does this mean that I am the same as those old guys who refused to learn how to use a calculator in the sixties, or a computer in the eighties? Am I finally bridging the age gap with my husband who refuses to learn Tivo? If this is the case, I wonder what will become of me. Perhaps I’ll become stagnate and obsolete like those old 4-track cassettes. Two phrases come to mind: “This does not compute” and “Houston, we have a problem.”

I worry that my attitude toward texting is hypocritical with a capital “H”. I blog and I have a blog. I encourage discourse with each article and respond to every comment. How do I justify my actions without letting these texters off the hook? Therein lies my problem. I am just as guilty of pursuing anti-social “social” behavior as anyone who texts. I am a hypocrite.

The “H” word scares me. So, I devise a plan. I must find out what the appeal is to texting. Why do these kids actually like to spell out the words (and non-words) on a cell phone key pad versus speaking with someone personally or leaving a voice mail? Blackberrys or Sidekicks have mini keyboards similar to a computer, but most texting still takes place via a regular (old-fashioned) cell phone. Below I list some of the advantages of texting, as related to me by a young, beautiful, intelligent, and proficient texter:

1. Text messages can be read discreetly and cell phones aren’t allowed in school. (Rules can be broken and the powers that be are none the wiser.)

2. Texting is a great way to break off a romance that is going nowhere. (Similar to the cut and dry, or shall I say cut and paste, “Post-It” note break-up on Sex and the City.)

3. If you’re at a party and there is alcohol (and/or drugs) you can text a parent for a pick-up and not be noticed or overheard by your partying peers. (It should be noted that this rarely happens …texting for the pick-up, that is, not the alcohol and drugs.)

4. Texting is an efficient and economical way to send a greeting, such as Happy Birthday, Happy Valentine’s Day, or even Happy Ground Hog's Day. (This does not bode well for Hallmark.)

5. Texting is a fun way to flirt. ( I wonder...is there a texting symbol for blushing?)

6. Texting is an easy and efficient way to arrange, change or cancel plans. (You don’t even have to pretend to be sick when canceling one date while hooking up with another.)

7. Texting is an efficient way to receive news or sports updates. (Great for emergencies…like who's up at the half.)

8. Texting can make some awkward situations more comfortable. It takes a lot less nerve to text an old flame than to actually call one on the phone. ( I guess it depends on motive here – it’s up 2 U.)

There. Now I understand the appeal. It’s all so simple — easy, efficient, and private. I guess I need to limber up my fingertips, get stronger reading glasses and start texting away. It’s quite obvious that current day community and social integration are safe from the effects of texting. After all, we can break up via a text message, make a new date with a new person via a text message — after flirting, of course, for an appropriate amount of time via text messages. We can reconnect with an old flame, who may or may not be someone we previously broke up with via a text message. We can send love notes and messages via text messages and we can break up again via a text message. Let the circle go unbroken. Added benefit: we can do all of this at work or school in complete privacy.

What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking that I dread using the cell phone keypad to enter names into my telephone directory. I was thinking that I do not like company directories that ask you to spell out a person' s name on the keypad to find his or her extension. What if I don’t know how to spell the person’s name? I was thinking that sometimes it’s nice to hear a person's voice, and their tone — not just see their words. I was thinking about the “texting” tendinitis website I came across the other day. I was thinking that texting isn’t a fad. Not a pet rock — just a pet peeve. Finally, I was thinking that Alexander Graham Bell would be quite surprised with his legacy. Shall I spell it out for you? OMG (Translation: Oh my god!)

Respectfully submitted,

IMO FWIW TXT ME L8R CUL8R

(Translation: In my opinion, for what it’s worth, text me later and ciao for now…)

Postscript: I recognize and applaud texting for the wonderful new world of communication it provides to both the hearing and speaking challenged individuals of the world. Bravo! I also recognize that texting is a quiet mode of communication and saves us from overhearing and being bothered by individuals with poor cell phone etiquette. Now, if we could just get everyone to use the silent mode and get rid of those obnoxious ring tones that go on forever...

* Informing Ourselves to Death/speech by Neil Postman for Gesellschaft fuer Informatik on October 11, 1990 in Stuttgart, Germany.

© 2006 Teresa G. Franta