Under the influence of texting

Texting has become a form of communication that we all use. Studies even show that in the future our thumbs will evolve and grow larger because we use them to much, especially in text messaging. Texting is a quick and easy way to send messages without having to use your voice or even see the person. It was become the number one way that people communicate with eachother, especially teen and young adults.

I have a group of great girlfriends and we always get together for girls night out. Problem with that, is once where together, everyone is glued to their phones. We will watch a jazz game, or have a wine and cheese night, but instead of having a constant conversation, we are interrupted with silence and staring down at moving thumbs. Sometimes my friends will text eachother while in the same room! It has gotten to the point where we have to call them out and actually ask them to put away their phones, how sad is that! One of my friend's reply, "i'm just playing brick breaker!"...yea, sure.

With Utah's recent law banning cell phone texting while driving, I find myself being more and more aware of it around me. At stop lights, I look to the drivers next to me and see their heads looking down and texting or even changing music on their ipod. I also casually check my phone to see if I've recieved any messages. I have gotten so good with text messaging that I don't even have to look down at my phone anymore. Although I am more aware of the road, I still check my phone when I get that message alert!

I am very against texting and driving, but I find myself occasionaly being part of the problem. You don't realize what a big deal it is until someone you know gets hurt or even dies. I had a familar aquanitance who passed away two years ago because a driver who was texting went through a red light ending up killing her. Since then, I am very careful and try not to use my phone at all while driving, unless maybe i'm at a stop light.

Texting and having a cellphone has become an addiction to our generation. It is rare that you go anywhere or meet someone who doesn't own a cell phone. My boss at work just recently added text messaging to her plan and I was shocked that after all this time, she has never had it. I told her, "welcome to the dark side." Researchers have actually said that texting is almost like having an alcohol or drug addiction in that they share the same characteristics as those who are addicted to drugs. If my cell phone dies, and I can't charge it for some hours, I go crazy. Not that I am constantly getting calls or texts, but the thought of not knowing honestly gives me anxiety. When I went to europe and couldn't use a cell phone for two weeks, I just about went nuts not knowing what my friends were doing around me. I got used to it after a while, but the minute I stepped out of the airplaneback in utah, I turned on my cell phone to see what I had missed.

Although texting enables us to stay communiticated with those around us, it has been a hazard to personal relationships. We lose that face to face time. When you just text, there is no way you can get to know someone in a 140 character message. And it creates awkward tensions when you actually do talk to the person face to face because you are so used to talking to them via text message. Texting has also become a problem with illiteracy, with newers generations actually used text lingo such as "lol", "omg", "ttyl" and even "fml" in real life conversations.

The other day I was just talking to a friend when I made a joke and instead of physically laughing , he commented with an lol to me face. He literally said "l.o.l" I paused for a moment, and left that conversationg. It's sad to me how we are becoming so dependent on technology and loosing our ability to actually communicate and carry a conversation.

I fear for the years to come and our children's generation. By then, talking might be replaced with only text. I hope not!