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Not so long ago, I told my neighbor to stop texting me. I did the same with all my students and customers. I asked them to text me only in emergencies, like when the house is on fire, or if they wanted to reschedule your appointment because they don’t want to drive in ice and snow—which I understand.
I stopped texting my friends and my customers, and when I send a text, it’s a short question: “Is it a good time to call?” I am the only one—as far as I know—who spends less than one hour every day on her phone, even though my cell phone is also my business line.
Why did I stop texting? I work with my hands; if I am not sewing, stapling, painting, or staining, then I pull staples or reupholster something. If I hear the PING on my phone, I have to answer, or at least I have to look, which means I have to stop working, so I have one hand free to pick up the miniature computer we still call a phone.
It got so out of hand that even new potential customers texted me. There was not even a Hello or something similiar old-fashioned like a Good Morning, they just asked: “Do you guys do …” and then they listed what they wanted to have done, added pictures to the text, and expected me to send back a quote—via text.
If I had questions, it went back and forth, and before I knew what had happened, I fell behind with my work. My focus was all over the place, I chased after my deadlines, and in the evening, I felt like I hadn’t accomplished anything, other than wasting my time texting with strangers.
Today, when unknown numbers text me, they all get the same reply: “Please, be so nice and call me. I don’t text and communicate with unknown numbers, and I am asking for your understanding.”
I put my foot down. My neighbor still texts me when she needs an onion or runs out of sugar, and of course, I do the same, but most conversations take place in person, because I wished for it.
Interestingly enough, all my friends have adjusted. My customers and students understand, and I am now still blabbering along—face to face— or on the phone with all of them, as I always have.
I am a chatterbox, so this texting thing is just not made for me.
I text a little bit and ofcourse, I write emails back and forth, but even when I type emails, or write a blog post to communicate with my readers, I speak out loud what I type, to make sure it sounds like me.
Am I old-fashioned, a dinosaur soon to be extinct? Yes, of course, and that’s alright with me. I live by my rules. At least I still have some control over something as tiny as my phone.
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I will use my phone for text or instant messages on certain sites, but I much prefer doing so via a desktop or laptop with a real keyboard – so much easier to type! My daughter is of the generation of texting over talking and I miss her voice, but occasionally on her way home from work she will record voice messages and send them to me… wouldn’t it have been easier to call? Good for you for insisting no texts in your business, it says something about your ability to offer great customer service!
I agree with you. Emails are better than texting, and the real keyboard is easier to handle—and faster.
I text too, like when my husband needs to pick something up on his way home, but overall, I despise it. It’s not good for our communication skills.
Very true! So many things are reduced to a series of letters. It takes me far to long to “translate” some of the stuff!
Phones blur the lines between connectedness and privacy.
Before cell phones, people would have to call your home and hope you could get it. Now, people can boop you anywhere you go, leaving noise inescapable.
I don’t want to be available at all times, other than in emergencies. A phone call in the middle of the night is sometimes necessary and very seldom is it good news. All others can wait until the morning.
Well done. I don’t use my phone as a mobile computer either
Well, Derrick, then you are officially a dinosaur as well. 🙂
Yep
Because I am a digital marketer by profession, I have to use my phone for work. But when I reach home from office and change the clothes for a warm meal, I try reading a book instead of using my phone. I am honestly fed up of the gadgets options that we have nowadays… I prefer less phone more direct talks now… like in-person talks.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s time to set priorities and not let these gadgets dictate our lives—or change our lives. (Now let’s just hope you read my book 😉 )
Easy-peasy for me! I have never-ever been a phone person . . . would you believe, still keep a landline phone only which takes messages if I don’t answer . . . use that for absolute necessities or mostly pre-arranged private calls and manage brilliantly online email or on oft IG – at certain times of the day may be back-and-forth on line with 5-6 friends at the same time, ‘talking’ to one, whilst the others are keyboarding . . . besides cherishing my privacy absolutely do not like the health aspects of having a mobile on me . . . and, yes, I began studying medicine before most others were born and am studying up to 3-6 hours daily still 🙂 !
You are very wise and were way ahead of your time. I miss my landline. I think emailing back and forth (BTW is it ok if I answer your emails?) and having shared screen time with friends is wonderful. If we use it right, technology enriches our lives, if we don’t, it changes us and our lives.
As far as I am concerned ‘you’ve got it in one’ ! Don’t know whether you use that phrase in the US !
Bravo! I wish more people thought and acted the same. I never react immediately when my phone pings or dings. If it rings for an incoming call, I will check to see if I recognise the number. If not, then I reject the call. If I do recognise it, I may answer straight away, but will often call back after a few minutes. I never use my phone whilst walking or driving!
It just got so out of hand and before I knew it I didn’t have private time, or quality time anymore. One ping (or ding) doesn’t mean I need to answer, but it’s hard because I am nosey by nature, so I have a quiet time on my phone.
Figure out*
I’m the opposite. I get anxiety when I have to talk, whether it’s on the phone, or if I had to read anything out loud in a classroom. I’d rather send a text, then deal with the anxiety that comes with being on the phone. Besides my parents who never got into the cell phone era, there are maybe 3 to 4 people I can talk to on the phone.
I had severe anxiety issues (panic attacks) when we lived through “Losing it All” so I know what you mean and that’s one of the many reasons why I wrote down what happened and published it. My world got quiet back then and I got used to it. I was an outsider and needed peace. Loud noises irritated me, I isolated myself a bit, which is in my line of work easy. I felt only comfortable at home and with people I knew. Larger crowds or loud TV still irritate me, but now I know how to deal with it. The truth is, in my case, the silence fed anxiety because our world is all but silent. (Sorry for the long reply).
I appreciate the long reply. You have nothing to apologize for. I have a hard time expressing my feelings, so a therapist at one point told me I could write them down, but I get so lost and distracted with other things that I will forget, then I get frustrated because I feel like people judge me for it, then I learned to stay quiet when I couldn’t out what to say because my words get jumbled when I go to speak
Yes. I agree with you… because of all the reasons you mentioned. Plus I get so irritated by people who use the enter/send instead of using a full stop and then start a fresh sentence. Texts from my daughter can be 15 texts long just to say what could be said in one paragraph ! 😂
Isn’t that the truth. You have to scroll up and down to make sense of it all and then, when I finally type, my phone autocorrects things and it never makes sense.