Texting is a poor substitute for communication, because it involves the use of crude symbols in place of real words. The fact that we are posting here on this forum is NOT hypocritical, as asserted by “Careful,” as we are a) not writing short text messages in shortand form and b) we are not sitting here all day at the computer (or at least, I sincerely hope that that is true), with our fingers ont he keyboard. Kids who are texting are doing it ALL DAY LONG, openly, furtively, in the street, in class, and I would even assume, while in the bathroom. It is SO prevalent that humerous commercials have been made about that very issue.
E-mailing or posting is actually a superior form of communication in the sense that it resembles the lost art form of LETTER WRITING, which no one seems to do anymore. the written wrod has a great deal of power. I know that when I e-mail a friend, I choose my word very carefully and really think about what I want to convey, especially as there is no real emotional thermometer in a piece of paper, by which the reader can accurately assess what you mean by a specific turn of phrase. Emoticons notwithstanding, people havbe to read and re-read what one writes, in order to get a feel for the writer’s intentions, at times. When I have a verbal conversation with someone, I don’t have the luxury of a great deal of time to respond when speaking. I cannot pause and think for a few minutes, as I do when I am responding by e-mail.
Texting, by its very nature, is a quick response, no deep thought required. For that, and other reasons, I think it should be limited.