To Text or Not to Text?
- 01.19.10
- Culture, Parenting, Teenagers
- 11 Comments
Evidently, I just don’t get it. When my girls text their friends while they’re talking to me; when they attempt to text their friends during dinner (which is not allowed in our home by the way); or when they invite a girlfriend over and then sit next to each other for hours in silence and text other friends, evidently that’s perfectly acceptable and normal behavior. For me to have a problem with it is totally unreasonable and “stupid.”
According to an article in yesterday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, this kind of texting is considered “multitasking” by many teens today and should not be considered offensive by the rest of us.
“I can survive without responding to texts, (but) I simply don’t see the necessity of not answering,” one young person was quoted as saying. The article revealed that some professors and school administrators were stunned that students couldn’t understand why texting during class, or in the middle of a face-to-face conversation, would be considered disrespectful.
Another student said, “One of the most important things we want to get across to professors is that we’re not ignoring them when we’re texting. We’re still listening. We’re still taking notes. We’re just doing something urgent.” But not all students agree. One young person said, “I think it’s disrespectful. It’s distracting to other students if you hear clicking. It disrupts the whole class.”
So, what’s do you think is acceptable? Are we “old farts” making too big of a deal out of this, or are we on to something? When is it appropriate to text and when is it not?
Well, Mike, I’m an older fart than you are, and I agree completely that it is totally disrespectful. Them “paying attention in class and taking notes and texting” is about as effective as you or I having an important conversation with our wife while watching the football game. Not gonna happen!! In fact, I think that the whole “multitasking” pros are just fooling themselves. You cannot pay adequate attention to 3 things at once. Period. You CAN do a crappy job of all 3 at the same time, which is what usually happens.
I’m with ya! Even though youth do not think we “get it,” at the same time I think they’re naive about the tyranny of the urgant. Interesting how Star Trek TNG dealt with technology over invading in life. They called it the Borg.
I agree completely. It is disrespectful to continually text someone while you should be in class, at work, or talking with someone else. Show the person you are with some respect and leave the texting to later. Now I understand that sometimes you do have to respond to someone, but this is a rare occurrence. I think texting and cell phones in general have led people to be less responsible in keeping appointments. It is common now just to text someone that you can’t make it to somewhere you said you would be. It’s a cop out, a lot of the time.
I concur. I’m not that old yet and I am appalled at how much kids text these days. It is completely rude and disrespectful to text while talking to someone and definitely out of the question to be texting in a classroom. I always hated that throughout college that people were texting near me in class, but I guess it isn’t as bad as answering a call in class.
I agree 100% it is rude and disrespectful, but I think a important point is being missed. It is not just rude, it is an addiction. Most kids couldn’t stop without some sort of serious withdrawl. And it’s doubly as bad because they have no idea what it will do to them longterm in context of relationships. No tough conversations need to be had at all. Just send a faceless, feelingless txt. Texting is not communication. It is a lazy, addictive approach to interaction and ultimately destructive. If I had kids and I thought they were txting too much, the phone would be confiscated. When they live in a place I’m not paying for and using a phone plan I’m not paying for, they can txt all they want.
“I can survive without responding to texts, (but) I simply don’t see the necessity of not answering,”
touche`!!
I can stop drinking I just don’t see the neccessity to not get hammered everyday! touche!!
As an ancient 31 year old, I think it’s stupid, rude and irritating how much teens text. For crying out loud – can’t you stop walking reaaalllly slow while you text & get out of the way – for those who do know where they are going?! And don’t get me started on those that text and drive!!
But, things may be looking up with the future generation. Time magazine has a kids section and they did a survey. One of the questions was about texting: “Almost all kids agree that it is not okay to text in class or at the dinner table.” They didn’t do the breakdown of figures…but I think this is encouraging news, don’t you? Here is the link if you want to see it:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/wr/article/0,27972,1954215,00.html
I agree. I think phones should be banned from all classrooms. Why do you need your phone during jr-sr high school hours? Won’t you see everyone you’re texting at some point during the day? And we have a no phones at the dinner table rule at our house as well! But I do text a lot and have noticed my son, who does not have a phone, alerting me when I receive a new text and don’t run to get it. I am now trying to be more aware of my actions and frequently tell him that it is ok. “The phone can wait until I/we are done with ______.”
Being a young person, I’m probably one of the few that when in a situation like class, church, at the dinner table, having a face to face conversation with people, my phone is put on the back burner and not really paid attention to unless I am expecting an important phone call or text. I would have to agree with the comment of texting in class as rude, disrespectful, and distracting. Whatever the person or persons have to say to the other person elsewhere can wait until later, and if it can’t wait, they need to leave the classroom to make the phone call or text.
Simple solution, just have your service provider disable texting on all family phones. I did it and I never receive or send a text message. It also helps keep the costs down.