The Confusing Culture Of Texting | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Confusing Culture Of Texting

Analyzing a strange medium.

1107
The Confusing Culture Of Texting

As our methods of communication evolved throughout the centuries, it was inevitable that people would use new forms of communication to connect with others. Although these new tools of communication have benefited society greatly, they aren’t without their drawbacks; tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and even texting have their own norms and metas that over-complicate communication. Texting, in particular, has become unnecessarily confusing.

One of the biggest issues with texting is that there isn’t any tone in messages. For example, if I were to say “Oh, that sounds like fun” when referring to someone going in for a medical procedure, it could be interpreted in numerous ways. Am I being sarcastic? Do I actually like going to medical procedures? Or am I being dismissive and short with the receiver of the text because of a previous conversation?

The tone of a message has to be interpreted in a completely different way than traditional communication. The length of a message, the frequency of emoticons, and other nonsensical factors determine the tone of a text. For example, If someone replies with short sentences and lots of periods, they are usually upset. Unless you know the person on the other end really well, it can be difficult to decipher the exact meaning of a message. This can cause a rift between the people conversing and strain their relationship.

Texting is a strange medium because it allows people to plan out what they’re going to say. Unlike speech, which puts the conversationalists on the spot, texting lets you devise the perfect response to whatever was last said. Every message can be staged, which sometimes makes the conversation seem unnatural and choppy when compared to the fluidity of a face-to-face conversation.

There are some merits to texting. Because you aren’t in the presence of the person you’re conversing with, you can be the person that's too shy to be in traditional communication. For example, if I was too bashful to tell a girl she’s beautiful to her face, I could be the romantic in my text in ways that I could never be in real life. Although it’s nice that texting allows you to express feelings that you might not be able to articulate face-to-face, it seems less personal and could be perceived as a cop-out to the person you’re communicating with.

Texting is a great tool for communicating, but it's an over-thinker's nightmare. There are so many little quirks that can be interpreted in a plethora of ways, which can make it one of the most confusing mediums to communicate with. It will be interesting to see how the medium and the meta of texting evolves or devolves over the coming years.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas Socks  Fireplace
Wesley Tingey

Christmas is arguably one of the most popular holidays of the year. Whether you think Christmas celebrations should be strictly reserved for December, or you're setting up your tree and lights on November 1st, Christmas time is the best time. Filling an entire month with Christmas activities seems like it could be impossible, but I am here to fix that for you. Here are twenty-five of the best things to do in the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas.

Keep Reading...Show less
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

820
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments