Texting: Is It The Next Best Thing?

(LB) There was a time when texting just didn't happen. I know, can you believe it? And when the first phones came out that offered the texting feature, it was a pain in the fingers. You had to hit the button twice for "B" or thrice for "C" and it generally took a lot of dedication to make it into a message. Then smartphones came along with their pop-up on-screen keyboard, and we were off to the races.

Now anyone with a smartphone can quickly and easily send a text message. It can be costly depending on your contract and that doesn't seem to stop  the endless stream of messages. According to Ask.com in 2010, in 2010 188 billion text messages were sent in the USA. According to Techvibes.com Canadians in 2012, sent about 8 billion texts a month, which given the relative population sizes of our two countries says we are equally text happy.

Texting is a fun and easy way to communicate and it is also rife with problems.

There is a sub group of texting: sexting, which presents all kinds of potential for problems. This form of texting involves the sending and receiving of graphic sexual content. It may be as simple as a shot of women's cleavage to a man showing his unmentionables. Depending on the age groups involved it could be interpreted by the courts as the transmission of child pornography which carries a pretty stiff penalty.

While in theory what consenting adults do with one another is generally seen as ok; there is a hidden pitfall. What happens when you break up? Will he or she show your personal texts and pictures to the world? Do you really want to run that risk? What if that ex-partner is really angry and sends the pictures on to your boss or posts them on one of the social media sites?  I guess the easy rule of thumb is: do you want your grandmother to see it? If no, then don't do it.

If you are a parent concerned about all of this stuff: social media, texting and such, check out your local school board. Here in BC many of them are offering free information sessions for parents and kids on how to stay safe on the internet and in texting. For me, texting works to confirm times and places for meetings or just as a small chit-chat - not as my primary means of communication.

(JL) I don't really have a lot to offer on this issue. I am someone who enjoys texting for quick catch-ups. The issues that I see facing us today is the lack of 'quality time' that people have now because they are busy texting and ignoring the person they are with. Or are texting the person the ARE with and not talking.

When texting came along I was thrilled to have yet another tool to communicate quickly and have a record for my poor memory. I have come to realize, though, that like all other social media, it lacks that human touch and often causes more trouble than it's worth. I still use it. But a lot less than I have in the past.

Lynne Brown is the owner and coach of www.OrcaCoachingConsulting.com. Lynne Brown has been a coach and mentor for the last 30 years. She has a passion for working with people by empowering them to achieve their dreams and set realistic and attainable goals. Lynne has high energy as well as a positive and empathetic approach. Lynne is a firm believer that one of the purposes in life is to have fun and she incorporates that into her coaching and consulting.

James Latour is the owner and coach of www.JLPSolutions.ca and writer on www.LifesRollerCoaster.com. James has over 25 years of experience working with the profit and not-for-profit sectors in with project management, human resources, fundraising and volunteerism and industry – related consulting. He is known for his team approach and follow through. If you are looking for an enthusiastic coach/consultant who walks the walk and talks the talk, you’ve found him. Recently James has turned his passion, writing, into a blog and is using his talent in more direct ways.