DnvrFox

Text Messaging for the 50+ Crowd?

On another forum thread, there is a discussion including text messaging. They all seem to use it a lot, and they think it is great. I have never used text messaging, and I wonder just how far out of today's world I am. I don't even know how.

So, do you 50+'rs use text messaging?

Digital Gee

I text message my daughters from time to time. They're both teens and can text and eat and talk and listen to their iPods at the same time. I find texting laborious, but occasionally it's more appropriate than conversation.

Tom Bombadil

My choice would:

I know about it and how to do it, but have never used it.

When I need to reach one of my 5 daughters, I call and leave a voice message.

Artkansas 

I do it on the computer, but not on the phone. The phone buttons are too clumsy. Being back in the singles market, yahoo chat, msn chat are much better ways to scope people out than exchanging emails.

Messaging like that is also good corporate wise. I used to work for a company centered in Iceland. Those folks used messaging for everything, so I learned.

Speedo

My current cell phone has text messaging. I learned how to use it, but have only used it once in a practical way.

I was on a plane, on the runway, and it was announced that we would be delayed for half an hour taking off. I wanted to let my wife know that I would be late, but didn't want to annoy my seat mates (crowded flight, middle seat) by making a voice call. So I sent her a text messgae. Great idea right? Unfortunately my wife doesn't know how to read the text messages on her phone!

stapfam

I honestly can't be bothered with text messages. Never sent one, never bothered to find out how to send one and to be Honest- When I am sent a text message- The only thing I know what to do with it is delete it.

Not being a luddite- but even a phone is something that sits on a desk at work or annoys me when I am at Home. Mobiles I do have- and in fact I have 3, but the stay in the cupboard, in the car or in the pocket when I am riding.

Just to give you an idea of how much I enjoy Mobiles- I got my latest phone 5 years ago with £20 credit on it- I have still £19.47 out of that credit left. About $1.00 usage in 5 years.

BluesDawg

I already see the cell phone as a necessary evil. I have no desire to learn how to be further enslaved by the thing.

Trsnrtr

I use my cell phone as an organizer and a casual web browser but I draw the line at text messaging.

Denny

SemperFi

Don't know how to do it and don't want to know.

Digital Gee

This forum is a kind of text messaging.

jppe

I just recently converted my cell phone to a Blackberry due to work needs. I was very reluctant to make the switch but after about a month's usage I have found it to be very convenient. I send messages with it but usually nothing more than 3-4 sentences. It is very helpful to be able to keep up with the more critical emails when out of the office. I have a number of customers who had rather email me than call or have a personal visit so at least being aware of a message or email is helpful in keeping service levels up while not being tied to a desk.

I've been working on a very complex deal for several months and the customer's channel for communications and negotiations is email. The main negotiator for the customer travels and usually is in other timezones so our communications has been almost any time of the day.....and 98% via email. I must have over 1000 emails on this one particular effort.

I have three teenagers and I had to edit my cell phone plan to include unlimited text messages. Otherwise I think they were 5 to 10 cents a pop which really adds up when you're dealing with several hundred messages in a month's time.

For my own personal/family needs I still rely on the phone but being able to send and get messages is helpful. Like a cell phone, the Blackberry can be set up with different profiles to alert you when you either have a phone call or a message. I have set up profiles for normal use, office, golf, meetings and the Bike. When in the Bike mode I have the ringer for the phone set very loudly but mute the email notification. Seems to work okay for now...

CrossChain

tming suks u ok me ok fu dood
bff

europa

I text message my girlfriend when she's at work. She's a theatre nurse and I suspect phone calls during operations aren't the done thing ... besides, it gives her something to find from me when she gets a break. I also text my son when he's at school so that I don't have to worry about whether he's in class or not.

That's it.

But, being a grump, I text in full, no abbreviations. My son no longer texts that way to me because he found he got frowned at ... but I've noted that his messages to friends are pure gibberish.

Richard
(mind you, having re-read this post, there's enough jargon in there to make this post gibberish)

Louis

Wife and I rejected owning cellphones until about a year ago when our car broke down on I-76 late one night. Trucks were whizzing by at 65+ mph/105+kph causing my wife to freak out. Over an hour passed before some kind soul stopped to help by calling AAA on his cell phone.

Now we both have a cell phone.

Text messaging? I have no clue, nor do I have any desire or reason to learn.

Stacy

I'm in a high cell phone usage area and sometimes the system is too busy to put calls through. If someone is out of the coverage area, like on the subway, the text messaging can be the most reliable way to get a short message through.

sdr

what's a cell phone?

sorry, but i haven't evolved too far beyond two cans and a length of string.

can you hear me now? *twang*

terry b

I use Microsoft Communicator on my computer at work all the time. Not really much like texting though, more like typing a conversation. Which is useful if you're in a phone meeting and you want to talk to someone else.

I text message with my younger daughter (using my phone) pretty regularly. She's at college in another state, it's a quick way to say "hey."

I also carry a Blackberry which allows for mobile email which of course blows texting out of the water.

Metric Man

My 14 year old son can text faster than he can talk...it's almost scary!!

dauphin

I use it if I have to contact someone from a quiet place such a movie theater. I also send text messages to people I don't especially enjoy talking to on the phone.

Velo Dog

I do it to let my 21-year-old daughter know I'm thinking of her (more subtle than a phone call) and to send non-urgent messages to my wife (and other people, too) without interrupting them if they're busy. My sense is that few 50-plus people use it, though. I know most of my friends don't even know how.

roccobike

We used to use it at work, then they took our text message units away as part of a cost cutting exercise. (YES!)
Several of us went out for beers that night to celebrate.
No I don't text message with my cell phone.

Portis

We don't do it. I still carry an alpha pager for work, but that is one way. Otherwise i just call if I need to talk to somebody.

Dchiefransom

I have a cell phone that I even turn on when out on the street at work, but it's mostly for outgoing calls. If someone isn't there, I leave a quick voicemail.

I-Like-To-Bike

For some; and with the added benefit that everybody else gets to read the chit chat messaging.

BlazingPedals

I choose number 5: I don't do it because I don't see the point.