I fear that we all text too much for our own good. I say this because I now have a problem calling people. I rarely call my friends; instead, I text them, even if I have no service at my house and have to wait four hours to get a response. They rarely call me; instead, they text me even when they know I'm home and never check my phone due to the lack of service. This often results in a lack of hanging out, which results in a lack of a social life. And at work last week, I was designated the task of calling a list of people that I don't know and talking with them with the intention of getting them to renew their Jazz subscription series. This caused me to have a slight panic attack, then a bigger panic attack due to the fact that I would even have a panic attack about this. I used to be so good at calling people, particularly people I didn't know. In fact, my sister used to ask me to call and make appointments for her because she was afraid of talking on the phone. Naturally, I refused, but I was flattered nonetheless. Normally, I would end up coaching/laughing at her awkward conversations. I'm such a good sister.
And last year, when I worked in that hell of a theater, I had to make up to 60 calls a day to get people to book auditions. I mean, I know that's not how it usually works "in the business," but that was quid pro quo at that place. By the end, I could easily call people, even numbers on Craigslist when I was helping my sister apartment hunt (yes, I made the calls for her then. Only a little mocking ensued).
But now, I am a stuttering mess of a girl due to unlimited texts. I even text while I'm driving. I know, big gasp from the audience, but you do it too. I'm not condoning it, I honestly do think it's way more dangerous than talking on your phone, but I still do it in order to avoid talking. It's madness I tell you.
And texting instead of calling is now highly encouraged in order to appease our bashful genration, who can't make a phone call but have no qualms about posting TMI all over facebook (example: failbooking.com). Tire companies now let you text them questions about their prices, people can help Haiti by texting, KGB will answer your random questions instantly via text plus a small fee. The world is at your fingertips, literally.
The funniest thing for me is when people say they've had a fight with someone, and as they're telling you about it, you slowly realize it's all through text messaging. But you don't know it at first, so you're sitting there, in awe of this person for calling the other one out, and amazed that they had the balls to say that to their face, because God knows you could never do that- until it hits you that they weren't even in the same room. I mean, good for you for getting that off your chest, but that's a coward's fight.
One of my roommates could never text me because all her text messages were being used to talk to guys who were too afraid to call her. Come on men, step it up. I know a text doesn't seem like you're being too forward, but it's not helping you.
But texting is there when you are unable to talk aloud, like when you're in a boring class, or at work, or when you're in church. I'm just kidding about that last one; I don't go to church. It's a good way to send a random thought to a friend. I have a lot of those, and my friends are more comfortable with my random texts then they are with my random calls. I tend to ramble when I have nothing else to say. It's also a good way to make an awkward car ride hilarious in silence. Jess, Maggie, you know what I'm talking about.
And don't get me started on facebook. I am indeed an addict, but it seems normal to you until you have to explain to your mother how you know so much about an old classmate you haven't seen since graduation.
Mom: So you talked to them through the facebook?
Me: no, we don't talk.
Mom: so how do you know so much about them?
Me: well, they have a page where they post things they've done, and I read that, but I didn't talk to them.
Mom: I thought you said you were friends.
Me: On facebook, Ma! You don't have to talk to them to be friends with them!
Mom: I still don't get it.
I don't blame her. I feel like a stalker by the time I explain it all to her again.
I'm calling for society to man up, and get over this new fear of face to face time with people, or I guess, voice to voice.God knows what will happen if we continue to have all of our interaction through a text or a social network. High school reunions would cease to exist. Hmm, that might not be such a bad thing...
