Texting In Social Situations

1. What are your thoughts on texting in social situations?

I find that texting in social situations is fine, but it depends on who is involved in the situation. Most times I find myself texting when I'm with my friends. Not only that, but they as well text when we're together. It's the comfort that we feel with each other that makes it feel al right. It would be different if you were around your parents. Some parents find it rude to text when you are together. With my dad, he can't stand seeing us text when we're out somewhere special as a family. He just wants us to spend as much time as we can when we're together, he doesn't like that we are distracted from our family values by texting our friends. The only time that I think it's okay to text when in a big social gathering, is when you basically feel alone even when there are so many people surrounding you. When I'm in a party I tend to drift away from the crowd, since I might not know any of them or I just feel uncomfortable and awkward. If that situation were to ever occur, I would text with no hesitation. It would be another story if you were with friends at a party, you'd be able to text, but in certain moments you would have to be respectful and socialize with everyone else. Same goes for family parties. I have an incredible amount of family parties every weekend, and when I'm there it's expected that at times you must talk to and greet every individual. I personally think that when others text around me I don't really pay much attention. It's sort of expected now-a-days, my friend and other people will text. As long as they don't completely shut themselves out from any of their friends or family, then I think it's definitely fine.

2. Do you find it rude if you're talking to somebody and they proceed to text continuously on their cell phone?

Like I said, I really don't mind nor do I notice when someone texts. Although that is what I think, I think that if I were talking to them and they continued to text on their cell phone, I would find them rude and disrespectful. If I ever had a problem or situation where I needed to talk to someone to feel more relieved and they text the whole time, I would quickly lose my respect for them and a little bit of my trust. I mean, when you're hurt and have got a lot of things to say and the person listening isn't listening at all, you lose a sort of piece of your friendship you have towards them. At all times, I think that if it's just you and one other person having a conversation no one should be texting. It's a must to be respectable about what one says, when they take out the time to talk to you especially. Other times, I wouldn't mind if they checked their phone for a text, since it might be important. If it were something like just texting another friend and having a casual conversation over their cell phones while I'm trying to speak to the person, I would really just walk away. Why talk to someone, who doesn't even seem like they want to listen or talk to you, because they're so busy texting. Even in my own experience, I'm guilty with doing so and a few of my friends have been annoyed by it. After several incidents, I changed and found how incredibly intolerable I must have been. Being patient and waiting until the person talking to you is done, and then text is really the best way to do it. It is even better if you said excuse me and texted your friend who's texted you and let them know that you'll get right back to them later on. With that I find that it can be al right, that's if you do that. Overall, yes I do find it quite rude when someone chooses to text continuously rather then listen.

3. If you had to come up with a list of 5 etiquette rules for texting, what would they be?

1. Be aware of who you are with. You don't want to text when it's seen as very rude to the people you are surrounded by.
2. If you're busy let them know and text them later. It's better not to get caught in both texting and what you were originally supposed to do, you will become distracted and lose sight of what you are meant to do.
3. Turn your phone off when you feel as though you've texted way too much. Becoming addicted to texting is not good, you'll miss out on other things.
4. Do not text in a hazardous situation. When crossing the road or driving it is important that you stay safe and pay attention, if you were to text danger might come to you and you will get gravely hurt.
5. Lastly, It's important that you stop texting completely and stay focused on your main priority. If you were to text during a class, when a teacher's talking or in work, you will miss out on important information, lose time for work and most likely fall behind.

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