Hi, I am Sophia Ng and I am a sophomore majoring in Biology with a minor in Communications. Over the summer I actually spent my time here at Cornell, doing research in the Vet Towers on bovine sperm. My research is somewhat hard to explain and I have found it may be uninteresting for those of you who are not interested in Biology. You can only imagine the expression on my friends' parents faces back home when they asked me what I was doing for the summer. Anyhow, besides that I am also a member of CSA, Cornell Tradition, Red Carpet Society, Project Hope and CALS Ambassador. My jobs in the past have included being a projectionist/manager/secretary/ticket master/janitor at a local theater back home as well as a pharmacy technician in a hospital. On campus I can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Biology. My future career goal is to get my Pharm. D. and become a pharmacist in a hospital. As you can see, I like to talk about myself a lot. That's why I'm minoring in Comm because talking/socializing is easy and fun to do.
I think one of the most annoying technologies that I have a love/hate relationship with is text messaging, the sending of messages through cell phone text. It kills me how all social manners go out the door when people start texting. They ignore you, interrupt you and make you feel like you're being rude for standing around while they text. More irritating is the fact that people send me text messages to have full conversations when they could have easily called me to relay the same information. People's social skills and manners are continually declining as they rely more heavily on communicating simple messages via text. I guess the positive is that you'll develop really strong thumbs. I admit that I occasionally use the text message and therefore may seem like a hypocrite, but I only use it when I cannot talk because of one reason or another. I guess my message to all you "txtrs" out there is use your phone for it's original intended purpose a little more often, be considerate and thoughtful about where and when you text, and give your thumbs a break.
The closest online space that text messaging could be considered under would be synchronous chats, which enables the real-time conversation. Although since texting is only sometimes a conversation and other times a message, I guess it calls for it's own dimension of "online space." This space encompasses the idea of relaying thoughts and ideas in an informal manner via cell phone. Proper grammar is not required and all involved in receiving the message is more than likely an acquaintance.
3 comments:
" I guess my message to all you "txtrs" out there is use your phone for it's original intended purpose"
I would challenge this notion that hat the intended purpose of phones is changing. No longer do we just need voice chat. Now we have other types of communication we can use as well. Personally, I get really jealous when I see someone texting someone all the time. It makes me feel like I am really unpopular. I wish I was texting someone. The only thing that irritates me about texting is how expensive it is. For example, if you do the math... :
Fun Facts
* ATT $983.04 per 1MB of message data - domestic
* $1310.72 per 1MB of message data - international
* $163.84 per 1MB of message data - 200 message bundle
Note the unlimited amount depends on how many are sent, but for illustration lets’s say you sent and received 1000 SMS. You’re per MB charge is $131.07.
* Verizon $655.36 per 1MB of message data - domestic to other Verizon phone
* $983.04 per 1MB of message data - domestic to other carrier
* $1638.40 per 1MB of message data - international
* no bundles
* Sprint/Nextel by Boost Mobile $655.36 per 1MB of message data
* $32.77 per 1MB of message data (assuming 1000 messages per month)
(taken from )
Text messaging is not always the most expensive for the people that use it. Another blog post by Kristina Canlas points out a economical difference between text messaging in the US and the Philippines. In defense of text messaging, when you call a friend you usually have to go through general chit chat before you get to the point such as, "Hi! How are you? I'm fine, thanks. How was your weekend? Oh thats good! By the way, I was wondering if I could go and use your computer between classes to print a report." Using text messaging in this case streamlines the conversation. Sophia Ng did make a good point though that text messaging does put some strain on social manners. The same applies for a cell phone ringing in class, people on cell phones in the library, talking on a cell phone when checking out at a cash register and the cashier needs to interact with you, or someone answering a cell phone call at dinner to chat. Text messaging sometimes, when held to the same scrutiny as a cell phone call, seems like a more quiet and reasonable alternative.
I personally feel that the movement to "all-in-one" electronics is a drive for efficiency and convenience. Being able to send e-mail from your phone instead of having to go back to the office, using GPS/cell phone map to get you from Point A to Point B when you are lost in an unknown area, or using it as a calculator for a quick calculation in a bank or class test when you forgot to bring your own are all examples of times when I am appreciative of the "all-in-one" electronic movement. Also, when thinking of the bigger picture and the ecological footprint of production of these technologies, "all-in-one" electronics have less of an impact than single purpose technologies. A consumer buys a camera, hand held game, MP3 player, and a cell phone. All of these products were manufactured in separate facilities, made with parts that were more than likely shipped or flown in from all over the world for assembly. A consumer drives from 1 to 4 stores to purchase these devices and in the end, as they are replaced, each are thrown away into a landfill. (NOTE: electronics recycling is growing in popularity and more information can be found at Electronics Recycling) To make a long winded point short, the process of manufacturing an "all-in-one" electronic device and considering the product life cycle, an "all-in-one" electronic device more than likely reduces waste, saves energy, and reduces harmful emissions through manufacturing and transportation.
Hi Sophia,
I agree with your critique of people’s manors, but have to disagree with the hatred towards text messaging. The cell phone has a shaky history among the courteous. People have been debating cell phone etiquette for years now and I have to say that shouting your private conversation for the whole room/bus/block to hear tops my list of annoyances. I believe texting solves this first issue with cell phones.
It solves the second issue of synchronicity. A phone call will not work if the person you’re calling isn’t available and voicemail is annoying to deal with. A text can be opened at the recipient’s convenience and allows the cell phone to communicate both synchronously and asynchronously, and now we have learned that each has its advantages.
On another note, it is poor form to text someone while you’re having a real life conversation, but I must admit I’m guilty of it, and think it’s forgivable.
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