Text Messages - the forgotten child of social media.

Hello,

A few weeks back asked the question, to my boss, what were banks like before computers? I mean, were there just rows and rows of people "keeping books"? Did projects even exists? What did we do without powerpoint and spreadsheets? Anyway, after the slight chuckle, the response that I was to have was "different". Cant fault the honesty. However, I realised that I was not really asking one question about banks, I was really asking a much bigger question - what was my life like without computers and technology?

Over the last 15 - 20 years, the number of ways that we can communicate with eachother has increased dramatically - it is difficult to imagine staying in contact with my friends - JC (edinburgh), MP (manchester), PH/CM (Maidstone), C, K, CM (all belfast). Through facebook, mobile phones, emails etc they I never feel too far from any of them. Which is great. However, while in the shower, just after sending a text message, I thought about it. Blogs, facebook, emails are all hugely flexible - you can put up pictures, links, comments long or short, quiz's and so many other things. By comparison, the lowly text message seems a meagre offering for communication - I have heard of e-books, but no one yet has tried to market (as far as I am aware) a "text story" service where you get short stories sent out.

Anyway, while i washed my hair, I decided that this was something I should actually post about - usually i post about things that i find particularly emotive or interesting, but this is a rare opportunity to post about something I had barely registered a thought about before this morning. So, here I go...

1. The Joy of Text
I'll start with whats good. First of all, the convenience is obviously great - send them any time any where. They are also unobtrusive - someone can read them wherever the like. No shocks here.

However, something that I value more is that they are personal When I send a text message, I can imagine it being read in the most public of venues, but no one but the recipient reading it. In fact, I often say things in text messages that would be very difficult to say in person in public - for me there is something great about this. I rarely send a text message to anyone with out thinking where they may be when the read it - but that almost does not matter.

Also, another thing that I particularly love is the lack of context. More often than not, our conversations require some sort of context for them to be understood. By this I mean, we generally don't throw one liners into every day conversation with out making some sort of reference to what we are talking about. With sms text messages, all context often goes out the window. Because they are generally short (measured in characters, not words), I often forgo context and go straight to my point. Usually, some sort of comment or observation, generally unrelated to a previous conversation. The lack of context, often adds to the impact (humour, emotive, shocking) as it comes across as being out of the blue. This is very important to me - I like the fact that there is a medium available for me to communicate in that does not require me to be long winded.

2. But what do I use them for?
Including my work messages, about 20% of them are merely 'arranging' things. All I mean by this is meeting for lunch, confirming / rejecting some sort of meeting etc. The other 80% are usually me asking questions or giving an opinion. There is probably very little "fact" in a text message. Not that I am saying that I lie in them, but I dont use them to communicate the weather, time of day etc. I generally use them to express my opinion, emotion, feeling or, more often than not, some randon thought that flew into my head.

Again, what how would I have done this 15-20 years ago? Would all those random thoughts and opinions that I have and frequently send out to people have gone totally awol and never been heard? While that may be for the best, it would have been a shame had I not been able to send some of my more inspired messages.

3. Honesty is the best policy
Finally, the one big thing I get out of text messages is about how honest I get to be in them. The fact that I am usually restricted to a few hundred characters usually forces me to restrict myself to the truth. In a strange way, i find the restriction liberating. Combine this with the fact that I am usually not staring the person in the face when i send the message (ine recent exception to this - C!), it is easier to be honest. This is a reason why I feel, quite sincerely, that text messages is one of the most interesting and engaging way to communicate with people.


Conclusion

Bit of an odd post this one, but once I started thinking about text messages, it would not go away. The point that I am making is that there are few other ways I have of communicating with people who are important to me that allows me to be honest, personal, truthful and immediate as a text message. Why I didnt realise this before now is surprising - who would have thought I had such a love for the simplest method of communicating available. Even my old motorola phone could send a text message.

So, one cheer for the not so mighty text message.

Kindest,

DD


PS I would also say that text messages are one of the more memorable types of message - I have plenty of memorable text messages, and not many emails.

Thoughts on Christmas

Hello hello,

This is my third and final (planned) post for the evening, and is probably going to be the most confusing / confused. When I sat down earlier on to think about what was on my mind, this consumed most of my thoughts. This christmas was realy, really interesting. So...here gooes...

Week 1

Arriving home
I loved getting home - it was great. It felt really good to be back and see the family. I hadnt been home in 6 months, and it was genuinely good to be there. Not much had changed, save for the fact that G had done a load of home brew (top trumps!), but it was really good. I got a chance to see most of my good friends (KA, KF, CMC, the Boys, JM) and it was good to catch up. Hard to believe that there is only a 2 week window in the whole year that makes that possible.

X-Mas eve: The Landsdown
Some things DEFINATELY never change. Sure the landsdown is like a meat market on x-mas eve, the music is awful, actually having a conversation becomes difficult by 930 and everyone is rat arsed by 10pm, but, you know, that is the spirt of x-mas. sort of.

I think there are two things I love about the landsdown.

1. 30 Seconds: those 30 second snapshots you get of people you havent seen in years. It is like they view it as a window of opportunity to update you on their life. At least three people i spoke to started these with "I'm engaged". Honestly, I felt like saying "i was not chatting you up anyway". But, i chickened out. I mean, why the update on your sex life? Seriously, I am WAY more interested in what you have been doing in the intervening years and yet still end up at the same watering hole on X-mas eve. Also, those 30 second updates, its like speed dating with out the end game. All i can say is "thank christ i was not looking for a date".

2. The boys - : For one night a year we basically revert to what life was like 8 years ago. It is like a time machine. All the boys there have a good time, but it is literally like things just dont change. I even though BG looked younger (good lad - maybet that is what Manchester is doing to you). It just feels like a normal uncivilised start to a night out we used to have when we were 18. No better place for it.

X-Mas night
I am not really in a position to talk about this one seeing as my memory ends at approximately 12am, but I think a good time was had by all. The following things definately happened:

1. MR exceeded himself in making the most potent cocktail i have ever had. VA VA VOM
2. Alot of gambling took place on FIFA
3. The most obscene things were written on my white board, which my Parents, Granny and Uncle all saw the next morning.
4. Alot of Kings was played. I think we need to come up with a new, less devestating game.
5. Hugging - every photo i am in involves me hugging people. Apparently i was sharing alot of guy love.

Boxing Night
See above - i had the worst hang over of all time and did not make it out. I was in bed by 11 and slept for 14 hours.


Week 2

Drinks with an old friend over the whole week
I had the fortune of catching up with someone I had not seen in years - it was great. A little bit unusual for me, though I am a social person and I had a few interesting thoughts before hand (what if they dont recognise me). Needless to say that was not a problem - facebook has removed all anonmnity from my life. Turns out that 8 years is not as long as it seems :). A bit of a highlight.

Extended Family
Turns out that one of my family members is into (non erotic) pole dancing. I did not know this. Boy was that an interesting one to find out over xmas. As i mentioned, i have a 2 week window each year to cram in seeing my extended family and those i did manage to see, I had a great time with. That said, their 'young' children get tall very quickly. I had a really good curry and seeing my extended family always reminds me how important they are. Thanks R&P!

New Year
Probably the quietest new year that i have had, and I was certainly more sober this year that last (last year i brought in 2009 in shine). So when 2010 arrived i was able to be quite reflective and think about what was coming up. No new years resolutions mind you. I was more thinking about my flight the next day. It was pretty cool though - had a good, if tame, night.



Conclusions

2 very different at x-mas weeks, the first about drinking and reliving the old days, the second about thinking what 2010 will be like. Could not have asked for more, but it was very interesting, looking back, how both of the weeks at home affected me.

The first was letting my hair down, the second very much looking up and forward to the year. I really needed it after such a busy time in work.

The moral of the story? I think it is that going home makes me apprecitate what I have in London, and living in London makes me appreciate the best things about going home.

Rock on X-mas 2010.

DD