Human beings really made progress over the years when language evolved. It enabled humans to communicate with each other and work for a common good. Additionally, emotions (happiness, anger, sadness, etc.) could also be expressed by the spoken word which was enhanced by tone of voice, volume of voice, speed of spoken words and critically enhanced by facial expressions. All of the above are missing, for the most part, when communication is done by texting. The spoken and written word--usually in longer sentences when compared with texting--has served mankind well. However, many believe texting is out of control. The average number of texts sent by a teenager in a day is 110 as of the fourth quarter of 2010. A cell phone service manager recently told me that a teen came in his store and it was noted that this person had generated approximately 15,000 text messages in the previous month. In June 2005, 7.2 billion text messages were sent and in June 2008, 75 billion text messages were sent. So, how do you know when texting is out of control?

1. It is abnormal for teens to be seated at a table in a restaurant with their parents and communicate by text and not the spoken word.

2. It is abnormal to be texting non-stop in the classroom or anywhere else when one’s attention should be directed elsewhere.

3. It is abnormal to be getting texts in the night--say 3 am--and anxiously responding to them. The point here is teens, adults, or whomever, are by the sound of a received text message, being deprived of uninterrupted sleep which is so important for mental
health, learning, and the function of the immune system.

4. It is abnormal to be texting while driving. How may automobile accidents with fatalities have been caused by inattentive drivers who are texting? A friend recently told me that he mounted a small video camera on his bicycle helmet facing rearwards. He downloaded the video made during his bike ride when he got home and after viewing the video, he parked his bike and determined that it was too dangerous to ride a bicycle with the increased number of drivers who are texting. It is actually more dangerous now for pedestrians walking on roadsides because of inattentive drivers texting.

5. And last but not least, it is grossly abnormal and stupid to be on a cell phone and/or texting while crossing streets in traffic. An untold number of pedestrians have been killed while texting and crossing streets. This from The Opelika Auburn News on October 13, 2011, “As the third child crosses the road, the bus driver sat down on the horn of the bus as the black SUV approaches, swerves and strikes the child, which spins her, and she rolls down the side of the car onto the pavement. The woman driving the SUV was late for class and talking on the phone at the time of the accident.”

Here are some recommendations:

1. No cell phone/texting from 9 pm until 6-7am. Some cell phone providers will be providing blocking service for cell phones, say from 9 pm until 6 am.

2. No texting at the dinner table.

3. Encourage the use of normal conversation in the family setting instead of texting.

4. No texting/cell phone use while driving.

5. No texting while walking streets, crossing intersections, etc.

Note Well: The art of communication –handwriting and voice communication on phones or voice face to face may soon be lost due to non-stop texting. Example, how are teens, family members, married couples to resolve difficulties with only text messaging?