Has Text Messaging Become the Only Way to Communicate?

by | Aug 9, 2006 | Observations

Have we become a society that only communicates via technology?

Here’s a twist on making technology work for today’s modern, connected society. A new story out of London reports that a young woman was “sacked” by her employer – but what makes the story compelling is how she was told: by text message on her cell phone!

According to the report: “Katy Tanner, a 21-year-old sales assistant, received the message while she was off work with a migraine. The text message said: ‘We will not require your services anymore …Thank you for your time with us.’"

I wonder what Houston’s own Miss Manners would say about that?

The report continues: “Store director Ian Besbie added that the dismissal method was fair because texting was a part of ‘youth culture.’” Besbie: We are a youth business and our staff are all part of the youth culture that uses SMS (text) messaging as a major means of communication.”

Turns out the store handles tattoos and body piercing.

Although this example is somewhat satiric, I hope you get my point. We should make more of an effort to communicate in person versus mostly with technology. It’s like a friend of mine says, “What did we do before e-mail?” I usually respond, “We had Fedex.”

What do you think? Have we become a society exclusively mired in technology to communicate?

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