cell phones Archives - Inspire By O'Nika

Should I text or call? It can be hard to decide these days with so many technological choices we have. Smartphones are an everyday staple. Features on cell phones give us many options of communicating. You know that saying, “there’s an app for that”. Well, it is true. With so many different platforms and ways to reach people, it can sometimes be a hard decision about how to relay a message.

A text is quick and convenient, but not always appropriate for what you want to say. Texts are very impersonal and may seem like the better way to send a message that you do not want to deliver in person. Just think about how you would want to receive a piece of news. Depending on what you want to say, a text may be totally fine. However, if it is life-changing, personal or sensitive in some other way, a phone call is necessary.

The choice to text or call is governed by the age group of people using technology these days. A large number of older people prefer to communicate by phone. They don’t have time to try to figure out the texting feature. Then again, there are some pretty savvy seniors that can keep up with the best of texters. The younger generation mostly uses text. To the point that they text people who are in same room with them.

Calling allows the other person to hear your voice and also note the tone of the message you are giving. With a text, you don’t know the tone at all and can easily misunderstand. Emoji’s can help to clarify your tone in a text but those are ambiguous at times and not everyone uses them the same way.

Texting

Advantages to texting include having a written record of conversations, should you need it later. Very quick and convenient, can be done from anywhere. You can reach multiple people in group chat and not have to dial everyone individually. With a text, you have time to think about your answer and do not have to reply immediately. Texting allows you to communicate with someone privately without disturbing others around you. They will not hear you talking; although they may hear the clicking while the text is being sent. Downsides are that you can text something sensitive to the wrong person. And guess what; you cannot take it back. Once you hit the send button, it’s gone into the universe. Another example is that you might be joking about something, but the receiver takes it as serious. This results in causing confusion and/or misunderstanding.

Calling

Advantages of making a call is that you can hear the inflection in the voice of all parties on the call. This allows you to gauge whether the person is joking or being serious. There is no confusion here. You get to say more on the phone as opposed to trying to send a long message by text. It makes it easier and clearer when talking to someone, especially if you have follow-up questions. Disadvantages to calling are that if the person you are calling does not answer right away you have to leave a message, hoping they get back to you. Also, calling means having to rely on memory. An example is when you may have told someone a certain detail, only for them to forget it later. They have no written transcript or text to refer back to. Phone calls also put people on the spot. With voice calls, you have no time to think about a response since the conversation is in real time.

Situations

You are at home cooking and realize you need milk. Do you call or text your partner to pick up the milk on the way home?
Your date was being a real jerk last night. Do you text him/her to let them know about themselves or do you call?
The company is downsizing, and you have to lay someone off. Do you send a text or call?
After a blind date you know it will not work out. Do you text or call?
The neighbor’s son/daughter was in a part of town, you know they should not be. Do you call their parents or text them to voice your concern?
While out shopping, you spot something that you think your best friend will love! Do you text or call?

I think the way to communicate something depends on a few factors. It depends on the severity of the news, the person who will receive it and also the person delivering the message. Some things can be either a text or call, but you can gauge the situation and decide which method is best.

Text or call, how do you communicate?

Behind the screen of the electronic age

Behind the Screen of the Electronic Age (Audio only)

Once upon a time kids played outside. What happened to the days when kids talked to each other and made friends? The electronic age happened. The computer screen, tablet, cell phone screens all came into play. Back in the day, they didn’t have to know each other in order to play a game of hide and seek, jump rope, dodgeball, hopscotch, hand ball and the all the other games kids played. Since the internet and the electronic age, there is a lot less socialization. As a result, children have become too reliant on cell phones, tablets, computers and video games for their entertainment and socialization.

Everyone is behind a screen browsing the internet, watching videos and/or movies, texting or playing video games. No one talks to each other anymore face to face. It is crazy how you can have a room full of people sitting together but they are not talking to each other. Everyone has some kind of device in their hand staring at a screen. Not to mention people walking in the street looking like zombies with their phone in hand not looking where they are going. It’s dangerous, very dangerous!

Video Games

Video games provide some form of entertainment for kids. Kids need some kind of outlet. The problem comes in when they are on the game for hours on end. It is up to parents to limit the time spent playing these games. It hurts their vision the longer they use the game. It makes kids sit for long periods of time. As a result, they are not getting any physical activity. It lessens time spent in the real world talking and socializing in person.

Internet

The internet allows for accessing information quickly. No need to get in the car to go to the library to check out a book or look up something in an encyclopedia. Children can research information needed for homework and other school projects. The dark side to the internet is that there is so much information out there it is easy for kids to see inappropriate content. Just a few keystrokes and kids can be exposed to things that are not age appropriate.

Social Media

Social media, just like anything else on the internet has changed. In some ways for good and some ways bad. The good part of social media is that you can stay in contact with people who are across the country from you. You can find long lost relatives and friends without doing a lot of leg work.

Social media is also a good way to advertise your business. If you are a business owner, it is a great marketing tool. It is a lot faster than word of mouth advertising.

Social media is also a place where you can showcase your personal skills. If you have a hobby and create things in your spare time, what a better place to show that. You might be good at sewing and like to make clothes. Maybe you like to put outfits together and give people inspiration. You may be a good singer and want to post videos of yourself singing songs that you wrote.

You name it and you can do it on social media. There are so many platforms. Just keep in mind that there will be critics. When you put yourself out there, the critics will come. And, it’s ok. It’s ok because no matter who you are or what you do, there are always people hiding behind the screen. In my opinion, don’t write something about someone that you are not willing to say to their face. If you can’t say it in person, don’t write it.

Conclusion

The electronic age has made things easier for everyone. It is not all bad. You can accomplish a lot of things without leaving the house. It only gets problematic when too much time is spent staring at a screen. Especially, children who are so easily influenced. We need to be mindful and very watchful of what children view online.

The more time kids spend behind the screen, the less physical activity they get. This can result in them becoming overweight. They will lose much needed socialization skills the more time they are sitting on their computer and/or cell phones.

What can we do to get back to people and strike a balance between screen time and face to face interaction?