Texting and Email rant

[Save Us Sutter]

There is nothing I hate more than over-texters. You are not as important as technology makes you feel. Put your shinguard down and look around you.

[Pinner]

What I find so interesting about cell phone usage, is how nobody seems to be able to think and make decisions on their own anymore.

10-15 years ago before cell phones were the norm, field workers would make important decisions all by themselves. Now several phone calls and or e.mails are needed before any decisions are made.

This is particularly annoying in the O&G industry as "Calgary" always needs to be consulted and "Calgary" can call and change the plan.

[TurnedTheCorner]

That's a corporate culture thing more than a communication thing. The communication has just exacerbated it.

[Save Us Sutter]

I will admit it's fun to whip out the iphone and google something to prove someone wrong. Arguing used to be so much more frustrating.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by Mighty Tytan

ok, well that was fun ... clearly another case where my rant would be better understood over a beer and not in text. ;-)

This sounds great, except you would spend the whole time in the bar looking at your phone and responding to emails.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Mighty Tytan

this is perfect, i do it all the time. thats not the same thing, business is done best over the phone or in person, no question.

ok, well that was fun ... clearly another case where my rant would be better understood over a beer and not in text. ;-)

Irony.

[HPLovecraft]

I don't enjoy talking to people all the time, therefore I don't use those technologies that often. I liked it better when people didn't expect to be able to reach me ANY time they want to. Now it never feels as if you're truly by yourself. You can ignore it, but then you have people like the OP that think you should always respond, right away, at that time.

[4X4]

In the OP, the OP mentioned BBM. I'm one of those idiots that has a BB but does not use BBM. I see no use for it. IT's essentially the same as text, but with one huge difference... The other person can see if you've read what they sent you. F*** that. It pissed me off one day when someone BBM'd me asking if I could drive her somewhere. While concocting a bulletproof reason why I was busy, she BBM'd me again saying that she knew I got the message and to reply. Sorry, I don't work that way. No more BBM for me. I don't need people knowing whether I've gotten their "urgent" messages.

As for the phone, I get pretty sick of business calls coming in on nights like last friggin night during hockey. I just hit ignore. I don't even care that people can figure out that I'm hitting ignore based on how long the phone rings before going to VM. F*** off already. There is nothing so damn important that I need to put down my beer and pause HNIC unless there's a house on fire or someone in the hospital. And it's not that I care so much about hockey, it's just that it's saturday night. Not wednesday afternoon. If it was wednesday afternoon, I'd answer a business call.

[Methanolic]

I started a new job about 4 months ago and was basically told that I needed to get a BB. Well, I did and I hate the damn thing! My employer knows I have it, My clients know I have it....and therefore they all know I can be contacted at ANY time and a simple Email is now a paper trail that proves I was contacted.

the fact that people can be contacted anywhere, anytime is a god damn scourge!!!


PS: The damn thing even works in the mountains. (Lake Louise) I went there last weekend and thought I had a great reason for missing any "Urgent" calls...standing in front of the chateau it rings!! FML!

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Mighty Tytan

So I am not sure what it is with people who arent connected to their email.

What I mean is, those people who say, I dont check my email after Xpm or they dont have email at home. Like, get with it already. Do you not have a phone at home? Does it hurt to check your email? What possible reason do people have against communicating?

And texting, why do people willfully choose not to text? its so freaking easy and convinient to get quick messages and coordinates to people. sure beats the hmms and haaahs of a phone call.

Now that said, if something is urgent or you want to make sure there is no misunderstanding, pick up the damn phone of course.

ok ... so on my blackberry, clients, friends, family, vendors, basically anyone who i may need to be in contact with, i have BBM, MSN, Yahoo, and Google talk and I use them all.

Whats the problem with that? Why do some people say, no i only use BBM for work. How about those who have a Blackberry, but refuse to use BBM? Why even have a BB, you might as well get an Android or iPhone if you arent going to use BBM.

Dont get me wrong, its not like I spend 24 hours a day sending unneeded mindless texts. But its a frikkin awesome tool, why not use it?

Look, I can understand if they are trying to not be in contact with you, but thats not the case. its just that they dont want to text.

also, i answer every email within 10 minutes. every email. (unless i just miss one, which happens). why do some people decide they dont have time. thats BS to me. its just a choice.

how hard is it to get an email and reply "Hey Jim, I will have a look at this tomorrow when I am back from my sales trip". I hate the blackhole of no reply. Its rude frankly.

Whatever, my final word ... people embrace your smart phone and get connected! your entire commercial and social world runs through it and its only going to be come even more a focus.

end rant.

At first I thought this post might be a joke, but I see that you're serious. You, sir, need to get a life that doesn't revolve around this technology. So you're out with a lady having dinner and you're on your phone? Don't date much, do you? You're in a movie and an email comes in, and you answer it? You and I would be having a conversaion if you were in the seat beside me. Wow, I can't believe some of the stuff you're writing. Put the technology away and enjoy life, if you can. I don't answer client emails on a Sunday, even if I see them. I don't want my clients to think I don't have a life. If I was your client I'd consider your views on this a negative, not a positive.

[Sainters7]

I'm only a page in and see this thread goes 4 pgs so I won't bother piling on, but the theme of the OP scares me. It's this mentality which is the reason why we have less and less real "free" time these days. I hate hate hate how connected all of us are. Not everyone's a social butterfly and wants to be communicating 24/7, some of us like our man caves and just want to block out the outside world for awhile after a long day. I remember someone posting a stat on here a few months ago that said in Britain, blackberries/smartphones have on average increased the working year to an extra 10 days if you added it up.

If said OP was ever my boss down the road, I'd quit in two seconds and avoid the 10pm texts/emails. (I guess I did kinda pile on. Meh, it happens)

[Gozer]

I wonder what DESS would say on the topic...

[Antithesis]

You know, it is actually really freeing not to have a cell phone or BB or iPhone or whatnot (actually, I have a cell phone, I think it is 6 years old and has a $10 a month plan from Telus that is still more than needed). I am in full control of my time with my family. I have a home phone. It has an answering machine. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you when I can. I think I've sent maybe 10 text messages in my entire life.

[SeeBass]

If I get a electronic, work related, message off of work hours from somebody I tend to think less of them as they appear to have no balance in their lives.

I have put in the time and have earned the right to enjoy the quality of my life now. I dont need some snot nose little brat telling me I need to be like them as they chase their slice of the pie.

[sa226]

Now that it is illegal to use a cell phone whilst driving here in lovely Manitoba, if I don't get back to someone right away mainly because I don't want to, or as it was eloquently put above "concocting a bulletproof reason as to why I'm busy", it is usually because "I was driving"

There are a select few acquaintances of mine who must think I am a trucker.

[Pinner]

Lost my post after signing in with LastPass

Anyhow, I think it's rude to make a work related contact with someone after hours unless it is very important, even then, the first thing I say/write is, "I'm sorry for bothering you".

[troutman]

It is rude to be constantly checking your emails when you are with other people.

I saw a young couple on a date last night. They were texting other people the whole time. How romantic.

[Kybosh]

I still send most of my contracts via homing pigeon. I am so pissed when a pigeon flies into my house after 6pm though.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by Methanolic

I started a new job about 4 months ago and was basically told that I needed to get a BB. Well, I did and I hate the damn thing! My employer knows I have it, My clients know I have it....and therefore they all know I can be contacted at ANY time and a simple Email is now a paper trail that proves I was contacted.

the fact that people can be contacted anywhere, anytime is a god damn scourge!!!


PS: The damn thing even works in the mountains. (Lake Louise) I went there last weekend and thought I had a great reason for missing any "Urgent" calls...standing in front of the chateau it rings!! FML!

ever hear of turning it off on non-on-call times?

[Northendzone]

seems to me that we expect everything today to be instant.....sometimes it takes people time to get back to you, because maybe they are doing something fun or they just don't feel like dropping everything to get back to someone else using bbm, im, ym,msn,bbm,fb,twitter........