question about texting versus phone calls

[steve2470]

Like most of us on DU, I grew up in the era before texting. So, when I buy and use a phone, its primary use is for regular phone calls. I only got into the texting thing maybe a year ago, with my older brother.

Do younger people, say under 25, primarily use their phones for texting these days ? Sincere question, thanks.

oh, had to add this of course:

[HERVEPA]

1. Yes

[PasadenaTrudy]

2. I'd say the majority do

I text all the time and I'm 51. I hate talking on the phone. Always have.

[blogslut]

3. If I didn't text...

blogslut jr. would never respond to me. Granted, we've graduated to exchanging messages via Twitter DM now.

[madinmaryland]

5. LOL! Do you say to him/her at dinner...

"blogslot, jr, put the damn phone down and talk to us"??

[blogslut]

7. Sort of.

She's just shy of 30. But when she comes over, it doesn't take long before the damned phone's in front of her face. She's a smart, kind person so I can't complain.

[bettyellen]

4. yes, even many older people (like me!) text 90% of the time.

[smirkymonkey]

6. I text for short messages, but I amI j really slow at it.

If it needs to be a more substantial or meaningful exchange, I like to talk on the phone or meet in person.

Actually, I really don't like talking on the phone that much either. I have an attention span of about 10 or 15 minutes at most, but I get annoyed with some of my friends who only want to text and NEVER want to talk. I just find texting very impersonal and after a while I feel like I lose a real connection with people who only want to text. I just get bored with it because the conversation is so trite and shallow.

I guess I am getting old.

[steve2470]

10. I'm like you are

Texts are fine for very brief exchanges. For a real emotional connection or a lengthy conversation, I need an old fashioned phone call. Oh well, each to their own.

[mackerel]

8. I'm in my 50's and I prefer texting. It's much quieter.

[NV Whino]

9. I prefer e-mail to phone or texting

No cell service at my house. I hate talking on the phone. Love e-mail. Read it at one's leisure, and there's a written record. Easier to type, too.

[bigwillq]

11. I am 37. I would rather text.

I kind of dislike talking on the phone.

[Codeine]

12. I'm 45 and I'd prefer to never have another

phone conversation for the rest of my life. I text as much as humanly possible, and reserve phone calls only for situations where texting is impossible or for people who are irritating Luddites (and I mostly avoid contact with that sort anyway.)

[REP]

13. 50 and the "phone" feature is the least used feature on my phone

Anyone who knows and loves me texts me. Well, except my brother, who isn't great with technology but has learned for my sake. I will have to make a few calls today ... wonder if I'll remember how.

[OriginalGeek]

14. i'm 51 and work on phones for a living

so naturally i hate talking on the phone. But I hate typing on my phone even more. Autocorrect drives me insane.

I text with my wife during the day because I can type on the computer keyboard and it goes to her phone (google hangouts). but when i'm out and about it's a PITA.

so i hate talking on the phone. I hate typing on the phone. Just send me a letter or, if you must text, a postcard.

[alarimer]

15. Sort of depends on how quickly I want an answer

Rudy and I text a lot. Mainly to tell me he got home safely or when his ETA is to come to my house. When we were long-distance, we talked every day on the phone. Now that we are an hour apart, we Face Time. Go figure. Soon we'll be living together so I doubt we'll do Face Time while we're in the same house. LOL

Texting is often preferable when you can't speak (Like I'm at work or something and there is no privacy for personal calls). Also some people check their text messages more often than their voice mail.

But some people I work with have told me they don't text at all. So they prefer email or phone.

At my previous job, we texted all the time.

[mrmpa]

16. My 85 year old mother primarily texts............

for a few reasons:

1. One son only responds to texts
2. Her grandkids text her & she responds
3. I got her an iphone & she finds it easier to tex
4. She can text her home care nurse (she just got out of the hospital) & check to see when he's coming & to report any changes to him.

She does call her friends who are in her age group.

[LanternWaste]

17. For a conversation, I use the phone. For a quick response or a verification

For a conversation, I use the phone (but to be honest, I've never been a fan of phone conversations lasting more than five or ten minutes). For a quick response or a verification or just an "I'll be there in ten" I've gotten to appreciate the texting mode of phones.

Caveat: I'm 49.

[LWolf]

18. I resisted texting for years,

because I didn't see the point.

That's changed.

I much prefer a texted question or info. I don't have to stop what I'm doing to answer the phone, and I don't have to slog impatiently through the voice mail process to hear messages.

Texting is an excellent replacement for messages, and great for simple things.

For conversations, I use the phone.

I'm at home today. I've had one phone conversation and 3 texts, all from my grandson.

[Duppers]

20. I HATE voice mail

I'd rather call someone back than listen to it...except for my doc's office.

My 28yo son is the same way. We often text and yet he calls most every night. Yeah, his dad and I are lucky.

[LWolf]

21. I tell my mom 2 or 3 times a week:

"If I don't answer the phone, don't leave a message unless it's an emergency. As soon as I pick up the phone, I'll see that you called and call you back."

She can't help herself. I get 2-3 voice mails a day, every time something pops into her head that she wants to say. She doesn't have a smart phone, so she can't text.

[Duppers]

22. My mother used to do the same. Sigh.

It was so irritating.

[KMOD]

19. all of my under 25 kids primarily text.

Sometimes, when I'm feeling silly, I text them that dinner is ready.

[logosoco]

23. I prefer texting to phone calls...

in most cases. Primarily because sometimes it is not important so the person can respond when they can.

I recently have found that i like it in case i forget something that was said, i can look over the text thread!!!!

My sister has a minute phone and a land line. She will text me "busy?" so that I can call her land line as soon as I have a chance (which is usually right away!!).

I have texted my last-at-home kid (she's almost 21) when she is in the next room!

I am 50 and used to LOVE talking on the phone (like until my ear turned red!), now, not so much, unless it is REALLY important or I haven't spoken to the person in a while.

My mom, who just turned 80 and has had a mobile phone for a while, begins every call to me with "Where are you?".

[treestar]

24. Yes

teens in my family and 20 somethings text more than phone.

[IntravenousDemilo]

25. It's called a telePHONE for a reason.

I despise texting. I have a flip phone with a number pad, not a keyboard, so if I want to type the word "tonight", I have to go 8 6 6 6 (pause) 6 6 4 4 4 (pause) 4 (pause) 4 4 (pause) 8. It's a pain in the ass. Saying "tonight" takes so much less time.

I also despise it when people text when I'm with them, especially at dinner. It's rude and antisocial. I hate being "phnubbed" (phone snubbed) like that, and after about 30 seconds I just get up and leave.

[IrishEyes]

26. Yes

I tend to have phone calls with my over thirty friends and texts with my under thirty friends.

[PoliticAverse]

27. If you like lots of small interruptions from different people in your daily life embrace texting. nt