The Art of Texting

Timing, Frequency & Length

Having to carefully manufacture text messages is a bizarre feeling. That’s why I rarely do it. Texting is barely composed by words these days, so I find myself deciphering emojis and condescending memes; overthinking grammatically incorrect sentences trying to find a hidden meaning. There are so many rules every other 20-year-old seems to grasp, but me. Trust me, I won’t be adding this to my list of skills in my CV any time soon.

I like to believe I am not the only one with this problem — if it can even be labeled as a problem, and I have laid out what I think these unspoken rules are:

1. Timing. So I have heard in the streets — thanks Google, that timing is everything. Not too early, not too late, just the right moment. But hey, there are only 24hrs in a day, so choose wisely! Also, don’t be eager to reply because nobody wants that. Because why would I text you if I have to wait three days for a reply? Let’s use the postal service instead, who’s in?
2. Frequency. Now that more than 72hrs have gone by, finally, a reply. But no more than three texts a day, nobody likes to be intrusive. Don’t text more than twice in a row, that looks horrible. And remember, you can’t take back a sent text, so less is more!
3. Length. Simple, brief, concise. There are two extremes: one worded texts, k, or the last book of Harry Potter in German. We want neither. Say what you need to say using the least amount of words possible. It will make you look aloof and cool.

Rules are meant to be broken, so I will text when I feel like it, answer right away — if I can, and write my next hit novel if I feel like it. If this is wrong, get me sunglasses so I can cry and still be cool at the same time. What we have to say should be heard, right?

What happened to our voice?

I have been using this app called VOYZ that allows the user to be in full control of what’s shared. Messages can be deleted from one phone, and automatically disappears from the other. This pretty much feels like breaking the rules.

No need to worry about carefully manufacturing a text. I can say what I want to say the way I want to.

With VOYZ I keep full control of my content. No screenshots, and no ridiculous behaviour around communication. Texting has turned into a chore I no longer enjoy, full of unspoken rules. I say no to unspoken rules, and yes to spoken ones.