Reply With QuoteDon’t shoot the messenger Paul; you made an incorrect assumption and you are blaming it on SMS.
I rarely communicate by text, I`ve never got into what I call the tittle tattle text culture sending pointless messages back and forth, but what really puts me off is the ambiguity and scope for misunderstandings, it's a very limited form of communication for anything important and whenever I experience mix-ups it's usually a result of misunderstood text messages.
Here's a watch-related example: Last December I serviced a 60s gold Longines that belongs to a friend's father, a straightforward job that didn`t pose any problems. Looked at my phone this afternoon and saw a text message from him telling me the winder has fallen out of his dad's watch and will I fix it. I assumed he was referring to the gold Longines so I dug out my copy of the job sheet to refresh my memory, movement is a Longines 370 which is a square movement fitted to a round case in this instance. Removing the stem requires a screw fitted to the setting lever to be loosened so there's scope for it to come undone if it isn`t tightened correctly, an easy mistake to make when refitting and removing a stem several times to fit a new crown and trim the stem length. I`m thinking this has happened and it's down to me not having tightened the thing correctly, so after mentally beating myself with a stick I phoned him to discuss it.
Turns out his text was referring to a different watch, a Rotary that his dad wears regularly, had he phoned me initially and had a conversation I`m 100% certain this would've come to light!
Don’t shoot the messenger Paul; you made an incorrect assumption and you are blaming it on SMS.
Text reply:
“No problem. Call me and we can discuss it”
Have to agree, you made the assumption. It’s quite easy to ask for clarification if you are unsureOriginally Posted by Dave+63
That said I am not a fan of text conversations as they go on forever. 25 minutes spent texting when a 5 minute conversation would do.
Wow, you're fast!
I can only cover 30 seconds of conversation in 25 minutes of texting....
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Have you been talking to my Mrs?
Or a PM, titled "What's your problem". The prelude to a text.
Just wait until someone shows you a newfangled technology called ‘emails’!
My problem with texting is that folks work on the assumption that the recipient will see the message immediately, which depends on the recipient having their mobile phone close at hand at all times. For me, that's not the case, I`m often not close to the phone because I don`t carry it around the house, it generally lives in my office on charge. If it rings there's a good chance I`ll hear it but no certainty, if someone really wants to contact me ringing the landline is the reliable method (providing I`m in the house or garden), I have a ringer device plugged in that provides a very loud ringtone. Send me a text and it could be days before I see it, waste of time. As I pointed out the scope for ambiguity is huge, it's just a crap way to communicate in my view.
e-mail's OK, usually I check e-mails daily, but the flaw with texting is the assumption that the recipient is wedded to their mobile phone.......that's not me!
In the distant past I remember going on effective communication courses at work, a few key points have always stuck with me.
I would suggest that your mobile phone use isn't typical. Text/WhatsApp works for millions of people.
The problem in your example stems from your assumption on reading a message not the timely or otherwise response.
An advantage of WhatsApp is that (unless they have amended the defaults) you can see if the recipient has read a message or not via the two blue ticks.
Another example to prove my point, this very afternoon!
Wifey's playing in a bridge tournament, expected to be home around 6. I`m still recovering from the cold from hell so happy to potter about outside and do a few jobs in the sunshine and cooking curry for tea. Mobile phone's not in my pocket, left it in the house in a safe place. Having prepared a meal for two, wifey rings on the house phone (she knows I`ll hear it) to say she'll be home in 15 mins. Also says she doesn`t want much to eat, food was provided, and did I see her message? Obviously I didn`t, so I`ve prepared a meal that she won't be eating. Won't go to waste, it'll get frozen and eaten later (probably by me) but it's a bit frustrating.
If she'd rung the house phone during a break in play I would've heard it and answered, even at the end of my 80ft garden I still hear it and answer it.
I don`t care how many folks rely on bloody texting, it's still a crap way to communicate and the limitations are obvious. There's a concept called complete communication, texting falls way short in many cases.
I don't see how this proves your point.
You're not really describing a shortcoming of texting, you're simply describing the outcome of you not checking your phone. If it's causing you issues, consider changing your approach.
Not sure on this but I think that means it's made it to their phone, not necessarily that they've seen it.
It does have limitations, but for some applications it's very convenient. Every medium of communication has a limitation of some sort. Telephoning someone has the limitation that they have to be available to talk to you in real time, unless you leave a voice mail. It also means that one or both parties have to remember what was said, whereas a text message is self-documenting.
Don’t know about WhatsApp but on Signal the ticks change colour when the message has been opened (one can read without opening if msg is short enough to fit in the announcement).
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
WhatsApp is the same.
What happens when someone wants to communicate with you when you’re not at home?
Are you OK Paul?
You appear to have lost the ability to think straight which is totally unlike you.
Throughout the course of history communication has evolved, I'm pretty sure you wanting to stay at 1960's levels of telecoms won't halt its progress, just put your mobile in your pocket and if you can't be bothered with text just phone the text sender back.
Last edited by number2; 12th May 2024 at 07:56.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
"You gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em".
WhatsApp messages show one grey tick if your message has been sent but not received by the recipients phone. Two grey ticks if it has been received but not opened, these then turn blue if the message has been opened.
Paul’s wife called him because she knew it was the best way to contact him. Makes perfect sense
Complaining about text messaging in 2024 seems odd, it’s been around for over 30 years and still serves a good purpose
Expecting other people to k ow texting is not the best way to contact you due to your particular device use age - now that’s an assumption.
I did hear a recent survey / phone in show that generation Z (that’s Zeee not Zed) never answer a phone call. Preferring text or WhatsApp Signal Messenger etc.
one caller missed 3 calls from their bank trying to contact them to reimburse a payment until they picked up a forth time.
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
I have the same problem refuelling the car.
I get all the way to the petrol station, then realise that I have left the car at home, and the hose won't reach.
All this modern technology - it's useless I tell you.
I think this just proves that you've essentially got two home phones and only use one. Again I suspect most mobile owners wouldn't have similar experiences or in many cases even a landline.
Most people have a preferred way of communicating.
The skill is to recognise that and adapt. Trying to force your preference on others doesn’t usually work.
It’s a generational shift. Some kids don’t like to talk on the phone, but will message endlessly… pensioners the opposite.
My own view is that the lack of personal interaction( i.e. talking) isn’t improving society.
I think messages are useful if you need to communicate but don’t necessarily need an immediate response or don’t wish to interrupt the recipient if you know they will be busy (i.e. hands covered in grease working in the garage). The read receipt on WhatsApp is useful. Sometimes I may message but if not read when I need the response I then call.
Move with the times Paul!
Reminds me of the time I had fantastic smoke signal sex across town with a stranger. Never heard from her again but we got on like a house on fire.
(As others have commented one grey tick means it's been sent, two grey ticks means it made it to their phone, two blue ticks means they've seen it. Though sometimes people turn off read-receipts which means they never go blue.)
Last edited by Tom-P; 12th May 2024 at 20:02.
Although if I was the customer in the first example I’d have been clearer that the issue was with another watch, not the one that you just repaired, if I’m offering a service and expect people to contact me, I’d make sure I’m all over my emails, phone, texts and any other channels which I offer to people.
Landline, who still has a landline? I don't consider myself old yet but being a child of the late 60's does not make me young. Most of my colleagues, friend, family never hear their phone ringing. Only communication path is WhatsApp or Signal for a few couple of them (mostly IT security professionals).
Don't foget it is a MOBILE phone....stick it in your pocket and don't be precious about it....Good luck
Plenty of people who have landlines only have them as it's an element of their media bundle (and leave them disconnected because of the volume of nuisance calls), I think.
Yes we have one with the bundle, however it is often in use as getting in touch with my wife is virtually impossible as she never looks at the texts until she gets homeand mine is switched off unless I'm out with Dot so if the wife wants me (usually to tell me about something fabulous in a shop) she'll use the landline.
Had a call from my sister and a friend on the landline this morning.
Cheers,
Neil.
I had a landline with Sky for about 8 years.
Didn’t even know what the number was!
Last edited by Dave O'Sullivan; 13th May 2024 at 18:35.
Yes, disconnected ours though Mrs K doesn’t realise.
She likes to keep it for some reason though she always told me to answer it and was always some scammer or other (and I had to be polite with them!).
Sorry to be pedantic, but all it means is that it has been displayed on their device, it does not necessarily mean that it has been seen by the recipient.
I often leave my web browser open and displaying WhatsApp in a tab. Senders will get two blue ticks when they send me a WhatsApp message (as the message has been displayed), but it may well be some time before I actually see that message.
Mrs Nealywhe.... insists on keeping our landline with BT.
The only calls she makes are to her sister every couple of weeks. Other than that, the telephone is just gathering dust.
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By doing this you are also losing the notification that you have unread messages. A bit like converting every incoming email to read. I am glad it works for you but it’s not an efficient use of the functionalities. It also conveys the impression to the sender that you have seen it, and thus potentially to draw the wrong conclusions from your lack of response.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Sounds like you need a smartwatch
Spot on what you say.
An hour of texts and waiting for replys can be painful, a quick 5 minute call and alls sorted,in order and understood.
Maybe a quick text to see if somone is OK or asking if they can talk,but details are best on the phone.
Love my landline its clearer if like me you are half death from service without ear plugs or ear defenders.
17th in line on the phone to the Docs use both phones for a better chance.
Often I can be calling 2 different numbers at the same time both telling me how important my call is to them.
It will also work if a power cut in the area.
Assuming the telephone exchange is not suffering from the same power cut.
Have you tried semaphore or a carrier pigeon?
My landline won’t work in a power cut anymore as it’s now been (updated?) plugged into the router I’m guessing it’s so virgin don’t have to pay bt line rental
I’ve only kept my landline number for my business as I still think it looks more professional to have one as well as other contact details
I have no problem with text messages or talking on a phone but out of all the contact methods I do prefer email
And what about sexting?
Agree. And surely for the two ticks to turn blue for a sender he would not have to only leave WhatsApp open but have that particular senders number or group selected open also? Very odd.
Last edited by Ruggertech; 14th May 2024 at 07:51.
I haven't had a landline phone for around 10 years and have never missed it. I have a mobile phone, it's similar to a landlines phone but you can carry it around. If somebody wants to call me to talk they can......on my mobile. It also receives texts and WhatsApp messages, oh and email as well (but still receives phone calls....like a landline phone does)😁
The clue is in the name. ‘Mobile’ phone. Hence people often tend to carry them around with them.
Does your wife not know that you often leave your phone where you can’t hear it?
Can’t be the first time she’s sent a text only for you not to see it, surely?
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
A mobile isn't a mobile unless it's mobile😄
I have a landline bundled with Sky... I never use it, but I do like to look at my beautifuly sculpted B&O banana phone 🍌😁
if they caught on then you'd never need to run the length of your garden to answer a call from someone trying to scam you.
It's a closely guarded secret.....shhh🤫
I don't get that many WhatsApps, so a quick glance when I get back to my PC will normally show me if there are any unread messages. And if I do miss any, and they are important enough, then I imagine the sender will try to contact me again. Just like I don't always answer the telephone or the doorbell if I'm doing something more important.
And as for people making unwarranted assumptions based on their lack of understanding of how the technology works - well, that's entirely their problem, not mine.
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