The punchline could be both heard as a plaintive cry for the pre-cell phone nostalgists as well as, because of who is saying it, the battle-cry of the technology apologists. Brilliant!
I've sent instant messages to people sitting right next to me while also talking to them, in order to have two conversations at the same time. It's useful as a sort of covert channel.
@Mr. S&N: Of course with someone you know well, e.g. your spouse, you can have that covert channel without the technology, just subtle use of word choices, prosody, facial expressions, etc… Oh no! Is humanity losing that skill that we need to "text" our subtext? :)
@Theodore: Sometimes, though, you're doing so among other people who know you well and would be able to pick up your subtext. My spouse and I make use of text and instant message in this way when we're among family or close friends, as a way of keeping the subtext from view.
Sharat Buddhavarapu said,
March 19, 2013 @ 7:52 am
The punchline could be both heard as a plaintive cry for the pre-cell phone nostalgists as well as, because of who is saying it, the battle-cry of the technology apologists. Brilliant!
Victor Mair said,
March 19, 2013 @ 8:11 am
Texting is a kind of talking.
That's just my observation of those who do it. I don't know how.
Mr. Shiny & New said,
March 19, 2013 @ 9:03 am
I've sent instant messages to people sitting right next to me while also talking to them, in order to have two conversations at the same time. It's useful as a sort of covert channel.
Theodore said,
March 19, 2013 @ 2:31 pm
@Mr. S&N: Of course with someone you know well, e.g. your spouse, you can have that covert channel without the technology, just subtle use of word choices, prosody, facial expressions, etc… Oh no! Is humanity losing that skill that we need to "text" our subtext? :)
The Mad Dreamer said,
March 24, 2013 @ 6:47 pm
@Theodore: Sometimes, though, you're doing so among other people who know you well and would be able to pick up your subtext. My spouse and I make use of text and instant message in this way when we're among family or close friends, as a way of keeping the subtext from view.