I have never texted in class, but I agree with those who said that texting is used as a scapegoat: if the students weren’t texting, they’d be passing notes or talking. Of course it’s rude and disruptive, but the cell phones can’t be blamed for that.

I like texting for many reasons. Several of my friends have jobs this summer in offices doing fairly mindless tasks, and while they certainly couldn’t talk on the phone, they can text. When trying to make plans with a large group, it’s easier to text “meet at five” to six people then to call all of those people up individually to tell them one sentence. I see texting as a means to facilitate communication and interaction, not to replace it.

Your squaw analogy is terrible. And offensive.

Of course face-to-face communication isn’t always warranted. I wouldn’t suggest otherwise. I, too, telecommute. And I suppose that some blame can be assigned to telephones, which is what texting is an extension of, right? At any rate, pleasantries and chit-chat have routinely gone the wayside in public. Maybe I could be the culprit, but I’ve always felt weird interrupting people, especially strangers, when they’re texting or on the phone in public places (e.g. bus, coffee house, etc.)And it really seems that people are always texting or on their phone. Maybe I’m more sensitive to it because I don’t have a phone to fill up all that empty time? Either way, it’s fine, I don’t need a conversation with every person I pass, but I wonder if this doesn’t add a sense of apathy to our everyday social interactions?

And I think that streamlining communication ISN’T always the best thing. Convenient and at times necessary, absolutely, but should it be encroaching on our everyday interactions?

The outcry around texting certainly has all the ingredients of a moral panic, to be sure. I like what Layla said: “Teenagers aren’t ever going to rule the world. People who were once teenagers will.” I also am more than amused with all the gadgetry and outlets for expression. But I think that to completely dismiss the notion that there aren’t any repercussions would be reckless.

I’m a college freshman, and texting is a big part of my life. It costs less for me to text than to call, so that’s how I make all my plans. My dad recently got texting, so now we talk regularly, which is nice, since calling is long distance.

I try to use proper grammar in my texts, and I have friends who do too. Back in the 6th grade before we were old enough to have cell phones, everyone would write notes to each other using short hand. It’s not just texting that’s creating improper grammar.

Sure, people misuse texting… not just teenagers. But what don’t people misuse? Should we ban water bottles because some people turn them into bongs? Should we ban potato chips because some people are fat.

And I completely agree with Layla. I don’t generally text in class, but I doodle. If I have my laptop I’m usually on Mental Floss (learning more than I would from my professors.) It’s not like kids were paying attention in class in the first place. Texting is just used as a scapegoat. Teachers can’t see the bigger picture– they’re boring. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The subjects teachers are forced to teach are kind of hard not to be boring, especially the ways school boards want them taught. But in classes I’ve been in that have really compelling teachers I rarely see anyone text. Those teachers are the ones who care more about their students and teaching them than they do about whether or not they’re texting. If a student isn’t paying attention, it’s his or her grade that’s being hurt, and his or her problem.

Um, hate to break it to you, but you should probably lay the blame with the whole “loss of face to face contact” thing on Mr. Alexander Graham Bell. People have been streamlining communication for thousands of years and it hasn’t eroded any other forms of communication. People still talk to eachother when they can/need to do so.

Would you be the squaw that cried because this new fangled smoke signaling was keeping people from riding across the valley to see their fellow tribesmen? Would you decry the invention of written language because it begins the end of verbal histories?

For informative purposes, face to face contact just isn’t necessary 99% of the time and a fair portion of the time, getting face to face with someone just isn’t possible. I do business with people in NM from an office in Houston, TX. I can’t get face time with them, but does it matter? No.

As far as the fall of the english language through the use of internet shorthand, pots and kettles come to mind… if you are going to criticize others’ grammar, you better be spot on with yours.

Everyone needs to take a chill pill and parent your kids if you have them.

Teachers, confiscate the cell phones, but don’t call the parents right away, unless you are in some way legally obligated the kids can do without their phones for a day. If there is an emergency, parents can still call the school like they did in the olden days. If there are repeat offenders, send them to the office for disrupting your class. It isn’t ok to text during class. It is disrespectful to the teachers.

recaptcha: that doodads

I think cell phone etiquette is also a huge problem–not for students exclusively, but for parents as well. Besides all the texting and driving/walking that I see, the parents at our school don’t do a very good job of following up on our cell phone rules.

Our school requires all confiscated cell phones to be picked up by a parent, and this has caused tons of arguments and problems with parents who argue that their kid “needs” the cell phone at school. I took a cell phone from a girl near the end of the school day once and stopped to use the restroom as I walked the phone to the office. The parent was there and complaining before I could even get the thing turned in.

Maybe we should make cell phone etiquette a required class?