I H8 SMS TLK

[PDLM]

the only annoying thing was the SOS message alert tone they had (the old default nokia sms msg alert tone) - that really pissed my mum off.

Er, it was SMS (...--...) not SOS (...---...).

[Myrona]

Er, it was SMS (...--...) not SOS (...---...).

Thanks for clearing that up, PDLM. That was the only subject I wasn't good at in school - Morse code 101.

[Mark II]

Thanks for clearing that up, PDLM. That was the only subject I wasn't good at in school - Morse code 101.

. . . _ _ _ . . .

[Max]

My my, such hostility towards technology?

There are a few reasons why this is so prevalent.

Most of you seem to forget that SMS use wasn't exactly widespread up until 3-4 years ago.

The explosive growth in cellphone use in emerging markets like India, China, Philippines, etc.. where for a long time sending text messages were a LOT cheaper than comparative phone conversations.

Rather than enter full prose for a brief note where you would end up being charged for 3-4 messages altogether (currently in practice), it made sense to 'condense' it into 1 or 2 at most. Let's face it, T9 is one thing (and I'm glad it's there; I use it myself), but it ain't no match for 'txtspk'.

Also, how many of you remember sending text messages on older cellphones? (we're talking monochrome screens, limited character displays, no T9 or at least a very primitive form of it)

Lastly, it's a habit....people that send SMS messages like this are used to this type of transmission because it's so ubiquitous where they are from.

Let's not get ourselves all worked up over this, guys.... We have worse things to deal with.

[Bungle]

My uncle back home is pushing 60 and he's the king of txtspk! Makes me lol when he sends me a text, though with pretty much anyone else it just pisses me off

[Skyhook]

Whats worse than the erosion of ones language ?

If English was your native ancestral language, you might give a damn Max...

As it's not ....

The world is going to be taken over by Marty Mc Fly Junior's, soon...

Imagine the President of the USA in 30 years time, he won't be known for addressing a nation, he'll be l33t speak, sms texting a nation, like a scene from Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure...

[hullexile]

I have no problem with it when used in text messages, it's when it creeps into other areas that is pisses me off. It's bad enough having to put up with American English

[beachball]

But Chinese messages rarely get so long, and you can't l33t speak. (someone is bound to tell me that you sure can)

Indeed, you can. The Chinese equivalent involved a lot of abbreviations (e.g., SSGG) and numerical codes (e.g., 88 for bye bye).

[jgl]

Imagine the President of the USA in 30 years time, he won't be known for addressing a nation, he'll be l33t speak, sms texting a nation, like a scene from Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure...

Here's an example of how presedential candidates have dumbed down over the last several decades. Watch the Nixon vs Kennedy debate- both candidates come across as far more eloquent, educated and capable of sophisticaed thought, than McCain, Obama, Gore or Bush.

Internet Archive: Details: Kennedy-Nixon Debate

The gap between them and candidates from recent history is about as big as between current candidates and txt spkrs.

[jgl]

More language-related stuff for time wasting goodness:

SMS Novels Making Japan’s Top-Seller List | Swongled.com

Apostrophe Protection Society