I'm a total word nerd. It could stem from the fact that I was an only child until I was eight, and my mom didn't let me watch much t.v., and so I read a lot. It could stem from the fact that I went to the Colorado State Spelling Bee two years in a row, and let's face it, you have to know a LOT of words and how to spell them in order to get there. It could stem from the fact that as a member of the newspaper staff in college, I was a section editor AND a copy editor, and so it's just a habitual nerdiness. It could stem from the fact that my ongoing goal in life is to beat my dad at Scrabble on a regular basis. Who knows, but the fact is, that's just what I am.
Being a total word nerd, I am a snob about certain things. I’ve mentioned my dislike of the use of “ain’t” in conversation, and unless I’m pretending to be an uneducated redneck, I don’t use it. I’ll say pretty much every curse word ever invented (with a few reserved for really SPECIAL occasions or people) but I cannot say “ain’t.” I also don’t like my food to touch and various other food related issues, but that’s for another post.
Anyway, I’ve recently been using the text messaging feature on my phone. I say “recently” as if it’s just been invented, but the truth is, most of the people I talk to leave regular voice mail messages. If we’re in a bar and it’s loud, it doesn’t occur to us to text each other, instead we’ll call and the person on the receiving end is treated to us yelling or something equally as charming.
However, the boy I mentioned in The History of Us is a text messager. He calls, yes, but he text messages me quite a bit as well. And since he is a lawyer, I figure it’s best to text him during the day if I want to tell him something, instead of calling (“Yes, excuse me a second your honor, I have to take this – hi. What? Yes, definitely red. I don’t know, cabernet? Maybe a rioja if they have it. Yeah, Silver Oak is good. Ok, I have to go. See you later. ”).
So, as a word nerd, I have a hard time with the text messaging shorthand. Saying “4” and “2” instead of “for” and “to” is not something I can do. The same way with “u” and “r” – I would rather type out the word, and plus, with predictive text, it’s not that difficult. If you want to use that shorthand, that’s your deal, but you will be getting complete, actual words from me.
Last night was a good (if sad) example of the extent of the nerdiness. I think I may be the only person in the history of text messaging to use the word “presumptuous.” And I’m here to tell you, there’s no predictive text in the phone memory for that word.
22 comments:
ur2cute2b4gotn! cul8r qt!
Lama -- I hear you. On all of it. And many thanks for not duplicating it!
April -- It makes you a lazy word nerd. Yay!
Becki -- I hate you.
I know you will find this shocking, but I also hate the shortened phrases. I blame Sinead O'Connor with her otherwise good song, "Nothing Compares 2 U."
I'm a word nerd too! Let's start a club!
Oh, but I don't have text messaging...so we'll have to stick to blogging.
Down with "ain't!"
Beth -- this shared hate of stupid abbreviations must be the reason why we always did so well in elementary school when we would do our homework and write each other's name on it.
And Cheryl -- we're totally starting a club and one of the first rules is that there will be no text messaging allowed. We'll have to think of an appropriately nerdy name...
Amen, sister! I abhor text messaging and the shorthand that has become far too widespread an epidemic. Equally loathsome to me is the complete disregard for capitalization and punctuation. Lazy or uneducated people -- that's all I can think of to explain it.
Where might one apply to be a member of this club that you and Cheryl are starting? I simply must join!
LOL! I hate text messaging for that very reason. I dislike typing out incomplete words. And it takes forever to type out what should be a very simple sentence.
I'm a text messaging whore! There I said it.
I wouldn't be if it weren't for predective text though. And I, like you, spell out EVERY word. I don't see why someone wouldn't with predective text. It's actually easier.
My friends are coming around to spelling the words out withe me because I'll usually send the text back with "What?!" Then they have to spell it anyway.
High five!
Let me just say that my blood pressure just shot up at the mere mention of text messaging shorthand. I have way too many friends whose main means of communication is text messaging, and let me tell you - it isn't pretty the things I see on a daily basis! Amber- I want in on this club too! This epidemic just HAS to be stopped! (No drama here!)
On a lighter, less stressful note - That's absolutely wonderful about your involvement with your youth group! It sounds like it's a great fit for you! (And what great travel opportunities!) If you don't mind my asking, what denomination is your church?
Hi. I'm Trish and I use shorthand occasionally...and I'm a retard with punctuations..
That's so funny - I'm a word nerd, too. Although, I do text message because I hate, I repeat: I HATE, talking on the phone. So whenever possible, I text instead. That being said, I also went to spelling bee contests and used to read the dictionary for fun. :)
I AGREE TOTALLY!! i cannot STAND textspeak. texting? love it. very useful. but for the LOVE OF HECK please please please type out "you" and "are" and even "tonite" instead of "2nite". PLEASE.
also, i'm a huge word nerd too. it's awesome. i even signed up for the "word of the day" from dictionary.com (although, i've got to say, the words aren't that great).
i have to agree about the abreviations used for text messaging. i always write out the whole word...i thought i was the only one but i guess not.
Can I join the Club please? I could also do with someone to translate my text messages for me. I am sure my children have made up their own 'textspeak' just to give me a nervous breakdown!
I catch myself typing in shorthand occasionally, but for the most part I can't stand it either.
Maybe I could join your club!
I love the text messaging! And I rarely use shorthand unless I'm on a plane and short for time before take off. Otherwise, I just write it all out. Of course, I had to switch my phone plan to unlimited text messages (I believe it's part of the Just for Teens package) because my first "text message bandwagon" cell bill was insane.
i've taught my predictive text "asphyxiate."
i hear your pain
Do any plans still charge per character? I could accept shorthand if that were the case.
I have a techno-nerd Treo 650 with a qwerty keyboard, so I'm a little spoiled when it comes to text messaging. I usually spell out the word ... unless I'm driving.
I'm not sure if this makes me a word-nerd, too, but I once shot a man in Reno for using the word "irregardless".
I'm really happy 4 U. I h8 txting the whole word. u no? LOL. L8er. KIT
But do you use Lay and Lie correctly???
:)
people lie.
other things lay.
Sometimes I lie down and think about getting laid.
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