With texting, email, and other forms of instant messaging, the way we communicate is definitely changing. But is convenience replacing face time? Some argue that texting and other similar forms of communication are destroying the English language with their "LOL'S." The potential for speed in texting often means leaving out punctuation and substituting words with single letters. The same goes for emails and facebook chat.
The average kid sends 2899 texts a month, or 95 per day. Think about the time it takes to send 95 text messages, and the amount of information sent in a single text message. Now think about the time it takes for someone else to receive and reply to 95 text messages. Now imagine that same conversation, with the same amount of information only in the form of a phone call. A phone call seems a little faster and doesn't require as much work from the thumb. So do kids still remember how to make phone calls; how to hold a conversation? We don't know, but it may not be long before that time comes.
Does anyone remember the last time they wrote or received a letter? Probably Christmas, but not really any other time of year. Sure, email is convenient, but it does not require the thought nor hold the novelty of a hand-written letter, those are special.
Sometimes people are described as socially awkward, but if we all keep eliminating our time spent actually talking to each other, we may all become socially awkward. Of course it won't be to the extent that no one talks to each other, but if we can't talk to each other we will certainly be worse off.
On the bright side, Apple iPhone's FaceTime and Skype's video chat feature is putting us face to face and not making us talk with each other, but allowing us to.
The Tiger Cub staff doesn't want you to stop texting, we just want you to start using punctuation. And every once in a while, call each other.