At the risk of invading my children’s privacy, I can’t let this one slide. Breaking up with someone by text—be it a best friend or a boyfriend—is bullshit. It’s weak. It’s bad form. It’s pathetic, lazy and, well stupid. And SOB if it didn’t happen to my kids not once but twice this week.
Text messaging, or texting, has its place and I have used it to communicate more than I ever thought I would. Usually, however, it’s about meeting times and places and sharing sports scores with those who couldn’t make it to the game. I’ve even learned to let punctuation slide and use shorthand on words like “2” and “ur” and “k.”
It’s especially handy for communicating phone numbers or for contacting your nephew across the country to have him supply the punch line for a joke you just couldn’t quite get right.
Texting is handier than email and certainly briefer than a conversation. It has its positive place in communication technology. But to use it to break up with someone?
That’s just bullshit.
I think we’ve all had occasion to make a phone call knowing it was more likely we’d face an answering machine rather than have a conversation; however, that’s usually for things like regrets to a basket, botox, candle, clothing, jewelry, taser or Tupperware party. Email has been another outlet and I, for one, check my email in-box far more than my voicemail. These have become not only handier but also accepted forms of communication. After all, not all of us are equal when it comes to social communication skills. And really, these days, who has the time for a conversation?
But are we really ready to completely dump the art of conversation when it comes to our personal relationships?
On our ride to school I reminded her that the best response—maybe even the best revenge—was to continue to be excellent. She not only can rely on herself, but also on some pretty great friends to help remind her how truly excellent she is. Hopefully, she’ll learn from the experience and soon forget about the boyfriend and his rude breakup method. After all, the poor dope didn’t know a good thing when it was in front of him having a real conversation or when it was spelled out in text messaging.
Absolutely the stupidest, most cowardly and slimiest thing to do. And it's not only teenagers who are doing it!
Hi Michelle,
I am a contributing writer to Examiner.com and recently wrote an article about texting…I think you'll like it.
Here is the location – http://www.examiner.com/x-32254-Orlando-Writing-Examiner~y2009m12d25-Johnny-cant-write–but-he-can-text-while-driving
As for the cowardly practice of breaking up via text…I suppose this is the 21st century version of the Dear John letter.