Cell Phones, Texts, FB Messenger, and Email

[MineralMan]

I've been communicating with members of my family constantly this week. Most are Gen Xers. All have email addresses. Some of my communications are long in nature, due to the situation. Their replies have all been brief, autocorrected with the wrong words, and unresponsive to the questions I've posed to them. All have been sent to my phone as texts or on Facebook Messenger, all things I use, but that are not helpful when dealing with serious issues.

Unlike in my email client, things I receive as texts or on Messenger cannot be stored in folders. They cannot be searched for a week from now, and misspelled mailing addresses, phone numbers and other information are useless. I can't include attachments in texts or Messenger in any way that makes sense, and there are many attachments to deliver. I cannot compose long messages on my cell phone's tiny keyboard at a rate of more than 10 words a minute. On my desktop computer, I can type almost 100 wpm.

I had to send them all a message asking that all family communications during this time need to be via email, so I can do the things described above in my email client. They're now doing that, thank goodness.

Apparently, email has fallen out of use by that generation. That is truly unfortunate, since many communications cannot be done in short messages. Some stuff is serious. To get their cooperation, I had to explain all of the things above. One family member said she only checks her email once a week. I suggested to her that right now, she needs to check it at least twice a day, since I sometimes need answers to questions right away. "OK," she replied, in a text. Uff da!

Sometimes, long emails are absolutely necessary. Probably, we all need to think about that from time to time. I wonder if others have noticed this phenomenon of avoidance of email.

[LiberalFighter]

1. Totally agree.

Text messages for the most part should be reserved for simple messages.

Another problem with text messages is formatting. Users tend not to use paragraphs as much.

[MuseRider]

2. I write and send the emails

then text them to tell them I sent an email. They ignore email.

[MineralMan]

3. I was doing that, but far too often.

So, I'm not doing that any more. So far, my insistence on email has been working OK, but it sure seems to be a foreign concept to these 40 and 50-something folks.

I fear we are losing our ability to communicate serious things in detail. I hope not.

[MuseRider]

7. Agreed.

Sometimes I just think they don't really care much about stuff anymore.

[MineralMan]

11. They care about this stuff. So, I just did a little training

to get them into the email loop. Normally, I can just do one email and send it to all of them. Time is important to me right now. I have a lot of stuff to get done as quickly as I can.

Fortunately, today is Sunday, so nobody I need to contact at a business or government office is available. So, I'm getting a break today, which I sorely need.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Going the way of a written message, sent by USPS.

[MineralMan]

8. That does not bode well.

Not one bit.

[Ferrets are Cool]

10. Hell, MM, how many of the "younger folks" even have desktops now?

Isn't most of it done on tablets or phones now?

I find conflicting answers on google. Some say they are dying, some not. So, I really don't know.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/01/04/are-desktop-pcs-and-laptops-becoming-obsolete/?sh=7286a39f26d4

[MineralMan]

13. I have tablets, too, and notebooks.

It's much easier on a tablet to use email than on a phone. Most iPhone and Android phone users also have tablets. The keyboard is bigger on them. I have a tablet that accesses my cell network. I take it with me when I need to work remotely. I also take a folding full-size keyboard that connects via Bluetooth, and will fit in a pocket. That way, I can use 4G cell service or WiFi just about anywhere.

Technology is great. I love it, and have far more devices than I should, really. I'm even the tech support guy for those Gen Xers in my family. I can always answer their questions and get their devices back working again, unless they've dunked them in water somewhere.

Smart Phones are no substitute for larger devices when you have actual work to do.

[gulliver]

5. I agree.

Voice too. People have been texting instead of voice calls to the point that I think they're reluctant to make calls. A few in my family have started to use Zoom, and it is a very cool way to get together more frequently.

[MineralMan]

9. Well, these family members really want to know what is going on.

As soon as I switched to only using email, they switched, too. Now, they're reading the emails and responding in email, which is what I needed them to do. In my explanation email about why, which I texted them about, I explained that I wasn't going to be sending email notifications by text any longer. So, now, they're checking their inboxes.

Sadly, I had to make that the only method. If I need them to notice something urgent, though, I'll text them as a group.

[Bluethroughu]

6. I'm one of those GenXers

I pull out the laptop once a month, and the auto correct and sticky keys are terrible on the phone keyboard.

Email and clear communication is definately important now.

[Vivienne235729]

12. I think one of the problems of why we tend to shun emails and phone calls

Nowadays versus in the past is bc of the overwhelming amount of spam on both mediums. I don't answer my phone anymore bc of the robocalls and telemarketing. Even w my diligent blocking skills, I still have to block spam on a daily basis. It's ridiculous.

[MineralMan]

14. I hear you on that spam stuff.

My cell number, which I have had for 10 years, belonged previously to someone named Jennifer C. Almost daily, I get calls and texts for her from collection agencies. I just block those numbers, but they just use a different one and call back. I've tried telling them that nobody by that name has my number, but a new set of callers keeps trying.

I actually know who that person is. I know her current address and phone number, because I hunted it down. I won't give that information to any of those collection creeps, though. I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy, much less someone I have never met or talked to. Her past debts are none of my business.

It wasn't hard to find her, really. I'm surprised the collection agencies have not bothered to try.

[Vivienne235729]

17. When you block them, are you reporting them too? I do that so that verizon can label them,

So if they call someone else w that number it will show up as suspected spam. That's terrible that you get her calls. For the past few years I keep getting calls for car insurance for a chevy impala that I have never owned. I have told the car places multiple times and they keep saying they will update their records. But, of course they never do. There should be legislation to curtail all this spam that interrupt our lives.

[MineralMan]

19. I have the Verizon spam-blocking app.

I assume that it lets Verizon know, but I'm not sure.

[Vivienne235729]

20. I think I have that too. It asks me a couple questions when I report it.

Hope things get resolved quickly for you. Hang in there, MineralMan.

[ismnotwasm]

15. We still use emails extensively at work, and it's a requirement that we check it often.

It’s interesting how many do not.

And I just had to edit an Adobe document for a car accident we were in, and send it via email.

But I communicate with my family through mostly text or FaceTime. Even my Mom uses text.

[MineralMan]

16. I understand. I'm a cell phone user, too.

I text, I Zoom, and do all of the other things people do. Each has its place. Sometimes, though, longer messages are required to convey important information. I just had to give everyone a heads up that I'd be emailing them frequently. So, they're checking now and I can keep everything organized. I hate wasting time with things that can be handled better.

Fortunately, every cell phone OS has an app that can display pdf files sent as attachments.

[Binkie The Clown]

18. My kids check their email once in long while.

I can wait weeks, and often longer, to ever get an email response.
I know they're online because the answer promptly to Discord messages.

[Hekate]

21. Agree. I find texting pretty frustrating, as I think in paragraphs & pages.

A few times it’s been useful — bit that’s it.

[MineralMan]

22. My texts say things like, "Call me." or "Check your email"

I absolutely hate using my Android screen keyboard. Hate it!

[myccrider]

23. Sorta,

my grandchildren almost never use email. Heck, they don’t even respond to verbal phone messages unless I threaten them! (crazy grandma) One is a Millennial, the other is Gen Z, though, so not too surprising, I guess.

But my Gen X son and DIL have no problem with email, and both use it often. Although both use texting, too, neither uses FB Messenger (which I abhor as a platform!).

Neither grandchild misspells words or takes a lot of the texting shortcuts with me. I imagine they do do it with their friends.