This message is targeted at people like myself-
the fuddy-duddies of modern technology. Those of you who are experts at texting will probably find this old news and boring :-)
I have a Goddaughter who texts me frequently. At first I didn't even know how to retrieve the messages on my cell phone.
Anyway, I finally realized that I was getting written messages and learned how to retrieve them. I then tried to answer them and had to get a personal coach ( a teenager) to show me how to do it.
I tried to answer her messages and I always wondered why people would communicate in text because I would labor over tapping on the little keypad spelling each word out in full.
It would take me ages to write a few sentences.
Recently I read the following article in a magazine and I had a big AHA! moment when I realized that most people abbreviate the words that they write. At first I had no idea what my Goddaughter meant when she used some of these abbreviations. I am gradually learning how to do it.
I am totally aware that your average 5 year old could do this with their eyes closed. So this message is for my more mature readers.
WRUD? OMG IMS I've been TOY FWIW. Sorry it took so long 2 answer - DEGT if UR upset with me. Right now IAT, PCM later, HAND, got 2 GBTW - ILUVU.
Say What?
In case you didn't understand here is a sampling of some popular shorthand texting
terms from the article that I read.
UG2BK . . . . . . . You got to be kidding
GBTW. . . . . . . . Get back to work
NMP . . . . . . . . . Not my problem
PIR . . . . . . . . . . Parent in room
GFTD. . . . . . . . . Gone for the day
FYEO. . . . . . . . . For your eyes only
BI5 . . . . . . . . . . Back in five minutes
DEGT . . . . . . . . Don’t even go there
BIL . . . . . Boss is listening
PAW. . . . Parents are watching
99 . . . . . . Parents are no longer watching
PCM . . . . Please call me
IMS. . . . . I am sorry
TOY. . . . . Thinking of you
KUTGW. . Keep up the good work
CID . . . . . Consider it done
FWIW. . . For what it’s worth
HAND . . . Have a nice day
IAT . . . . . I am tired
NRN . . . . No response necessary
4COL. . . . For crying out loud
WRUD. . . What are you doing
LMIRL. . . Let’s meet in real life
^5 . . . . . . High five
*****
So TTFN
that means 'TaTa (goodbye) for now' in England
If you can relate to what I have written let me hear from you - or am I the only person left on earth who is just learning this method of communication :-)
3 comments:
greetings fellow fuddie-diddie!
i've never gotten past LOL, LMAO, and TTYL in e-mails......my cell phone has texting capabilities but i haven't bothered to learn how to send or access my messages....i figger, by the time i learn, there'll be something else to deal with.....it seems never ending!
Haha! I can relate. I have recently figured out texting, but had not gotten to the abbreviations yet- so hey you are leading the way for me! What I have not gotten used to are the multitaskers who are silmutaneously texting various conversations while also sitting and talking to me or in a meeting. I find that very disconcerting. The digital dexterity of some of my young friends is quite amazing though.
By the way- I texted this!
Thanks for your comments.
Good to know that I am not alone in this dilemma :-)
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