These days, we have an outrageous number of ways in which lovers (or friends) can communicate: through Facebook, MySpace, Skype, instant messenger, text messages and e-mail.  Also, to the chagrin of those too weak of heart or flaky of aim to actually pursue a moderately concrete form of contact, we have the telephone call.

The telephone call, while still lacking the impact of face to face (or cheek to cheek) conversation, has fallen by the wayside. Nobody wants to pick up their cell phone and dial. It's entirely too easy to text or message online instead.  

Text messaging may be convenient beyond all reason, but that convenience comes with a price: the utter lack of intimate personal communication.

Why would anyone want to text someone they wouldn't want to have a two-minute telephone conversation with?Rejection may sting a lot less when it comes in the form of a no-response text, but it doesn't feel quite as good when you receive an approving text either. 

According to an anonymous male student, "If I send a girl a text, and she doesn't text me back, then who cares? Calling is different though. It's almost like you only call if you want to be serious.  I call my parents. I might call a girl I really liked. Why call someone and have to talk to them when you can get a text in like three seconds?"

This student would have us believe that a text message is nothing but a means to provide a frosty invitation.  This is not entirely the case.

Text messaging certainly is appropriate in some situations. However, he does provide insight into the mentality of the text-messaging masses.

Convenience doesn't always equal success and happiness. Text messages can be misunderstood. A definitive period at the end of a sentence can become, in the recipient's eyes, a decisive blow-off. Acronyms (LMAO, WTH, ROTFLOL, etc.) become words; who actually knows what they mean anymore?

Why would anyone want to text someone they wouldn't want to have a two-minute telephone conversation with? Why would anyone want to receive a text from someone who couldn't be bothered to speak with them on the phone?

The next time you're out at the bars, just leaving class or waking up and preparing to initiate your first human contact of the day, pick up the phone and dial. The sound of a voice other than your own may be shocking at first, but you'll get used it. You may even come to enjoy few misunderstandings or taking a break from aggressive thumb exercise. 

Save the text messaging for what it's supposed to be used for: dirty texts during class.