Here's why I don't do texting.....watch related content!

[walkerwek1958]

I rarely communicate by text, I`ve never got into what I call the tittle tattle text culture sending pointless messages back and forth, but what really puts me off is the ambiguity and scope for misunderstandings, it's a very limited form of communication for anything important and whenever I experience mix-ups it's usually a result of misunderstood text messages.

Here's a watch-related example: Last December I serviced a 60s gold Longines that belongs to a friend's father, a straightforward job that didn`t pose any problems. Looked at my phone this afternoon and saw a text message from him telling me the winder has fallen out of his dad's watch and will I fix it. I assumed he was referring to the gold Longines so I dug out my copy of the job sheet to refresh my memory, movement is a Longines 370 which is a square movement fitted to a round case in this instance. Removing the stem requires a screw fitted to the setting lever to be loosened so there's scope for it to come undone if it isn`t tightened correctly, an easy mistake to make when refitting and removing a stem several times to fit a new crown and trim the stem length. I`m thinking this has happened and it's down to me not having tightened the thing correctly, so after mentally beating myself with a stick I phoned him to discuss it.

Turns out his text was referring to a different watch, a Rotary that his dad wears regularly, had he phoned me initially and had a conversation I`m 100% certain this would've come to light!

[Dave+63]

Don’t shoot the messenger Paul; you made an incorrect assumption and you are blaming it on SMS.

[Onelasttime]

Text reply:

“No problem. Call me and we can discuss it”

[mondie]

Text reply:

“No problem. Call me and we can discuss it”

Or a PM, titled "What's your problem". The prelude to a text.

[M1011]

Just wait until someone shows you a newfangled technology called ‘emails’!

[walkerwek1958]

My problem with texting is that folks work on the assumption that the recipient will see the message immediately, which depends on the recipient having their mobile phone close at hand at all times. For me, that's not the case, I`m often not close to the phone because I don`t carry it around the house, it generally lives in my office on charge. If it rings there's a good chance I`ll hear it but no certainty, if someone really wants to contact me ringing the landline is the reliable method (providing I`m in the house or garden), I have a ringer device plugged in that provides a very loud ringtone. Send me a text and it could be days before I see it, waste of time. As I pointed out the scope for ambiguity is huge, it's just a crap way to communicate in my view.

e-mail's OK, usually I check e-mails daily, but the flaw with texting is the assumption that the recipient is wedded to their mobile phone.......that's not me!

In the distant past I remember going on effective communication courses at work, a few key points have always stuck with me.

[Sinnlover]

Don’t shoot the messenger Paul; you made an incorrect assumption and you are blaming it on SMS.

Have to agree, you made the assumption. It’s quite easy to ask for clarification if you are unsure
That said I am not a fan of text conversations as they go on forever. 25 minutes spent texting when a 5 minute conversation would do.

[Paul J]

Have to agree, you made the assumption. It’s quite easy to ask for clarification if you are unsure
That said I am not a fan of text conversations as they go on forever. 25 minutes spent texting when a 5 minute conversation would do.

Wow, you're fast!

I can only cover 30 seconds of conversation in 25 minutes of texting....

Sent from my V31GT using Tapatalk

[Sinnlover]

Wow, you're fast!

Have you been talking to my Mrs?

[Bondurant]

I don't see how this proves your point.

[Dave+63]

Are you OK Paul?

You appear to have lost the ability to think straight which is totally unlike you.

[number2]

Throughout the course of history communication has evolved, I'm pretty sure you wanting to stay at 1960's levels of telecoms won't halt its progress, just put your mobile in your pocket and if you can't be bothered with text just phone the text sender back.

[Nealywheelie]

Mrs Nealywhe.... insists on keeping our landline with BT.
The only calls she makes are to her sister every couple of weeks. Other than that, the telephone is just gathering dust.


Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk

[bwest76]

I rarely communicate by text, I`ve never got into what I call the tittle tattle text culture sending pointless messages back and forth, but what really puts me off is the ambiguity and scope for misunderstandings, it's a very limited form of communication for anything important and whenever I experience mix-ups it's usually a result of misunderstood text messages.

Here's a watch-related example: Last December I serviced a 60s gold Longines that belongs to a friend's father, a straightforward job that didn`t pose any problems. Looked at my phone this afternoon and saw a text message from him telling me the winder has fallen out of his dad's watch and will I fix it. I assumed he was referring to the gold Longines so I dug out my copy of the job sheet to refresh my memory, movement is a Longines 370 which is a square movement fitted to a round case in this instance. Removing the stem requires a screw fitted to the setting lever to be loosened so there's scope for it to come undone if it isn`t tightened correctly, an easy mistake to make when refitting and removing a stem several times to fit a new crown and trim the stem length. I`m thinking this has happened and it's down to me not having tightened the thing correctly, so after mentally beating myself with a stick I phoned him to discuss it.

Turns out his text was referring to a different watch, a Rotary that his dad wears regularly, had he phoned me initially and had a conversation I`m 100% certain this would've come to light!

Spot on what you say.

An hour of texts and waiting for replys can be painful, a quick 5 minute call and alls sorted,in order and understood.

Maybe a quick text to see if somone is OK or asking if they can talk,but details are best on the phone.


Love my landline its clearer if like me you are half death from service without ear plugs or ear defenders.

17th in line on the phone to the Docs use both phones for a better chance.

Often I can be calling 2 different numbers at the same time both telling me how important my call is to them.

It will also work if a power cut in the area.

[Sinnlover]

It will also work if a power cut in the area.

Assuming the telephone exchange is not suffering from the same power cut.

Have you tried semaphore or a carrier pigeon?

[Balance wheel]

My landline won’t work in a power cut anymore as it’s now been (updated?) plugged into the router I’m guessing it’s so virgin don’t have to pay bt line rental
I’ve only kept my landline number for my business as I still think it looks more professional to have one as well as other contact details
I have no problem with text messages or talking on a phone but out of all the contact methods I do prefer email

[Filterlab]

...It will also work if a power cut in the area.

So does a mobile phone. They have batteries these days you see.

[Kingstepper]

So does a mobile phone. They have batteries these days you see.

Yes, and the masts will have generators...

[Filterlab]

We had a four hour power cut a few weekends ago, long even by countryside standards, which covered a number of postcodes. Mobile worked perfectly throughout.

I abandoned land lines 12 years ago. Never caused a single problem. Mobile does everything.

[Kingstepper]

And what about sexting?

[dkpw]

[verv]

I much prefer WhatsApp to phones.
Useful because you can check back on whats been said.