0 Texting Abuse

Texting is a great communication tool, except when misused.  Texting is about simple communication in real time; it is not about calendaring or task management.  Here are a few examples of this kind of misuse:

• I need someone to send me some information they have at their desk, and I think of it while watching my favorite evening television show, so I text them.
• I want to get together with someone in a week or two, so I text them the date.
• I remember that I need to give someone some info they need for a task or meeting, and I text it to them off-hours.

Sending them a text message, rather than an email or creating a task I can follow up during work hours assumes the other person A) reads their text messages at that hour and, if so, B) will remember to review their already read text messages later.  It can also result in someone showing up for a meeting I never put on my calendar.

Texting in this way can also be a way of shifting the responsibility from procrastination to someone else who may or may not respond to the text.  And if they don't review old text messages when they get to work, the blame for missed deadlines, etc unfairly reflects on the person who may have never seen the text at a time they could respond appropriately.

When making requests that have ramifications, always use email rather than text messaging.

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