I’ve never sent a text message before in my life. I realize that in today’s world this sounds unbelievable or bizarre but there are three important reasons why I’ve never done it and never will.
1. Situational Awareness – How many people do you know that walk around with their head down texting every chance they get? How many times have you been stopped at a light and the guy in front of you was clearly texting and you had to honk at him to let him know the light had changed to green?
The fact is, most crimes are crimes of opportunity. The crack-head looking for the easy score is going to approach the person whose head is down looking at their phone instead of having their head up. Also, even though I always carry a gun, knife and tactical pen, it’s not going to do me much good if my head is down giving some guy the opportunity to hit me over the head with a lead pipe or stab me with a knife. Having these tools to defend myself are useless if I’m not aware enough to see an attack coming and therefore don’t have time to deploy one of them.
The bottom line is, most of keeping yourself safe in life comes down to paying attention to your surroundings and texting is a criminal’s dream because it makes people easy prey.
2. Time Management – I’m all about using my time productively. I’m able to get a lot of work done, to dry fire every day, and do training because I don’t text all day or immediately run to the phone every time I hear a “ping” sound. If someone needs to get a hold of me they call me and we quickly have the conversation we need to (instead of texting back and forth forever) or they email me and I respond when I get a chance.
Needless to say, many people claim to not have enough time in the day to train or to dry fire with their handgun. If they stopped texting, I imagine they could replace that previously unproductive time with training time that has a much higher payoff in the long run.
3. I Think – Many of us are turning into robots who cannot even make a decision without consulting our smartphone. If you can’t survive without your smartphone then you’re not going to do too well if things get truly bad in this country.
As the quote from the movie Fight Club goes, “The things you own, end up owning you.”
Now, there are lots of other reasons I don’t text and don’t own a smartphone, including that people store way too much personal information on their phones that could be easily hacked. But, the main reason is for safety purposes and to keep myself from getting distracted.
Just remember, you may be the world’s best gunslinger, but if you don’t see it coming and you’re caught by surprise it probably won’t matter.
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oh where do I begin…
Can’t ever send a text because of situational awareness? Then you must never watch TV or use a computer at all either… oh I forgot, you can only send texts in public really busy places, and they must be answered right away if you get one… you can’t wait 5 or 10 minutes, or even a couple of hours. They really are not much different than emails, its just likely the person will get it faster.
Time management? If I need to send some info to someone quickly, it takes maybe 10 seconds to send them a text, then they have the info there as reference, not having to remember what I told them, or have to repeat it over again… or get in some long conversation about their kids or dogs or whatever…
and number 3? Well, I think that you need to think a bit harder… I think you are only referring to very specific situations… and applying it to texting as a whole. Thats as bad as saying, sometimes guns are used in bad ways, so therefor I’ll never use a gun, and others shouldn’t either…
Well said. Smartphones (just like firearms) are tools. They can be used wisely or they can be used foolishly. I’m not a texter myself, but texting itself is not per se evil! One can very easily wait until they are in a position to send a text safely. Jason paints too broad a picture of this mode of communication being evil. It is not!
There in lies the problem; they can’t wait to read the text. I drive a big rig for a living. I watch them all the time texting while driving, in a state that has a law against it, but it doesn’t stop them. And what really makes it bad is they are all over the road. I have to hit the horns more than once a day to avoid and accident with someone texting while going by me and veering into my lane dangerously close. Once in a while I get the number 1 response when I’m not the one being unsafe. Sorry to interrupt your texting with my driving.
We’re actually on the same page and I think everyone is with the scenario you offered. That tweaks ALL of us to no end when people do things like that. However, the issue here is a lot broader than that. Jason is making the case that texting (and even OWNERSHIP of a smartphone . . . see the end of his article) is bad because too much information “CAN” be put on it and the device “CAN” distract us.
In doing so he actually makes the same blunder the anti-gun crowd makes. They believe the tool (gun) is inherently evil ALL the time and should not exist because it “CAN” be used for evil. A smartphone is a tool that if used intelligently (as many are able to do) can be a good tool, just as a firearm can be a tool used for good. The tools themselves are NOT inherently bad . . . it’s the owners who can indeed use them foolishly or use them WISELY 🙂
I don’t disagree with you on any of this. My input is that cell phones today are as addictive as meth to MOST people. When the phone beeps a text or rings for a phone call, most people drop everything to respond to it. To hell with everything else going on, like driving. I wish the laws would change to match the one for truckers; A hands free device that has a one touch on/off/connect/disconnect. This is a federal law as all truckers have to follow federal laws. So if you see a trucker talking/holding his/her phone while driving, know that they are breaking the law and report them. It’s a step in the right direction.
I agree with you, but too many people let their phones control their lives. I have left my phone in my vehicle for days on end and never thought about it. Left it at home many times while going out. I never take it into stores, or a friends house when I visit. Answering the phone while at a friends is inconsiderate and disrespectful in my opinion. I came to visit, not talk to someone else in front of them. Do people get mad for me not answering my phone? Yes. But I have a voice mail; leave a message. And they’ll get over their anger. I do understand about the gun issue. I own a few myself. Can’t stand gun grabbers.
After taking hundreds of hours of tactical training, after teaching courses on everything mentioned my reply to your reply is: drum roll please, couldn’t have said it better! 🙂
I enjoy the videos of others walking into holes, posts and doing other ‘trance’ induced episodes. You Tube, where everyone with a phone is part of the current surveillance system, is great for that sort of thing.
Just one other note of humor. You lost me with ‘Lead Pipe’. From what I recall, Rome’s rich and famous used that system. It is reportedly the causation of the downfall. The elite and politically powerful, having their naturally soft and molecule ‘hungry’ water flowing through the Pb into their body…. and brain, where the Pb accumulated, destructive to logical cognizance. In spite of the growing insanity in US government, when was the last time anyone actually saw a ‘Lead Pipe’ :>)
If you want to be really evil, if you pull up to a stoplight and the person in the lane next to you is engrossed in a text, just jump your vehicle a couple of feet forward while the light is still red. . . . .
You ARE evil! (But I love the idea!)
Been there done that; with a big rig mind you……hehehe.
Wait a sec. No texting? No “smart” phone? Too easily hacked? Yet you admit to emailing and telephoning? And then there’s that pesky social media business of Twitter, Google+, and the blogosphere. While I agree totally with your three points of: situational awareness, time management, and (analytical) thinking, your basic premise is a bit too flawed. Cannot one text, email, or phone, and still meet your three “requirements”? Let us be obsessed with personal security, but not possessed by it. De Oppresso Liber.
I love watching people walk into parked cars.
I have to admit, I like most articles, but this one just came across as self righteous and honestly a little silly.
Situational awareness has nothing to do with not sending texts. Send them when you are at work, when you would also be sending emails, or watching tv. Just because your phone “pings” doesn’t mean you have to run to it, you respond to it just like you would an email… when the time and situation dictates it.
Texting is in many cases far more efficient than talking on the phone and can convey information through pictures much easier than calling and having to describe something.
Not having time to train and dry fire your gun? Then you could say the same with any activity… texting used as a scape goat here, is honestly… exceptionally arbitrary.
just seemed like he was trolling to me
Have to agree with the statements to use texting wisely. To say you never text for those reasons is to me too general of a statement. I work a job where I am on a motorcycle for hours at a time, so I am fully aware of the perils of texting. However, I don’t have access to a computer for emails most of the time, so texting becomes an easy way for people to leave me a quick message. I can respond to it as I see fit.
So you don’t use your phone ‘Apps’ either, correct? If you did, is that not as distracting as a text?
Smart phones, computers and the like are just tools if used properly.
Texting is a very costly way to communicate. Add cost to your very good reasons you should pick another way to stay in touch.
I agree that walking or driving around in public with your head buried in your phone is just asking to get blindsided. But used responsibly a text can be an excellent way to communicate especially for a hearing impaired person such as myself. I drop my wife a text from work, she reads EXACTLY what I wrote, it’s right there in front of her for reference and she can answer it at her convenience and no one else can over hear the conversation. If I’m out walking the dogs or walking through Wal Mart I don’t pull my phone out but at work or at home there’s nothing wrong with it
That’s easy, I don’t own a smart phone ….;)
I don’t have or ever have had a smart phone. I guess my flip phone is 3 yrs old, still works, and will send texts if I so desire but I don’t. It costs me extra when my grown children & grandchildren text me, But that’s not to often. I will email them, or use vonage or if need be use the old cell. So I have told everyone I care about to get ahold of me in a hurry try 1 of those. Oh and if per chance I need to talk while driving I pull over or tell caller I will call back when I can.
1. Situational Awareness – When I’m relaxing, at home, on the couch I have to be ready for a death squad to break through the door with suitcase nukes and laser guns. I can’t spare a single moment to send a text message.
2. Time Management – I’m so efficient that I never rest for even a split second. Heck, I even dry-fire in my wet dreams! I just realized that shooting off a fast message without getting involved in a lengthy phone conversation is such a waste of my time that I couldn’t possibly be bothered with having any kind of a conversation at all. I’m throwing away my phone and moving to a deserted island so I can devote 300% of my time to being so ridiculously efficient!
3. I think – I equate txt messaging with total dependence upon electronic devices but I’m hoping you ignore that I draw ridiculous parallels and just stay focused on how superior I am to all you fools. I’m such an intellectual badass that I can’t comprehend that a cell phone, just like a gun or a knife or a screwdriver, can be a useful tool when used appropriately.
Just remember, you may be the world’s best gunslinger, but if you don’t write ridiculous articles about being a self-righteous badass, it probably won’t matter.
OK, I get the point of the article but that was an uninspired approach. I think I read the entire thing in the voice of Randy Savage while picturing Mean Gene Okerlund trying to get the microphone back from him.
Email is the same as a text message, so yes, you have send a text message. The route of travel is not important, an electonic message, is an electronic message.
I’m usually on TFB or MAC, I’m pretty new here. Was this a real article, or satire??? I want to comment more, but I’m losing my situation awareness…
Yeah – this is horse-puckey. Can I “survive” without my mobile? Of course – but do I want to? Of course not…it’s a tool like a wrench or a saw. Turn the question around – could you live without the wrench or the saw? Of course you could – but do you want to be tightening the bolt or chopping the tree down with your teeth???
Texting can be better than calling for so many reasons. Each has it’s strengths and weaknesses.
A text message can get out, when a call cannot in a low reception area. If you need to make a call but the phone can’t hold a tower, a text takes a split second to go out.
Text message many times takes less time than a call. The person on the other end can’t drag a conversation out when you text, you can simply give a short ending reply and move on.
It makes for a great memory. If someone texts you not to forget to pick something up, or meet them at a particular place you have a written record of the conversation. If you forget when it was or what you were suppose to pick up on the way home, you have a record to review. It also is great when they tell you they asked you to meet at a certain time and you can show them the text clearing up who is mistaken.
Situational Awareness takes priority, you choose when you distract yourself with your phone or anything else. Those who would allow composing a text to prevent them from being situationally aware, don’t care about situational awareness and would just as likely be working a crossword puzzle, it’s not the phone’s fault.
Smart phones have voice recognition, If I plan to text, I can just as easily press the microphone key on my Android phone and speak the text, it types it automatically. Proofread when finished and send. It doesn’t have to be a novel to be effective, “going to stop off for an errand, I’ll be a little late” doesn’t take that long to write.
As far as smart phones go, they are extremely valuable tools if you control them and don’t let them control you. Making plans for the weekend, check the weather in a second. Son in college needs a few dollars and you are at work, send it in a second from the phone. On vacation and want to know which restaurants are recommended or which hotel has the best price and ratings, Check customer reviews on a product before a purchase while in the store, no problem. Product is $40 cheaper at a competitor, they match it at the counter off your phone. Important emails that benefit you now and not later when you get home, it’s there instantly. I could go on and on. Anyone who refuses to recognize the benefits of a smart phone is denying themselves one of the major tools of today’s modern world.
Yeah, I think this one misses the mark, respectfully. Texting while you drive or something is stupid but in other situations a text can be much faster and more efficient than making a voice call. Especially for simple stuff, and also things you need to remember or have a record of. Lastly a text can save time by allowing you to avoid getting drawn into a long winded conversation about something trivial.
Overly myopic view with no judgement on the difference between causation versus correlation. Completely disagree.
Never is a long time.