Saturday, May 31, 2008

Texting and kareoke have a lot in common

I know I stashed my cell phone instruction book somewhere I could retrieve it easily. Unfortunately, it's not in any of the spots I thought I might have put it. And since every blinking phone has different blinking features arranged in different blinking ways, a check with more knowledgeable human sources hasn't helped.

I know a lot of you text. I do not and have no intention of hunting and pecking on a cell phone. I do receive those messages, however...and that is the problem.

This afternoon, taking a nice little nap, I was jarred awake when my phone began thundering out this whole tonal phrase. Woke me thoroughly. When I checked, it was some stupid message saying how they bet I didn't know who this is and the texter goes by niceangel 82. If a log of texts is retained on the phone, I can't find it, but I am told there is some way to get the number of the sender from the text, although a number was not displayed on the screen before or after the message. At the time, I simply turned my phone off for awhile after the second message from niceangel82.

I suspect this is the new technology way of making stupid phone calls as Bart Simpson still does when he calls the bar. And no, I don't feel particularly tolerant. I certainly don't feel amused. I do get texts from a few persons who really have to watch their pennies, and that's okay. I can forsee the day when my granddaughters may want to text me.

But.

For now, I simply want to block my phone to text messages. I think I should be able to do that, at least from time to time.

A store clerk was a recent hero in the Metroplex when he surreptitiously texted his boss in the back, "call 911" while under the gun of an armed robber. The boss did so, the police came, and the robber was caught because the guy could text.
That's great. But I have no desire to do it.

A friend of mine is getting text advertisements on her cell phone, which costs her. It certainly doesn't make her an EAGER CUSTOMER.

(Sigh) At least I have stopped getting all those e-mails for Viagra. (And you know, if the drug could perk up a certain part of the aging female's anatomy as it is supposed to do for another part of the male's, they might have a sale.)

Technology. It aint always perfect.

11 comments:

Matt G said...

1. It wasn't me.
2. I didn't need to read that last paragraph, Mom.

Barbara said...

Ha! I knew Matt would say something about that! My son is the same way..I said something not too long ago about shaving my legs in the shower and he fussed and ran away ;)

Yeah, no big fan of all the technology myself. The very thing that is supposed to "make life easier" makes it more complicated, more expensive, and separates people as they become more and more dependent on it.

Omnibabe said...

If you're receiving text messages, you're getting charged for them individually, too. Call your cell phone carrier and tell them you want this service blocked. (And it was probably spam, to boot. Really pisses me off when I get stuff like that!)

DW said...

Omnibuss driver got the answer in one. My oldest step daughter was texting to the tune of 30 to 50 dollars a month. Thats 300 to 500 messages a month. As soon as I figured out why the bill was so high I called and told her to stop. Total waste of breath. So I called the company and said "block it", they did and I thing you likely heard the scream at your house. Probably thought it was a jet or something.

charlotte g said...

OK, I've got the texting blocked. Thanks so much for the info. Matt, I already knew you weren't "niceangel82". You didn't get a call blistering your ears, did you?
Babs, so good to hear from you again. I've been thinking about you lately--the final prom, the senior honors assembly--the graduation. I remember how excited I was at Matt's graduation...how eagerly I looked forward to his starting college, and then, when he marched up to get his diploma, how I suddenly realized, "I'm not ready yet!" I cried copiously, so proud,so happy,at the same time wanting, just for a few minutes, to stop the clock. I remember having much the same eagerness and panicked "I'm not ready!" when he was being born. It's a wonderful time, both events. Anyway, I know your camera is smokin' and now you know you've been in my heart.

charlotte g said...

OK, I've got the texting blocked. Thanks so much for the info. Matt, I already knew you weren't "niceangel82". You didn't get a call blistering your ears, did you?
Babs, so good to hear from you again. I've been thinking about you lately--the final prom, the senior honors assembly--the graduation. I remember how excited I was at Matt's graduation...how eagerly I looked forward to his starting college, and then, when he marched up to get his diploma, how I suddenly realized, "I'm not ready yet!" I cried copiously, so proud,so happy,at the same time wanting, just for a few minutes, to stop the clock. I remember having much the same eagerness and panicked "I'm not ready!" when he was being born. It's a wonderful time, both events. Anyway, I know your camera is smokin' and now you know you've been in my heart.

charlotte g said...

OK, I've got the texting blocked. Thanks so much for the info. Matt, I already knew you weren't "niceangel82". You didn't get a call blistering your ears, did you?
Babs, so good to hear from you again. I've been thinking about you lately--the final prom, the senior honors assembly--the graduation. I remember how excited I was at Matt's graduation...how eagerly I looked forward to his starting college, and then, when he marched up to get his diploma, how I suddenly realized, "I'm not ready yet!" I cried copiously, so proud,so happy,at the same time wanting, just for a few minutes, to stop the clock. I remember having much the same eagerness and panicked "I'm not ready!" when he was being born. It's a wonderful time, both events. Anyway, I know your camera is smokin' and now you know you've been in my heart.

charlotte g said...

OK, I've got the texting blocked. Thanks so much for the info. Matt, I already knew you weren't "niceangel82". You didn't get a call blistering your ears, did you?
Babs, so good to hear from you again. I've been thinking about you lately--the final prom, the senior honors assembly--the graduation. I remember how excited I was at Matt's graduation...how eagerly I looked forward to his starting college, and then, when he marched up to get his diploma, how I suddenly realized, "I'm not ready yet!" I cried copiously, so proud,so happy,at the same time wanting, just for a few minutes, to stop the clock. I remember having much the same eagerness and panicked "I'm not ready!" when he was being born. It's a wonderful time, both events. Anyway, I know your camera is smokin' and now you know you've been in my heart.

charlotte g said...

OK, I've got the texting blocked. Thanks so much for the info. Matt, I already knew you weren't "niceangel82". You didn't get a call blistering your ears, did you?
Babs, so good to hear from you again. I've been thinking about you lately--the final prom, the senior honors assembly--the graduation. I remember how excited I was at Matt's graduation...how eagerly I looked forward to his starting college, and then, when he marched up to get his diploma, how I suddenly realized, "I'm not ready yet!" I cried copiously, so proud,so happy,at the same time wanting, just for a few minutes, to stop the clock. I remember having much the same eagerness and panicked "I'm not ready!" when he was being born. It's a wonderful time, both events. Anyway, I know your camera is smokin' and now you know you've been in my heart.

charlotte g said...

Um, I kept thinking my comments hadn't posted, and the preceeding repetitions occurred. Maybe somebody will now tell me how to delete the extras. My face is SO red.

Barbara said...

Maybe somebody will now tell me how to delete the extras. My face is SO red.


:) All you have to do is click on the little "trashcan" in each one and it'll ask you if you really want to delete it forever? You click "yes" and...if it does like it's supposed to, (big "if", I know) it'll be gone.