Feelings lost in translation; Arguments over text do not work

    Phones. Relationships. Texting. 

     Three things that often go together, when maybe they shouldn’t. 

     But why?

     In almost any type of relationship, whether it is romantic, familial, or platonic, texting is one of the top ways that we talk with each other. 

     I think it’s kind of stupid.

     Why is it always the first resort to have conversations over text? SO much gets lost in translation when you send a text rather than have a face-to-face conversation.

  Don’t get me wrong, I love having the ability to text my friends, family, etc. whenever I need them or just want to talk. But, you can’t have important conversations over the phone.

     An obviously unimportant text like, “I’ll be home at 10:00 tonight,” does not need an in-person conversation, but for those important conversations like arguments CAN’T be over text.

    I am guilty of it, too. Whenever I need to talk to someone about something important, I always want to resort to texting to test the waters. 

      You can’t read emotion or body language over text. Most of the time, we input an emotion into the text. For example, “That’s fine,” a phrase that could be taken a million different ways over text just because you can’t read body language. It could be taken sarcastically, excitedly, annoyed, and so many more. In person? It can really only be taken in the way that the person intended.

     I know when most teenagers get in an argument with a friend or a partner, it’s over text. Even a phone call is better than texting. You just CAN’T get your point across over text. 

      You have no idea how they are feeling. You can’t say everything you need to say. 

      I know how scary or nerve-racking it can be to have an important conversation face-to-face, especially when you have the means to not do it face-to-face. 

     I’ve gotten into arguments with friends over text and it just never ends well. I won’t ever know for sure, but I feel like a face-to-face conversation may have had a different outcome.

      An example of just a simple conversation that was taken the wrong way: 

Mom: What are you doing tonight?

Me: Oh, I don’t really know.

Mom: I need to know.

Me: Okay.

Mom: I don’t need the attitude.

     Again, usually these kinds of conversations are fine over text, but it just goes to show how even something this unimportant can be lost. Imagine a full blown argument with someone. 

     I’m going to say it won’t end well.

     Something small like this that was just a simple conversation can be taken the wrong way. Even if I just meant, “Oh, okay, I’ll just let you know in a little when I find out,” my mom took it as something along the lines of, “Stop being so annoying. I’ll come home when I want.”

     Please, if you plan on getting in an argument in the future (hopefully not, but you know), maybe try to do it in person. It will probably go over better and you will find a solution for the issue.