I thought about naming this post "allow me to explain myself" and then i wished that my very first blog were titled "Allow me to introduce myself" all Jay-Z status. Ugh, blog world problems.
FACT: I'm a horrible texter.
I have been told this hundreds of times. I KNOW! I honestly suck at it. Unfortunately, this makes me seem like a bad friend, stupid with technology and an all around terrible person (which I may in fact be without even realizing it). BUT, let me explain.
I feel like it comes down to a few reasons.
For one, when I first got a cellphone (at the ripe old age of 16), I was one of the last of my friends to get one. I only was allowed 30 texts a month and every text after that cost 10 cents. This meant that when my mom got my cellphone bill, if I went over my texts, it was my "12 hours a week at Macy's" money that paid for it. Although, I doubt she ever would have taken the money, it was the threat of knowing that my hard earned $68.50 would be compromised (which would keep me from buying my weekly 3 pairs of 1928 earrings. So it's like a psychological thing. I never wanted to get in trouble.
The one time I DID go over my text limit (and phone minute limit) it was kind of serious. If you know anything about high school students these days, it's that they hate using their mouths for something that can be done with their thumbs (cue immature laughter here. Yes, it's me laughing). But really, high schoolers today, LOVE the art of texting, and it all started when I was in high school. Which brings me to my second belief. One time I did get all crazeballs with texting. As soon as someone text me, I IMMEDIATELY responded. I talked on the phone for hours (to my best friend in Canada, no less -which is NOT covered in free long distance, nights and weekends) and didn't have a care in the world. Then the bill came. My mother took my phone away until I was able to pay for it (I never was, but I eventually got it back-don't tell her) which meant that my first year in college I was cellphone-less. I can not tell you how ridiculous I felt. (I also blame my lack of friendships on that; I had friends, don't trip, I just would have had a million more, let's be real, it's me). It's engrained in me that if I ever over-text, I will lose custody of m phone.
Last but not least, I'm an overthinker. This is the main reason I don't text back. When I get a text, it is placed into one of two categories: answerable and requires thought. If the text is answerable, (i.e. what is your last name, what time are you off work, do you have so and so's phone number?) I will immediately send an answer. These kinds of questions require no thought and do not make me anxious. Texts that require thought, on the other hand, (i.e. questions about my plans, statements that don't always require an answer, anything referring to more than 3 days from the date of the text) make me anxious and put me under pressure to craft the perfect text. I will often find that 2 weeks later, I still have half of a text written that has not been sent. I try to step away from the situation to get away from my "texter's block" and then end up forgetting about it. Usually I text back within the next 2 days but apparently that's not really acceptable.
It all comes down to this. I realize it. I'm working on it. But also it's your fault for making your texts so difficult.
I'M OUT!
