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1.24.2009

Misadventures in Texting

Meet my cell phone:




I love my cell phone. I hardly remember how I survived and functioned in the world before I had a cell phone attached to me.

And texting. I love texting. I'm don't text a LOT, but there are uses for text messaging, and when those instances come up, I take full advantage of sending a text message.

There are occasions, though, when text messaging, specifically T9word/iTapEnglish lets me down. For those of you who might not know (ahem, Mom), T9word and iTapEnglish are used in text messaging so instead of hitting a key several times until you get to the letter you want, the phone predicts what word you are trying to spell.

When text messaging and especially T9/iTap were fairly new (man I'm old), a roommate and I were hanging out at our house when she got a text message from a guy she was dating. She wasn't in a relationship with him, and was dating more than one person. Anyway, the message she got said, "How was the hand?"

Oh my goodness. What does he mean? That could mean soooo many things. Did he see her on a date with another guy when they were holding hands? Did he mean something dirty? We spent hours analyzing the meaning of his message. She had to figure it out before she responded.



We were baffled. After days and nights of girl talk and analyzing the word hand, we finally went to her brother for advice. We went to her brother for advice often, since he was a single guy about our age.

"What does he mean by hand?" we questioned as we handed the phone so he could see it for himself.

"Game. He means, "How was the game?""

"What?!?!" We were still confused.

The last time she had talked to him, she mentioned she was going to a soccer game with her family. So he meant to send the message asking how the game was, but his iTap code picked up 'hand' instead of 'game' and he didn't edit the message before sending it.

We had a good laugh over that one!



And you might have thought I learned my lesson, but, well....

The last few weekends I've been getting together with the girl's from Oby's family for scrap booking. Good times. I wasn't sure if anyone was planning on coming tonight, so I sent a text message that said,

"Are you coming over for papas cooking tonight?"



My SIL Megan responded, "What!"

So I looked at the message I sent, and realized the typo.

"Oh, I meant scrap booking, not papas cooking!"



I wonder if I'll ever completely understand this new-fangled technology!

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post. I have never texted.

Sandy said...

Oh Tara, that's funny!

Debbie said...

It's just like when the computer self-corrects and puts all kinds of wild stuff into my sentences. I'm a slow texter. Too old, I guess.

Diane said...

funny story! papa's cooking sounds just as good as scrap booking anyhow! trinity's papa makes chicken and dumplings. mmmmmm!

Stephanie said...

Thats SOO funny, when you put up the hand thing I knew instantly it was game! But of course that is because we have been with T9 for a while now :) that is too funny!!! And papas cooking! I laughed out loud!

Colleen said...

too funny!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

Tara, you are oh so much more savvy than I am. I read half your post with my mouth open wondering what the heck you were talking about:) scrap booking, papas cooking-- it's not that different. BAHAHAHAHAHA

Angela said...

Too funny! I hate predictive texting because it nevers seems to pick the word I want so I just turn it off!

Andrea said...

LOL! I have the same problem. It drives me crazy.

Hccm said...

That's so funny because it happens to me all the time.

Nana said...

Oh boy I learn something new every day. I'll have to remember that next time I am texting. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Oh I crack myself up. Who's papa is that?

Shelly said...

That's so funny! I love texting. It's my second language, almost.

A Friendly Reader Only said...

LOL - It takes me forever to text. My children get very impatient with me and I usually just end up calling them. Good luck with your photoshop class!! I wish I had more time to do more with my pictures - Maybe someday!! Thanks for stopping by and of course I totally enjoyed my visit.
PS: Love Chloe's Swim Suit!!

Denise said...

My phone does that too - and sometimes the words it creates (that I don't check) are hilarious! :)

Gangwer said...

Tara advice from a former cell phone misuser, get a phone with the keyboard typing. (You know, where it looks like a keyboard and you type each letter.) I just got one and it is amazing and makes texting sooooo much easier. Just a helpful hint. Muito Amor!!

April said...

Seriously, I know EXACTLY what you mean! ha!

Tammy and Parker said...

lol! I gave up on texting. A phone call is so much quicker for me!

WheresMyAngels said...

Wow, that was an education. Never heard of any of that before. I'm not into texting because it takes me forever.

Jennifer said...

hahaha!! That is so funny! I once accidentally texted my husband's Birthday present to him instead of one of my friends!! I called him frantically and made him promise not to look.

Technology... yeesh!

Kimberly @ Seriously Daisies said...

I am totally not a texter, but in the past I've had the stupid word predictor get all confused on me, I always caught it though!

This story is TOO funny! :o)

Anonymous said...

hahaha I love this!

Anonymous said...

That is funny!

Anonymous said...

Girl, you need a texting phone!!!!!

BloggessJ said...

Been there too...probably won't live it down either.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Ha, ha, ha, can I come over for both? Papa's cooking and scrap booking both sound like alot of fun w/Tara.

Heatherlyn said...

Technology gives us yet another reason to laugh at ourselves!

Emma said...

I have to say I have had that happen many of times. I have come pretty good at texting since that is the only way I can talk to my child. He will not answer his phone but I will get a response to a text in less than a minute!!! Those dang teenagers. Baxter is so good, he doesn't use T9, that he can text in his pocket with out looking and very seldom makes a mistake! Amazing!!!

Kim said...

Too funny! I love texting. I text with my kids more than I talk to them.

Reeni said...

That's funny and cute!!

Anonymous said...

I always screw up when I try to text. I think that is why I usually stick to calling people.

BTW- I like the new blog design.

Spring M Fricks said...

that's hysterical

Heather said...

haha. that made me laugh out loud. i don't use the autofill for that very reason!

tiarastantrums said...

I do NOT text - I even had texting blocked on my cell phone!!

nikkicrumpet said...

LOL I've never sent a text message...this post confirms it's a good idea not to start!

Celine said...

LOL! Aaaah t9 can be a little tricky!
Your post made me laugh though!

Anonymous said...

visiting from BPOTW... hand was too funny ... but i have seen worse ones happen with my friends .. :)

one was wen "movies" got replaced with mother !!

betty-NZ said...

I know what you mean....that's why we anal people turn the predictor OFF!!! I mean, if they think they know me so well, why can't they even get close!
Funny post!

Debra said...

Oh wow.....I am afraid I shy away from the texting so I don't even know about the technology ....and I didn't think I was too old. HaHa

Thanks

Cookie said...

That's funny! I heard that happens when kids want to text "cool" it comes out "book."

Gombojav Tribe said...

I did not know about this spiffy technology that guesses what you want to say. But, then again, I don't own a cell phone. That's right. I don't own a cell phone.

I'm living in the dark ages. Just me and my blog.