Etiquette tips on the proper way to send a text message

Etiquette¹ tips on the proper way to send a text message

Transcript²

Most of us text on a regular basis, but is there a right and wrong way to do it?

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

We love to send texts, been doing it for decades. However, that doesn't mean we've been doing it well.

(SOUNDBITE OF TEXT SENDING)

LIZZIE POST: There are a lot of people out there who really struggle to get across what they mean.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Lizzie Post is co-president of Emily Post, a family business specializing in etiquette since 1922. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, famous for being the voice on proper manners back in the day.

MART?NEZ: All right. So what are some of the text etiquette rules or textiquette rules, if you will?

POST: One of the big, overarching points that we often tell people is to not send negatively surprising news, like a relative had died.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I DO THIS ALL THE TIME")

SELF ESTEEM³: Prioritize pleasure. Don't send those long paragraph texts. Stop it. Don't.

INSKEEP: Post warns about a long paragraph text and also about sending multiple text messages in a row.

POST: Where you send the list of thoughts in, like, six, seven, eight different individual text messages because you've now just pinged that person's phone six, seven, eight times. I mean, you're blowing up their phone.

(SOUNDBITE OF CELLPHONES RINGING)

MART?NEZ: Another text etiquette tip, always be mindful about how soon you get back to someone.

POST: I think, right now, a lot of people are taking a really long time to respond. It's OK to nudge someone again if you want to. I personally stop nudging after a few nudges.

INSKEEP: And be aware of text anxiety. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist.

ELLEN HENDRIKSEN: Anxiety makes us jump to the worst-case scenario⁴. So when we see the dot, dot, dot, and then it disappears, most likely someone with social anxiety will think, they don't want to talk to me or I said something wrong.

(SOUNDBITE OF CELLPHONE TEXTING)

MART?NEZ: And then what about what Steve Inskeep constantly texts me 24/7, all those emojis?

INSKEEP: (Laughter) Here's Hendriksen.

HENDRIKSEN: The meaning of emojis seems to shift under our feet. I know the thumbs up symbol for older people means just that, means affirmative, but for younger people can be passive aggressive or sarcastic⁵.

INSKEEP: I'm kind of thumbs-downing all emojis, in reality. But here's one last rule from Lizzie Post.

POST: If you're angry about something, that's a really good time to not use your thumbs, take a deep breath and try to find the time to have a conversation with someone.

1 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

4 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

5 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。