It’s more dangerous than talking on your cell phone and
driving, but you probably do it anyway. We’re not talking about knocking back a
bottle of Jim Beam, or putting on mascara, or even flossing your teeth. We’re
talking about sending a text message (AKA short messaging service, AKA SMS).
And if you’re not using text all the time, your kids
probably are. For acolytes like us (more than 2,000 messages sent and received monthly
on most of our phones), text is more than a way to communicate. It’s a knock on
the door, a way to alleviate the boredom of another ridiculous meeting, and the
best way to send a quick “I’m thinking about you” to someone special.
But SMS is becoming more than a method of communication;
it’s becoming a new form of media — an informational tool a way to
learn about your immediate environment,
and even an emerging way to save time and energy.
The dark side of all this text, though, is that some
unscrupulous companies are gathering up cell numbers and blasting them
willy-nilly with the mobile equivalent of SPAM.
And, just as with email SPAM, regulators and providers are taking a long time
to catch up. Of course, phone SPAM is just as likely to come from your own
wireless service provider as it is from a total stranger.
In any case, if you do get phone SPAM, we want to hear about
it. Drop us a line and tell us what you receive. Be sure to include anything that might identify
the sender!
In the meantime, enjoy a novella in 160 character bites…
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