SMS etiquette

[Tinks]

I love to SMS! I'm just wondering if you have any 'rules' when it comes to SMSing.

I hate it when people don't reply to birthday messages! I always do, but lately I've noticed less than half actually reply to them.

I don't expect a reply instantly but waiting too long for an answer annoys me. If it's over a couple of hours I assume they're not going to respond.

I'm a fan of the 1 word sms. I know many people aren't but for me, writing OK or thanks is my way of acknowledging the sms. I don't do this with joke sms's though.

I like joke sms's but not all the time. There is one particular friend of mine who only ever sends joke sms's. When I see her name pop up I just know it's going to be a joke. I get at least 3 a week from her. I never forward joke sms's unless I think they're worth it, which often they're not.

Do you have to explain why you took so long to answer an sms if your phone was turned off or flat?

[misty]

Personally I don't respond to sms's AT ALL. I think sms is in itself rude and a breach of good etiquette. There are circumstances where sms may be a good method of contact - however, if you can not be bothered to pick up the phone and actually talk to me, d not expect me to be bothered to reply to you.

[willow5]

I'm an SMSer and I also think it's rude not to reply to birthday TXTs a simple thanks would be nice no different to if you'd said happy birthday in person.

I sometimes reply to a joke TXT but only if it's really funny.

If it takes me long time to reply to a TXT I will usually explain why it took so long.

[missymoo84]

I love SMS's and am always texting someone I always respond too, just to say OK cos it's rude not to IMO. People might not realise that you got it if you don't reply

I love getting jokes, but don't often forward them on I also have one friend who only txt's me jokes hehe

If my phone is flat and I turn it back on to a million messages, I just start with SRY phone died and the reply

[visitor1]

I love getting messages!

[briggsy's girl]

i'm a text nutter - always reply to the first message i'm sent as part of a convo - not necessarily after that cos the convo has to answer some time!!! soooo many of my friends work in call centres, shift work etc that it's almost impossible to contact them on the phone - so text is our medium for catching up.

always reply to birthday messages and things - ummmmm, always reply if there is a question or if i'm being told someone is late, on their way etc - it's just polite to acknowledge you got the message!

i very rarely make phone calls cos i don't see the point in leaving voice mail messages and then someone having to call back - if it's important, i'll call - but so little of my communication is important enough to warrant a phone call! lol

[christy]

I'm really bad at it. I am. I appreciate getting texts, but I just don't have time or energy to respond all the time. I generally phone back if I want to talk. It takes forever to text while I have a child trying to escape or screaming or something, so I often don't and will ring later or something if I remember.

[Bathsheba]

I generally only use sms for functional not social reasons. Due to time constraints. If you use sms for social reasons I guess etiquette would come into it more. But for functional reasons maybe not really I sms to say that I will be late.... or to tell DH that I left the oven on and could he please turn it off etc

I don't always reply to birthday, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas etc smses because to me it's like getting a card... if I get a birthday card I will probably call to thank them as part of a longer conversation... I won't send a card back just because I got a card.

More importantly I think it's polite to sms in a way that is considerate of the recipient. I don't use tx spk when sending smses to my 63yo mother because she doesn't understand it... and I don't use it much with DH because he doesn't like it... but I will with my 14yo DD. I basically try to only abbreviate in a simialr way to the person who will be reading it.

ETA: I also don't like to spend too much money smsing. My mobile phone bill is usually around $12 - $15 per month.

[Lulu]

I respond to SMS when I have the chance.

[Salad]

I love sms as a busy mum I think it just makes my life easier, it only takes two seconds and its done. I always reply to birthday messages etc but I hate one word replies such as ok, I always have to type no worries just so that it is more than 1 word lol

I dont reply to jokes and I hate getting the "pass them on or something bad will happen to you" message silly me is superstitious so if I think that is what the message is going to want me to do then i stop reading it before it gets to that point.

I do still pick up the phone and talk to people but I just find sms convenient especially with friends who cant answer phone at work etc.

My dh hates replying so we dont sms we always call. My phone account is set up so I get heaps of free sms rather than cheap calls.

[SamiH]

Gosh I never respond to birthday, christmas wishes either - I thought you send them to let that person know you are thinking of them, and not to expect something back - like a card as another poster said.

Plus, my phone plan costs extra to SMS on top of calls, so I just usually ring!

[Turkish Delight]

i usually sms straight away when i get a text. If mt phone was switched off or didn't hear it i always apologise for the lateness of my reply and tell them the reason why.
I expect the same curtesy as i give. I hate waiting for a reply when i know the other person is being a slack a*se. Just like my bridezilla b*tch friend. I will usually call if i can't get a response within a certain amount of time (if its urgent).

[~Leasha~]

I don't mind getting SMS messages, I think they have their function, not totally rude, but I hate having SMS conversations.

I don't often reply to messages, not because I'm being rude but most of the time its not until hours later that I realise I have a message!!! Most of the time my phone is buried where Jazz decides to stash it, or the battery has died and I haven't noticed, and by the time I get the message unless it desperately needs a reply I don't.

I dont usually reply to birthday messages unless they are from family - if you can't ring me on my birthday, I'm not going to take the time and money to respond. I don't respond to joke messages. I think one word messages are a waste of 50c lol!

[Jewel]

I quite like SMS. I do reply with a "thanks" or whatever to birthday wishes, etc. aswell.
Quickness of a reply or anything doesn't bother me. If it's something important I'll call.
SMS is so much easier for me sometimes than calling, cause it's just a min(or less) to write the message and send... Where as if you were to call me then I most likely wouldn't be able to hear you as some little boy is usually whinging after the phone if I'm talking on it.

I don't always reply to messages either, so I don't often do one word replies. Never reply to joke messages either.

[Doing my best]

If I actually know where my phone is, it very rarely has money on it, so replying to messages just for the sake of acknowldging a message doesn't happen here.

Everyone who knows me well enough to text me instead of calling, knows that I don't have the money to reply to say 'ok'. I keep the money for emergencies.

[AliBaby]

I love sms!

However I dont always have my phone on me so I cant reply straight away.

I think these days people need to understand that people dont always have their phones on them 24/7

Its funny though as when I was in late teens, early 20's it would be glued to me. Now I turn it off at night and only respond when I get te chance. I am actually better at emailing.

[CheezelMonster]

I like getting texts & sending texts, especially if it's just to simply check plans or something with someone. When they turn into longer conversations it gets a bit much.
One thing I find annoying is if I don't reply straight away, certain people will send another text asking whats going on or repeating themselves. This feels like an invasion to me as it's my phone to use when I want - not when they want me to. Half the time I don't realise I've received the original text!!

[~Sally~]

I like the use of sms especially given DP is not always in a service area.... a simple text to ask what time he's going to be home and he replies with a simple 5pm cost us 30c (total)... if we ring it's 30c as soon as they answer and then whatever the cost is for 30sec block after that.

I dont like having convos via sms though, would rather ring, but for only one question it's easier.

I actually dont know where my phone is most of the time, unless someone rings me