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.

[Visitor8]

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.