Text messaging is the most impersonal form of communication because neither person sees, hears or feels what the other is saying.

A company in London defended its decision to sack one of its staff by text message, claiming it was keeping in touch with youth culture, according to an August 4 Yahoo! News article.

One must wonder if the message looked something like, “ur fired. Sry :(” It isn’t the erroneous grammar — or the absurdity of using a cellular phone to basically telegraph someone a message — but mainly the use of text messaging as a way to hide from social confrontations.

Hiding from awkward situations could unconsciously rob us of the beautiful moments.

True story: I once got back together with an ex-girlfriend without speaking to her in person. The entire conversation happened via text messages. This was not by choice. My thumb sore, I became restless and called her. But this apparently was against the rules of “the game.” A game I was forced into playing.

A moment that could have been romance-novel epic became as hot and sensual as a tax reform convention. Am I wrong to expect a rekindling of lost feelings to possibly include a passionate kiss, or maybe playful tongue action and … You get the idea.

My hopes eventually became reality, but I felt swindled. Where’s the metaphorical “spark?” All I’m truly asking for is the typical. It’s spooky when the typical is no longer an expectation, but a hope, and worthy of celebration.

Text messaging is the most impersonal form of communication because neither person sees, hears or feels what the other is saying. This makes the difficult situations like breakups, rejection and simply telling the truth easy. Situations we should face in person because it forces one to physically see the effect of their actions.

How can intimate moments transpire over the coldest form of communication? Because it’s an easy out from unpleasant or awkward confrontations. Texting becomes a habit in masking true feelings when two parties are communicating strictly through abbreviated digital communications.

Text messaging is the Novocain administered when appearing in person carries the possibility of emotional injury. Texting’s numbing effect stems from the ambiguity veiling every message sent. Imagine all different interpretations of seeing the text message, “OK?” simply because the inflection in the voice, and speaker’s face, aren’t present. This creates communication fraught with chances to be misunderstood.

Some people unfortunately have to deal with different forms of social anxiety, but this isn’t an excuse to cower behind binary emotions. If someone can’t tell another exactly what’s on their mind in person, then it doesn’t take Dr. Phil-like self-righteous opinions to imagine the couple’s future.

Imagine a world where people spoke face to face more often than through dancing electrons in satellite beams. Perhaps, in this world people would know one other on a deeper level and not require social shields to protect ourselves from one another.

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