SMS etiquette

Suresh Chaudhary

In this modern era, who has not got a cell phone? You can notice everyone - from children, middle aged to old ones - playing with the keypad of a cell phone in every corner It is very helpful for keeping in touch with others, both for essential and fun purposes. Besides, it really does play a big role in the 'cool' factor and as a means of entertainment. I would like here to briefly dwell on the most basic rules of cellular communication that can serve as a useful guide.

While SMSing, you must not forget common courtesy. For example, if you are holding a conversation with a friend and she suddenly begins to type and SMS in the middle of your sentence, you will feel insulted. This is just the rudest thing that your friend can do. What's more, if you are SMSing someone in the midst of serious conversation with someone else, you may end up sending wrong message (both literally and metaphorically) to the person at the other end. Don't you think it's embarrassing?

Besides this, you must recall that while the tone of SMS is informal and casual, it can easily veer to being rude simply because the other person can't see your face or hear your voice. So, even when you are typing something in a completely harmless manner you may end up infuriating the person at the other end. So the bottom line is: Watch what you type.

If you have an urgent matter with anybody, just one call is far better than sending too many SMS. It is very common that sometimes SMS goes to the wrong person by mistake instead of the person you intended to send it to, which obviously dims the positive aspects of your personality. Thus, before you send, you must look at the contact address carefully.

Another no-no is to use SMS for serious things, like, say breaking with friends or demise of relatives or breaking of relationship. It's not only cruel and cold but it will put you in the “dog house” all with pressing a single button. If you really want to tell them, call them, send them email or see them in person.

If you are a fan of SMSing you sometimes cannot properly express your feeling. For instance a message that reads u r my swet hrt simply doesn't have the same depth as real words would have.

Moreover, when you were in the Cinema hall, have you ever been unable to concentrate because the persons next to you haven't silenced their perpetually ringing cell phones? If the answer is 'yes' and if you have been infuriated at this, learn a lesson and silence your cell phone or put it on vibrator mode before you enter a class, a library, a movie hall or any public places.

And last but not least, let's make the habit of using cell phones for only important tasks rather than for fun.

Private affair

By Anjali

2003 is also gone. No matter what, now I am going to get married. Let the whole world oppose, but I will not let, at least, 2004 defeat me.

The thought of marriage flashed in my head two years back. Since then, I have been doing everything to turn my dream into a reality. It may sound unusual but it was the political and social uncertainties that put an obstacle to my intention. Marriage is a personal matter. People might wonder as to how political or social conditions can act as stumbling blocks? But their question doesn’t undo all what the reverse situations did to me. So, in such a frustrated mood I feel not much obliged to put forward the answers in detail.

Well, another obstacle that has cropped up is a pal of mine. More unpractical and more forgetful than me, yet who really suggests good sometimes, says ‘NO’ to my decision. “You have already put one leg in a ditch by falling in love. Now, by getting married, you want to sink another leg too? Why do you want to fall into a ditch from where you can never come out?”

I am sure, this time her suggestion is not good at all.

And, where on the earth is it written that you must listen to people every time, even if that be your very close friend? I give a damn to her bitter and unromantic words. How would she know what does it mean to be in love. And marriage, yet another gift of life! I tried hard to bring in her a similar experience of love so that her attitude would change and she, too, would check out the unbelievable sensations. But, on the other hand, though she looks excited for a few days in the beginning, her changed chemistry turns the matter completely awful at the end. Either she becomes overactive or simply remains too dull, that just ruins the story. And what always becomes her final dialogue to me is,” You know, I can never take such things seriously. Fools fall in love. Hurt? Me? Never! Such stupid things don’t hurt me.”

I can see that she is disturbed and hurt. But I pretend to believe her remarks and she accepts my pretension.

Now, why she is suggesting me not to marry is because of her fear of losing me. After all, I am the one who honestly listens to her, and even if I’ve to pretend, I don’t make her feel uncomfortable. After my going to my groom’s home, which is likely to be rather away from our present locality, she will really be alone. I don’t think I will be completely oblivious towards this friend of mine even after my departure.

Though human values deeply capture me, I hardly trust traditional and social values. But I am not sure, if I happen to turn into a real daughter-in-law, though not in nature and only in appearance and duty, it will be quite hard for me to give warm company to her. And I am worried. No doubt, a voice in some corner suggests me not to count the chickens before they are hatched. Well, but my excitement, would it listen? No. I make sure that I will not waste 2004 at any cost. And about my dear friend, let me think more seriously and practically. Shall I not waste her 2004 too? Well, one of us shall finish the work, no matter who.

Taken from The Kathmandu Post