Short Text? Not Me

 I was warned by one of my latent friends the other day, that my texts are too long and that it causes stress for him. I reminded him that I write and that writers aren't into shorthand language. I try to keep my emails as compact as I can, but I refuse to use caps for phrases as do some who think it's all very cute and "now".  That's their fun. Punctuation? Yes, I use that, too. In fact, I don't use a cell phone for other than phoning. I do not want to be fiddling with a piece of equipment for no particular reason all day, nor do I need to "keep in touch" with everyone, every second of my life no matter how much I like them. I use a computer, too.  Not that silly tiny thing that most people can't seem to put down that grows out of the palms of their hands. Why do I do this? Because that's what I do. There is a choice. The person who had stress when reading longer texts, forgot that he is the one who controls how much stress he will tolerate and if my longer e mails are bothersome, he can go fly a kite. But that requires two hands and one of his is inoperative since it holds continuously, a cell phone. Evidently, studies show that children are less literate than they once were. "Why" has an easy answer.  Most kids have cell phones, we are told for safety, and are trained from an early age in how to use them by those who are as illiterate as they will become. Reading? No. No. As one of my illiterate friends reminded me, there ARE audio books, you know. I must admit that if I am away, I do use my cell phone for everything but it's only in desperation. They are very handy objects when it's necessary to have them. But using those things anywhere other focus is happening such as visiting, eating and studying, they should be turned off and basketed. I do not enjoy sitting opposite other members of my immediate society who are gazing and giggling at their cell phones that I can't see or hear. It's as rude as whispering into someone else's ear or speaking a language others don't speak within the company you are in. Cell phones don't come with good manners manuals, but they ought to. Calling me old fashioned, outdated, cynical, jaded and all that, isn't going to change my mind. There are many of us out there, who aren't going to be middle-school thinkers any more. Also, speak clearly and not rapidly. I am not at all deaf and I'm not into running the fast talkers race with you. Use sentences and please leave out the F word and "like" for everything you describe. Okay maybe I am an old crank, but I am literate even though I do sink to using a reader app often. My favorite authors' tales go by without page turning, but their words are pure and sweet to the eyes.