HELP FOR THE FAMILY/YOUNG PEOPLE -How to Show Texting Manners

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Text only at appropriate times.  "Sometimes I receive a text message really late at night,"  says a young man named Richard.  "It's even for anything important, and it disturbs my sleep!"  Ask yourself, 'Do I text people at times when they might be resting?' -Bible principle: Ecclesiastes 3:1. 

Check your tone.   Communications is carried by words, voice inflection, facial expression, and body language. Unfortunately, most of those elements are missing when you text. So how can you compensate?  "Use common courtesy," suggests a young woman named Jasmine. "Ask, 'How are you?' and use words like 'please' and ' thank you." -Bible principle: Colossians 4:6.

Be discerning.  Look again at the scenario under "The Challenge."  If you are expecting an important message, it might be necessary to excuse yourself from a conversation. Often, though, the message can wait.   "Your phone will still be there when your friend has finished talking," says 17-year-old Amy, "but your friend may not be there when you finished texting."  You use similar discernment when at a gathering.  "Don't text the whole time," says 18-year-old Jane.  "That tells people, 'I don't care about your company; I'd rather be somewhere else.'" 

Think before you hit the send button.    Might your text message be misunderstood? Would emoticons help convey the right feeling? "If you're joking about something, put a smiley face there," says 21-year-old Amber.  "People get their feelings  hurt-and fights can even start-because they take a lighthearted remark to be serious." -Bible principle:  Proverbs 12:18. 

Clearly, your cell-phone manners really matter!

To think about:   Good manners are based on love. How is that quality displayed?  The Bible states:  "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked."  (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5) Which aspect of love do you nee to work on? 

Next time:  HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING -The Importance of Chores

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