Message me. What does that mean these days? Message me via text, Facebook, email, Twitter, whatevs? Honestly, when someone says that, how do you take it?
It's a term that we all struggle with. A good friend of mine recently sent me a text message letting me know that she vented something on Facebook that made a lot of mutual friends paranoid, and she wanted to assure me that it had nothing to do with me. Since I only use FB for business now (and only connect that way with close friends and family), I didn't see the message, but immediately checked to see what it was that wasn't inspired by anything I did. It was a frustrated message about not getting responses to messages. It made me paranoid, too.
Then I realized that the text message that she sent me was actually written almost 24 hours earlier, but for whatever reason did not come through on my phone right away. "OMG" I thought! Now she's really going to think I'm dissing on her! Gah, what do I do? I haven't meant to not be in touch with anyone lately - I've been busy, there has been a lot of family stuff going on, crazy with work, but I didn't think that I had missed any messages to the point that it would offend anyone. Right?
I sent her an email explaining that I loved her and hoped that she didn't think I was a flake. The next morning, I was even more paranoid, and called to explain further. She laughed and apologized for the confusion - it was one of those things we all do...she simply posted something personal, not necessarily aiming it at anyone in particular, and then watched it get out of hand.
This whole scenario made me think of two things. One, I should stop being pissed at people who don't get back with me right away. Two, I thought of the recent findings that kids and young adults who have grown up with the internet and smart phones don't do phone calls or emails anymore because they're too slow.
I do the same thing - I'll text something because it's so much easier than calling, and doesn't get lost in anyone's inbox. However, after pissing people off when my Crackberry blew up and they didn't notice my Facebook messages alerting everyone to that fact, and then after receiving my friend's message almost a day after she sent it, I'm thinking that maybe I won't rely on texting as much.
Plus, I find myself aghast that my parents and in-laws haven't been keeping up with my FB or Twitter account, and inadvertently pushing my shiz on them. They just don't do that - they are busy doing real life stuff and aren't pathetically online, like I am.
I guess that "message me" can come in many forms, but do those who are important in your life understand what you mean by that? Do you understand what they mean? Is it an email or or a Facebook message?
Ugh...more specific language required.
What do y'all think?
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