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The article mentions that even people who agree that texting is a bad idea find that they have trouble stopping themselves from doing it. These folks could lim

The article mentions that even people who agree that texting is a bad idea find that they have trouble stopping themselves from doing it. These folks could limit distraction from incoming texts and calls by turning on "Do Not Disturb" mode. I'd actually appreciate a mobile OS feature which lets through incoming text messages and auto-replies saying "I'm driving right now, I'll get back to you when I safely can." Is this problem largely going to go away as voice control of phones (and car integration) get better?

nemeth88 12y ago
Windows Phone does this - when paired with a list of specified Bluetooth devices (such as a car GPS or stereo), it can switch to a DND mode automatically with an optional auto-reply. Motorola seems to have recently rolled out a similar feature across it's entire Moto G/E/X product line - Drive Mode for their Moto Assist product. But unless these kind of features become opt-out, I suspect it won't help that much. Right now you have to actively seek them out and turn them on, which many people aren't going to do.
psychometry 12y ago
Does texting need auto-reply? There's no cultural assumption of an instant reply over that medium.
- click170 12y ago
  Though I wish that you were right without exception, my experience is that at least for some people this does not hold true.
- Swizec 12y ago
  Texting has largely replaced phonecalls. Therefore most people expect you to get back to them within a couple of minutes, not hours. I have used, and have seen others use, texting in real-time applications where immediate response is required. Like texting someone that you're at the door (and the bell doesn't work) instead of calling them. Generally the younger you go, the more texting is expected to be instant communication.
  - joesmo 12y ago
    While I don't disagree, I think such people are wrong. Even if you're at my door and the doorbell is broken, if you don't call, I might miss your text. I won't apologize because you didn't call. To me texting is asynchronous and if you want real-time, synchronous responses, you should call. The expectation of any kind of timely response is ridiculous, IMO, and is completely inappropriate. I could be doing any number of things that require full concentration (work and sleep come to mind), be out of cell range, have forgotten my phone, have a dead battery etc. I have seen people get upset over not having their texts responded to and I judge them, rightfully and harshly, as being inconsiderate, demanding, and selfish. If it is indeed a cultural norm, it is an extremely inconsiderate norm indeed.
    - thinkling 12y ago
      Don't get me wrong, you're welcome to feel however you like. But many don't really see any difference anymore between texting and calling, since both go to the same device. Your objection "you should call because I may be out of cell range or have forgotten my phone" strikes me as illogical especially for the kind of synchronous situation like "I'm at the door, your doorbell doesn't seem to work."
      - joesmo 12y ago
        The difference is that texts are easy to miss. Not only that, but by calling you have established synchronous communication. If the recipient doesn't pick up, then you know you have no expectation of a response while the opposite is true if he does. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that your text message was even delivered, this assuming that your recipient should receive it and act upon it is quite presumptuous. That's the difference. Calling establishes a communication channel that texting does not. If one does not pick up the caller knees there is no such channel established and thus no expectation of communication.
- joesmo 12y ago
  No. Texting, like IM and email, is an asynchronous form of communication. There are, however, plenty of people who do not understand that and might demand a more immediate response (as indicated by my own experience and the experience of other commenters here). Such pushy, demanding people have no place in my life and acquiescing to their petty needs should never come ahead of my own and others' survivability.
marquis 12y ago
This is why I don't text and drive: Werner Herzog's short doc on what can happen when you do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1vCqfYpos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1vCqfYpos Since this piece I haven't had the slightest urge to text+drive however as I use my phone for navigation it's impossible to turn it off. I would definitely appreciate some kind of technology installed that was "hey, i see you are moving. no calls or texts for you".
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- Theodores 12y ago
  That is quite a film, thanks for the link. The rest of the convo in this thread is a bit pointless to me now!

nemeth88 12y ago

Windows Phone does this - when paired with a list of specified Bluetooth devices (such as a car GPS or stereo), it can switch to a DND mode automatically with an optional auto-reply. Motorola seems to have recently rolled out a similar feature across it's entire Moto G/E/X product line - Drive Mode for their Moto Assist product. But unless these kind of features become opt-out, I suspect it won't help that much. Right now you have to actively seek them out and turn them on, which many people aren't going to do.

psychometry 12y ago

Does texting need auto-reply? There's no cultural assumption of an instant reply over that medium.

click170 12y ago
Though I wish that you were right without exception, my experience is that at least for some people this does not hold true.
Swizec 12y ago
Texting has largely replaced phonecalls. Therefore most people expect you to get back to them within a couple of minutes, not hours. I have used, and have seen others use, texting in real-time applications where immediate response is required. Like texting someone that you're at the door (and the bell doesn't work) instead of calling them. Generally the younger you go, the more texting is expected to be instant communication.
- joesmo 12y ago
  While I don't disagree, I think such people are wrong. Even if you're at my door and the doorbell is broken, if you don't call, I might miss your text. I won't apologize because you didn't call. To me texting is asynchronous and if you want real-time, synchronous responses, you should call. The expectation of any kind of timely response is ridiculous, IMO, and is completely inappropriate. I could be doing any number of things that require full concentration (work and sleep come to mind), be out of cell range, have forgotten my phone, have a dead battery etc. I have seen people get upset over not having their texts responded to and I judge them, rightfully and harshly, as being inconsiderate, demanding, and selfish. If it is indeed a cultural norm, it is an extremely inconsiderate norm indeed.
  - thinkling 12y ago
    Don't get me wrong, you're welcome to feel however you like. But many don't really see any difference anymore between texting and calling, since both go to the same device. Your objection "you should call because I may be out of cell range or have forgotten my phone" strikes me as illogical especially for the kind of synchronous situation like "I'm at the door, your doorbell doesn't seem to work."
    - joesmo 12y ago
      The difference is that texts are easy to miss. Not only that, but by calling you have established synchronous communication. If the recipient doesn't pick up, then you know you have no expectation of a response while the opposite is true if he does. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that your text message was even delivered, this assuming that your recipient should receive it and act upon it is quite presumptuous. That's the difference. Calling establishes a communication channel that texting does not. If one does not pick up the caller knees there is no such channel established and thus no expectation of communication.
joesmo 12y ago
No. Texting, like IM and email, is an asynchronous form of communication. There are, however, plenty of people who do not understand that and might demand a more immediate response (as indicated by my own experience and the experience of other commenters here). Such pushy, demanding people have no place in my life and acquiescing to their petty needs should never come ahead of my own and others' survivability.

marquis 12y ago

This is why I don't text and drive: Werner Herzog's short doc on what can happen when you do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1vCqfYpos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1vCqfYpos Since this piece I haven't had the slightest urge to text+drive however as I use my phone for navigation it's impossible to turn it off. I would definitely appreciate some kind of technology installed that was "hey, i see you are moving. no calls or texts for you".

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
Theodores 12y ago
That is quite a film, thanks for the link. The rest of the convo in this thread is a bit pointless to me now!