I think that webspeak/net speak has a very large impact on our culture. We are living in the age of technology; nearly everything can be accessed via mobile phone. Even this blog that i am currently typing is being typed from a Droid phone. This easy access while convenient is often damaging, often spoiling us, subconsciously convincing us that we need constant contact. To be unreachable is to be dead, out of the loop, unacceptable. With technology there is often a race to be the fastest and to have the latest, which has created a code that Barron and other sophisticates have deemed CMC.
I often find myself tempted to short hand in regular communication. Where I would normally articulate, professional emails, papers, I often have to double check and reread my work because of my habit of shorthanding. When shorthand becomes your most often way of communicating of course it would take precedence over the traditional way of communicating. The most tempting thing abou the new language of text/IM is that it is a lot like talking. Its the most relatable form of language. Like I said previously, if text lingo is the most frequent form of communication/language it automatically takes priority as the go to language. It eliminates the gap between the brain and the hands, the conscious and unconscious speech. Much how we code switch from slang to standard english when the situation deems neccessary.
I strongly agree with you that “to be unreachable is to be dead, out of the loop, unacceptable.”We should always updated ourselves and skills, and use the latest technolongy to communicate and be alife. I also think that you are not the only one who use shourthand. It might be a bad habit as you think it is, but I think that it might be a good habit as well because this is the way it is today. Everything is going so fast around us and we have to be the same and be creatives, shouldn’t we?
“It eliminates the gap between the brain and the hands, the conscious and unconscious speech.” – I like what you said here. Because the physical process of typing a text message to a friend and sending an email to a work colleague are practically the same, the muscle memory often takes over. Because of this, its easy to forget that the two situations require a different set of standards, and it often leads to be read over my work email more than once before hitting send.
But is the access that CMC affords us really damaging? I agree that it changes our stream of consciousness without us knowing it. Many people do feel that they need to be in constant contact with the world, and that this can only be done with an internet connection or mobile device. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Am I worse off than my grandparents because of this dependency? I’m not so sure. I think it’s good to take a step back sometimes and to be aware of our activities so we don’t allow the activities to control us.
I agree we do thing unconsciously so text language is becoming like a second nature to us. We use it because we are comfortable and familiar with it. I believe this language will take priority for a while until something new come alone.
Text language is so common, because we use it to communicate everything accessed through a mobile device like you said. I often find my self in the professional setting trying to proofread my work to make sure I did not use u for you. It is a habit that sometimes slips out when I am writing.
I strongly agree with you that “to be unreachable is to be dead, out of the loop, unacceptable.” Mainly because when my phone dies a piece of dies as well. If you put your phone down for two hours people immediately think you are hurt or in trouble, becaues of your lack of response. Don’t respond to your phone calls or texts, you will find yourself on the side of a milk carton.