Instant communication is great, but do you ever miss letters? I’m sure the publishing world does, because I doubt there will be much of market for The Greatest Love Texts Ever Written, even if it can be downloaded to a Kindle.
Portable electronic communications have all but eliminated the poetic aspects of pitching woo. There’s no need to learn Shakespeare quotes or find the right French or Italian love sayings when texting abbreviations are the new symbols of love. “2b or not 2b” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
While this is welcome news to those who aren’t proficient with a pen, it’s also a source of stress in relationships. Communicating in abbreviations, like it or not, just doesn’t carry the same level of sincerity or meaning. When someone sends a well-written letter, or takes the time to personalize a greeting card, you know there’s real thought behind it. A text message just doesn’t carry the same weight. Maybe your significant other did spend hours picking out just the right abbreviations to send you, but how would you know?
If you’re doubting the sincerity of those texts, there’s a simple solution: Demand a letter. Not an e-mail, but an actual, hand-written letter or note. Make your significant other put words to page and think through his or her thoughts. You’ll get a better sense of how your intended feels, and a message of love that you can’t delete with the push of a button.
