Hit

"In the first three months of 2008, Canadians sent 4.1 billion text messages, according to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. In 2007, Canadians sent more than 10 billion messages."

Remember when it was all about writing letters to people? There was something about taking the time to do that, really sitting with your thoughts you know? When I was in Banff at the PlayRites Colony, I was seeing a lovely young lady, and during my time at the Centre I managed to write her three love letters and man were they tough. Just sitting there in that love, trying to capture my feelings with words, words that were so unreliable. I just wanted to hug her. Or kiss her. Or better yet, "text" her a hug or a kiss.

Last year we sent 10 billion messages. And you know that somewhere in those 10 billion messages a million relationships ended, two million people were fired, and at least one unlucky dude sent a naughty text to his wife instead of his mistress. What a guy!

How things have changed. In the past, I could write "I love you" in a letter, mail it, and by the time you got it be in love with someone else. Now, I can tell someone I don't "luv" them anymore with my blackberry... which is pretty convenient in-between meetings.

What does all of this text messaging do to our language? To communication? Is it messing everything up? When I write: hey, how r u? Am I ruining the language for future generations?

Word has it that publishers are catching on to the texting craze, and some are offering books and graphic novels that can be read entirely through your cell phone. Because the readable space is smaller, the writing itself has to be more concise. You think Hemmingway was neat, wait till you see some of the masterpieces cell phone writers come up with: "I h8 u."

That means "I hate you."

KILLER!

Who knows what the future holds. But hit me up with a text. We can find out together.

J