Text messages are the new folded up love notes. You remember 7th grade, heart a-thump as a paper proposal made its way closed up tighter than your throat, hand to hand to her hand. You remember the tornado in your stomach as she sealed a fate irreparable by reading, “Will you be my girlfriend? Check yes or no.” It was clumsy, but efficient.
So Romantic: Elizabeth Barrett-Browning In LEET
H0w d0 1 |0v3 7h33? |37 m3 c0un7 7h3 w4y5.
1 |0v3 7h33 70 7h3 d3p7h 4nd br34d7h 4nd h316h7
My 50u| c4n r34ch, wh3n f33|1n6 0u7 0f 516h7
F0r 7h3 3nd5 0f B31n6 4nd 1d34| 6r4c3.
1 |0v3 7h33 70 7h3 |3v3| 0f 3v3ryd4y’5
M057 qu137 n33d, by 5un 4nd c4nd|3-|16h7.
Translate here.
Maybe the text message was developed by good-hearted but unskilled geeks to speed up that process of elation/rejection. Texting is abbreviated and lightning fast, and according to the “Textual Healing” team at AOL, there are rules to texting love notes.
T9 maker Tegic Communications and AOL Love & Sex Coach and author John Gray have teamed up to deliver a top-ten dos and don’ts list “to help ensure a successful union of texting and dating,” just in time for Made-Up-By-Marketers DayI mean Valentine’s Day.
The first annual T9 Texting Outlook Survey found that 60% of those who sent text messages have sent one to tell someone they love them or miss them. Meanwhile, 27 percent have sent a flirtatious or sexy text message and 26 percent have used cell phone text messaging to say “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Seven percent have even sent a text message to ask someone out on a date (but were probably turned down for lack of courage! This is romance, not robotics-sorry have to beat down the old man within me-get back you old coot!).
Here’s the Texting and Dating Top Ten Do’s & Don’ts:
DO reply to a text message in a timely manner. No one wants to press “send” only to be left waiting (and waiting) for a reply.
DON’T read too much into whether he or she has (or hasn’t!) signed off with X’s and O’s for kisses and hugs.
DO carefully consider the effect your text message is going to have on the reader. Send a note that will put a smile on her face, not leave her wondering why she gave you her number in the first place.
DON’T overuse emoticons, such as smileys, and text speak, and make sure the recipient knows what you mean. You don’t want to scare off a potential date who thinks you mean “lots of love” rather than “laugh out loud” when you type LOL.
DO wait until at least the third date before you engage in “textual relations” with a new love interest. Be sure sexy or intimate texts are well-received before firing off note after note.
DON’T assume he is awake and sober just because you are. If you receive an outlandish reply at 3 in the morning or no reply at all, wait 12 hours and try again.
DO flirt and send love letters via text. But be careful about sending texts that you wouldn’t want read by anyone other than the intended recipient.
DON’T read too much into failure to reply right away to your text message. However, if you’ve texted three times without a reply, it may be time to move on.
DO make sure you’re sending a text message to the right person in your phone book. Imagine the discomfort upon learning you’ve sent hot and steamy love notes to your grandmother.
DON’T be a bad speller. It makes less of an impact on the intended to learn that you want to “kips” rather than “kiss” them. “Sending a text is a great way to get to know someone better and to let them know you are thinking of them. Text messages are an informal and fun way of communicating,” said Dr. Gray.
document.write(“Email the author here.”)
Drag this 
Add to document.write(“Del.icio.us”) | DiggThis | Yahoo My Web
