PEOPLE WHO CAN`T SEND TEXT MESSAGES

I once read a book entitled, “101 Ways of Improving Your Language Power”. What attracted me to the publication was the title. When I looked at the content, I realized it was even more enticing and more rewarding.

One of the points the book made was that if only we could think a little before speaking (or writing) we would greatly enrich the language we use. The point is that we know more words and can produce more expressions in the languages we speak and write, than we actually do on a daily basis.

The book then went on to say something which I will paraphrase using the Cameroonian context. It likened the average human being to someone who has around 5000 (five thousand) Frs CFA to live on a day but chooses to spend only 500 (Five hundred) Frs CFA because no one wants to stretch his or her mind and think. From that perspective, we can conclude that such a person is rich chooses to live in poverty and suffer unnecessarily.

Now, I want to narrow down this inadequacy to the idea of sending telephone text messages. It appears many of us Cameroonians do not use the message texting facility which paradoxically comes at no extra cost in our cell phones when we buy them. Many of us can neither text messages nor read them when they are sent to us. Why? Some people complain that it would take longer to text than call a person and talk to that person. Yet the same plaintiff would call somebody so insistently that sometimes the number of calls is in excess of ten. A short text message could have done the trick so that the correspondent gets back quickly. Consequently, often, important messages that should have been delivered immediately are unduly delayed because the caller will not send a text message.

As a way out, let us ask ourselves this question: why do we shy away from texting when at the same time we only too readily and too freely indulge in other forms of writing? Do we not realize that the two major mobile phone service providers in Cameroon – MTN and Orange – hardly ever call us (the customers) to speak to us when they have a message for us? Systematically, they text us on a daily basis.

Texting clearly has advantages over calling. One of them is that you can take your time and edit and shape what you want to say before sending it. Another is that you have the possibility of saving the sent message in your phone for the record. People have been known to win court cases by brandishing text messages they sent or received as this method of telephone communication ensures confidentiality because when you are texting, your nearest neighbor cannot hear you. So imagine what damage you would be causing if you were on the phone while saying something confidential.

However, if you are a “hater” of texting but would like to change, then cheer up because not all is lost. One of the service providers here in Cameroon – MTN – has made it even simpler and cheaper. With a subscription of only 500 (five hundred) Frs CFA, you can send as many text messages as you like for a whole month. There is no “small print’ interpretation here. The number of texts you can send is really and truly unlimited. Although the offer applies only to messages sent and received between MTN numbers, we surely cannot say it is nothing. No, it is definitely something.

You can subscribe to the service by typing the formula: *148*1#. Please, note that the dot at the end of the formula is not included. It is part of my punctuation.