Posted on 10/14/2005 1:57:52 PM PDT by martin_fierro
"Ur dumped" -- research shows text a popular way of ending romances
Fri Oct 14, 1:11 PM ET
SYDNEY (AFP) - Breaking up is supposed to be hard to do, but young Australian couples have found an easy solution - send a text message and move on.
Research shows young romantics are increasingly using SMS text messages to manage, and even end, their relationships.
Macquarie University researcher Natalie Robinson studied the texting habits of 100 young people aged 18-35 and found SMS messaging increased when relationships were beginning or going through a rocky period.
Robinson said couples, fearing rejection, wanted to avoid direct contact when their relationships were strained.
"People used text messages to show their negative feelings rather than talking face-to-face," she said. "This might be because text messages were less confrontational and more distant."
The clinical psychologist said she was surprised to find 15 percent of participants had dumped a partner via text messages.
Robinson said one of her friends had been ditched in a text message and found it an unpleasant experience.
"She was very angry because it was so impersonal and because they had been together for a couple of years," she said.
Overall, women were more likely to send texts telling their partner how they were feeling, while men were more comfortable with practical texts such as "I'll pick up dinner on the way home".
Robinson said people often used texts to keep tabs on partners who were out socialising with friends, creating the potential for friction.
"The receiver of this message may interpret this in a number of ways, such as, 'my partner cares about me and just wants to know what I am doing' or alternatively, 'my partner is suspicious and doesn't trust me and wants to know what I am doing'," she said.
Mrs. Slim believes in shotgun divorces. Not an instant message, actually about 1100 feet per second.
Text messaging? Feh!
Whatever happened to the "It's not you, it's me" talk?
Or cleverly letting the guy you want to dump see you out with a new guy? (For maximum effect, you should stand up the dumpee and let him see you out with New Guy that same night.)
Or my old standby, the temporary restraining order?
LOL
Ahhh sorry hun.
Smooch!
You deserve better.
About 15 years ago Phil Collins announced to his wife he was going to divorce her via a fax. He remarried and divorced that wife a few years ago
Leave it to modern technology to find new ways to tell us to get lost (sigh).
Gee, I got all that and laughed...that was funny!
Whew! I'm glad I'm not the only one.
So how long before pranksters start sending bogus messages 'from' people's romantic others 'breaking' up with them?
Well! I wonder what happened to her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.