Blog Post #7 - Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to your article “Thx for the IView! I Wud ♥ to Work 4 U!! ;)” published on July 29, 2008.

This article is very interesting from different angles, perspectives and opinions. First of all, my personal opinion on Textspeak is that it can be appropriate, but that is dependent on the situation and the language that is used. An example from your article from Ms. Johnson said “she received a candidate's thank-you note with words such as "hiya" and "thanx,"” which in this scenario I agree is unacceptable especially as the candidate knows that Ms. Johnson is the president of a recruitment agency. In the third paragraph Ms. Johnson states that more and more people are becoming too casual when communicating specifically when it comes to chasing career opportunities and using their mobile phones as the medium. Yes, I would say that using Textspeak amongst friends is acceptable but when dealing with people you know very little about there has to be a level of respect and understanding how other people perceive this so called modern Textspeak. One could say that people instinctively use Textspeak on their mobile phone, which I disagree with because educated people tend to understand how to articulate between a formal and informal form of their language.

On the other hand, and in my opinion, I don’t feel that people should have their candidacy killed just because of Textspeak, as John McWhorter says in his “`Txting is killing language. JK!!!” on-line video Ted talk that texting is not speaking, and the way we represent ourselves correctly should be done face-to-face, and not over text or email. If you manage to get through a face-to-face interview, in which the recruiter has possibly already looked theough your C, and you are successful, what is so wrong with showing thanks and enthusiasm via a text, phone call or e-mail. Due to the modern day use of technology like mobile phones people shouldn’t be perceived as disrespectful just because they use text talk in an email as it is so natural nowadays it is natural even for grown adults to use text talk but it depends on the individual who is sending the message and who they are sending the message too, for example are they sending the text to someone in administration or are they sending it to a CEO or president of the company.

When it comes to communicating over social media with colleagues who are friends you have to personally know the person, other than just meeting them in an interview, but in the defence of the possible employee the interviewer doesn’t have to accept the request to be their friend on social media, but if they accept the request then nothing can be deemed inappropriate.

Sincerely, Alyxander Bihuniak, Raha International School Student