Kev and the Rev Take On Text Talk: Are We Losing the Art of Communication?
Welcome back to The Kev and the Rev Podcast, in this episode, Kev and Piotr (also known as The Rev) dive into something we all do daily: text and email.
It starts with a simple question from Kevin: Do you use social media? The answer? Yes, but with a sigh from Piotr.
Like many of us, Kev and The Rev find themselves sometimes confused with modern messaging. From BRB to LOL to full emoji conversations, it’s a communication evolution (or revolution?) that raises more than a few eyebrows, especially if you’re someone who grew up writing with a fountain pen and still appreciates a good pair of cufflinks.
Piotr brings up an interesting point. Why the abbreviation obsession? Is it laziness? A lack of education? Or, as he puts it, “misguided expediency”? In a world that’s constantly moving faster, it makes sense that we want to say more in less time. But at what cost?
Kev admits he always writes everything out, spelling and grammar intact. Not because he doesn’t know the shorthand, but because that’s how he was raised and because he sees the deeper consequences, especially in business. In a professional setting, the tone and clarity of your words matter. A lot.
Studies have shown that tone doesn’t always carry through in written form. A message that was meant to be upbeat and friendly might be read as neutral. Neutral messages can come off as cold or even negative. And any hint of criticism is often taken as a personal attack. Why? Because, without the benefit of facial expressions, gestures, or vocal tone, we’re left guessing each other’s intent. That’s where the infamous ALL CAPS comes in. Is it emphasis? Excitement? Or rage?
So, what’s the solution? The Rev suggests old-school formatting tricks like bold fonts or highlighting to make your point without raising your digital voice. Emojis can help, but even they’re open to interpretation. And not everyone is fluent in “emoji.”
Kev and The Rev agree that context matters. Friends texting? Abbreviate away. But in business or unfamiliar settings, a little extra effort in your words can go a long way.
So, if you’re tempted to email about the show, please, no abbreviations. Unless you’re typing in all caps to say how much you love the podcast. In that case, shout it from the virtual rooftops and pop the champagne.
Got thoughts? Kev and the Rev want to hear them. Email: hello@kindersleysocial.ca
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
