We all have our texting mishaps. Sometimes I wonder if Hermes invented autocorrect, because there is just SO much opportunity for mayhem (and embarrassment). For example, my autocorrect is quite fond of cuss words, my mother-in-law's email address, and the word "tinnitus". Every so often, it seems to say, "Hey, you haven't used the word "tinnitus" in a sentence lately... so let's just throw it in here for fun... and maybe spice things up with a cuss word or two."
When it first started throwing out the t-word left and right, I had to look up what "tinnitus" meant. But then, in an ironic twist of fate, it has become an occasional symptom of my long haul covid. So I am pretty familiar with that word now. But I still rarely use it in a text: "Hey Annie! Just wanted you to know I am experiencing tinnitus! LOL Mom"
With my current phone, even when I happen to catch the typo in time to correct the word, my autocorrect nemesis says, "No, actually you can't really mean that word... what you really want to say is THIS," and then when I correct it again and say, "No, actually it IS this word," it continues to fight with me for some time. My autocorrect is quite stubborn, I have found. For example, it's still trying to get me to change my daughter Aerin's name, and comes up with all sorts of alternatives. ("That's a stupid name... what you really mean is...Aetinnitus.")
But those frustrations aside, I have had a few rather spectacularly memorable Texting Fails that I thought I would share.
Several years ago, I served in our ward's Relief Society, with a handful of amazing ladies. We had a weekly "presidency meeting" which consisted of about 45 min of actual church coordination work, and 2 hrs 45 min of our own support group therapy for whatever was going on in our lives that needed to be hashed out. The ladies I worked with were wise and hilarious and insightful and supportive. I miss those meetings.
We were meeting one night, and for a reason I cannot quite recollect, it was at a bit different time or day or format. I was running late (not unusual), and feeling a bit stressed about being late (also not unusual). As I drove through my neighborhood, I saw our beloved fearless leader, the RS president Sheena, and her husband Jake. Part of their fence was down, and they were standing near the downed fence, talking with some neighbors. I couldn't tell if it had been driven through (spoiler: it had) or blown down, but it seemed to be a fairly recent and dramatic occurrence.
Trying to be A Helper, I used my phone's voice recognition to text the others to let them know that I was on my way and Sheena would be late. What I said into my phone was, "Hey I am on my way, but I just saw Sheena. Her fence was down and a bunch of neighbors were gathered around. It looks like she will be awhile."
But what the text typed out was, "Hey I am on my way, but I just saw Sheena. Her pants were down and a bunch of neighbors were gathered around. It looks like she will be awhile."
Scandalous.
A second text fail had to do with another neighbor. My friend Steff had spent the week at Primary Children's Hospital with her son Charlie. Charlie was having dozens of seizures each day. His autism made things even more difficult, for him and for those trying to help him. It had been a really hard month for Steff, and there didn't seem to be a lot of answers, and my heart hurt for her. I wanted to serve and support, but felt rather helpless. So I prayed for her, Charlie and their family. I know firsthand the power and strength that prayer can bring. But even so, I wanted to do something besides praying. So I sent her a text. Just telling her I was thinking of and praying for Charlie, and that I was happy to help drive kids, drop off meals, or whatever. I ended the text with a row of hearts and praying hands emoji.
But I made a Classic Blunder. Second only to "Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line."
I did not wear my reading glasses when texting emojis.
So what Steff actually got was a heartfelt text followed by a row of hearts... and a few rows of noses.
Yes.
Noses.
Now in my defense, take a look at these emojis. Same general shape. Same general size. (See my point?)
👃👃👃👃🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Unfortunately, not the same general meaning.
With all that Steff was shouldering that week, my text would not have been that helpful even with the proper emoji. But rows of noses left her a little puzzled, understandably.
It took me a few days before I realized what I'd done. I was sending her another text, and noticed all of the noses. Steff was gracious, as always, and we laughed. Since then, a few of my friends and sisters will occasionally send me nose emojis, and it always makes me smile. It's our new symbol for "I'm Praying For You," and perhaps, "Yes, You're A Dork, But I Still Love You".
Fast forward a few years. Charlie was once again in the hospital. And things were once again quite heavy for my sweet friend Steff and her husband Matt. In an attempt to be helpful, I got online and ordered a DoorDash gift card to be sent to her via text. From their many DoorDash Gift Card Messages, I selected just a generic one, since they didn't really seem to have anything that said, "I'm So Sorry Charlie's In The Hospital and That They Can't Figure Out These Terrible Seizures and I'm Sure You're Absolutely Exhausted So Perhaps This Can Help You Guys While You're Back and Forth Between Home and Hospital." Nope, no gift cards that said anything like that.
I'm not quite sure how it happened, but somehow, between the time I selected the appropriate Generic DoorDash e-card, and I paid for said e-card, the layout got switched to a birthday card which read, in big colorful letters, "LET'S CELEBRATE!!"
And that's what got sent. To my friend. Who was exhausted and worried sick, at the hospital.
Not the message I was going for.
... I'm just gonna blame it on the tinnitus.
👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃👃
