Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Texting question

kenny

kenny

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
34,582
Sometimes I get a text from someone I know, but I can't tell who it is based on what's in their text msg.
They don't start their text with their name to identify themselves to the recipient of tier text.
Apparently they must assume I've added their name and number to my phone's contact list, which would make their name come up on my screen while my phone is ringing.

But I don't use the contact feature because I often read about private info, like contacts, being hacked, stolen and abused.
So I don't know who is messaging me.

When I text people I always start by identifying myself.

How is all this for you?
Do every one of you populate your phone's contact list?
Do you assume everyone you have texted has also done so, so you don't bother starting your outgoing texts by identifying yourself?
 
Yes I add my friends and professional contacts to my phone so I know who’s texting. What you can do instead is just reply asking who is this please. Eventually your contacts will understand to identify themselves when they text you.
 
Ok, you're going to hate this answer, but if you text someone "Hi, it's Kenny, xoxoxxoxooo" I'm going to assume you're 102 years old. Sorry.

I have always been dumbfounded (and yes, I am probably dumb--I'll save you the trip to that conclusion) as to why you refuse to adopt modern tech practices because you might get scammed. You're far more likely to be scammed because you've chosen to remain in the dark rather than embracing what's happening. Like Ilysm (I love you so much) but you can be the most obstinate mothereffer I've ever seen on an online community. And now I feel like an *******.
 
monarch64 said:
Ok, you're going to hate this answer, but if you text someone "Hi, it's Kenny, xoxoxxoxooo" I'm going to assume you're 102 years old. Sorry.

I have always been dumbfounded (and yes, I am probably dumb--I'll save you the trip to that conclusion) as to why you refuse to adopt modern tech practices because you might get scammed. You're far more likely to be scammed because you've chosen to remain in the dark rather than embracing what's happening. Like Ilysm (I love you so much) but you can be the most obstinate mothereffer I've ever seen on an online community. And now I feel like an *******.
Click to expand...

You wrote, "Ok, you're going to hate this answer, but if you text someone "Hi, it's Kenny, xoxoxxoxooo" I'm going to assume you're 102 years old. Sorry."
I do identify myself, but don't write xoxoxxoxooo.

... and so what if someone thinks I'm 102 years old?
That's on them.
Shall I live my life for the approval of others?
No thanks.

It's not just that I don't want to get scammed.
They spy on us, steal our private info, sell it, and get rich.
IMO that's immoral, so I don't let them do it to me.
Honestly I'm dumbfounded anyone lets Big Data get away with what they do.
 
Last edited:
missy said:
Yes I add my friends and professional contacts to my phone so I know who’s texting. What you can do instead is just reply asking who is this please. Eventually your contacts will understand to identify themselves when they text you.
Click to expand...

Good idea.
Thanks, I'm going to do that.
 
Yes I save their number, I also assume they have saved mine. Since you don't have a "smart" phone, I don't think you need to worry about someone being able to steal your contacts.
 
Asscherhalo_lover said:
Yes I save their number, I also assume they have saved mine. Since you don't have a "smart" phone, I don't think you need to worry about someone being able to steal your contacts.
Click to expand...

Ohhh I didn't realize he doesn't have a smart phone. Sorry @kenny I was probably more of an a-hole than I should've been in my previous response. Damn.
 
I do add people to my contacts and I don’t identify myself when texting others. I mainly text and receive texts from family but they probably wouldn’t know it was me unless I was saved in their phone.

The good old days of memorizing
people’s phone numbers are long gone, at least for me
 
Kenny, I adore you, but I think you need to save people's numbers :lol:

IIRC you only started texting a few years ago, so I know you are open to learning new things!

Do you have a smart phone yet?
 
For regular contacts, I don't state my name in the message, however, for those I rarely text, I would end with my name.

I don't use text as in SMS that often nowadays, prefer to use instant messaging apps such as FB Messenger, WhatsApp and Skype etc...

DK :))
 
I save people to my contacts if I think I will have continued correspondence with them. Every now and again I will go through my contacts and delete people I added so that I could identify their correspondence, but we lost touch/don't communicate anymore. If it seems like a text that was meant for me but they don't identify themselves (has rarely happened) I just ask 'who is this?'.

The first time I text someone, I usually say 'hey it's so-and-so, carry on with text' so that they know who it is. After that, I mostly assume they have added me. If I have some doubt as to whether or not they would have added me (infrequent correspondence; it's been a long time; we don't have an ongoing relationship) I will just add my name at the end of the first start-up text as a courtesy.
 
I do add people to my contact list but don't assume that everyone has me in their list. If its someone that I have not texted before
or do so very rarely, I do start with "Hey, Its tyty333" and if I think its necessary I remind them how we know each other. That must
make me older than you @kenny . I'll go with 104 :lol: !

I just don't like the thought of texting someone and them having to guess who I am!
 
For a long time, I didn't save people in my contacts list except for those I spoke to on a regular basis. I was always shocked and bothered by the number of people who "kept my number".

I now try to do it for people I think will be in contact with over time. That being said, I still often get texts where I have to ask "who is this?" (after trying to figure it out based on context). Admittedly, it's kind of embarrassing (although friends will joke about it when I do).

I do sign my name when sending texts to someone who I am not regularly in contact with.

I understand Kenny's concern. A friend once had his phone stolen and the thief used the contacts on his phone. Even with PINs, everything is backed up to the NET now and things get hacked. Recently, I got flooded with **** texts on my work phone - a number I seldom give out. I've tried to never give out my personal cell to anyone other than close friends. Unfortunately, over time, it's becoming more difficult to draw the line and I figure I need to accept it.
 
I save contacts using a single name. No surname or addresses unless it's a business. It works for me.

You might choose to do nicknames. Chatty, TooTall, SpitsWhenHeTalks.

Up to you.
 
Yup, I’m finding that most people are using WhatsApp these days, not sure why but it’s good to have a way of messaging groups of people easily.
 
MrsBlue said:
I save contacts using a single name. No surname or addresses unless it's a business. It works for me.

You might choose to do nicknames. Chatty, TooTall, SpitsWhenHeTalks.

Up to you.
Click to expand...

I mostly do this as well, first name and then any other pertinent info (school, work, etc).
 
To answer your question, I do and yes. If I receive a text from a number I don't recognize, it's almost always some type of spam...which is also why I don't pick up calls from foreign numbers. If it's important, the person usually leaves a voicemail.

Off topic but the previous owner of my number must've owed a lot of people money. One time, I got a call from the same number for a week straight so I decided to pick it up. The person on the other end was asking for Mr. So and So and I told him I've had this number for the past 5 years. To this day, I still get voicemails asking for Mr. So and So to call them back or his account would be sent to a collection agency. :shock:
 
Yes, after first contact I save numbers in my phone and assume others have done the same. I don’t continue to identify myself in later texts. When a friend changes their number it’s common for them to text something like “Hey this is Friend A, here is my new number.” I’ve received a handful of texts like this over the years and update my contacts accordingly. I’ve never encountered a situation like you describe, where a person I text repeatedly needs me to identify myself each time, so I would not think to do that as a default.
 
Yes, it's normal to save #s you need such as frequented businesses, friends, & family to ones phone.

I don't think not doing so prevents "big data" from noting the contacts as you're still using those numbers by calling and texting and that's what they take note of.

I've actually never heard of someone not doing so and find it quite odd.
To each their own, but not doing so would make my life unnecessarily difficult.
 
Asscherhalo_lover said:
Yes I save their number, I also assume they have saved mine. Since you don't have a "smart" phone, I don't think you need to worry about someone being able to steal your contacts.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I do have a smart phone now.

I posted this a few months ago, but of course nobody reads every post, or remembers everything posted.
It's on loan to me.
I'm doing work for a woman and it's her previous phone, just a cheapo $80 phone.
Her project requires heavy texting all day, and my previous dumbphone didn't have that useful talk to text feature.

I got a cheapo data plan from Consumer Cellular for $20 a month with 500MB, which is only half a GB of data. :lol-2:
That's the same price I was paying for my no-data plan.

I only use the data for Sigaleart.com, live Southern California Traffic maps ... essential here in LA!
It works fine with GPS turned off.
I know where I am.
I can read a map, and I actually enjoy thinking, thank you very much.

I've never downloaded an app, and have disabled every possible thing in every app that the phone and carrier's software came with.
... an astonishingly complex task that took over an hour. :roll:
The phone keeps bugging me to initialize it, but it works just fine so I ignore those instructions.
I don't need their so-called security updates since I've shut down 99.9% of what the smartphone's software can do.
I only go to Sigaleart and I trust them.
 
Last edited:
lilmosun said:
I understand Kenny's concern. A friend once had his phone stolen and the thief used the contacts on his phone. Even with PINs, everything is backed up to the NET now and things get hacked. Recently, I got flooded with **** texts on my work phone - a number I seldom give out. I've tried to never give out my personal cell to anyone other than close friends. Unfortunately, over time, it's becoming more difficult to draw the line and I figure I need to accept it.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
MrsBlue said:
I save contacts using a single name. No surname or addresses unless it's a business. It works for me.

You might choose to do nicknames. Chatty, TooTall, SpitsWhenHeTalks.

Up to you.
Click to expand...

Love the nicknames! I’m going to save some people in my phone like this!!
 
Yes I save names in my phone and assume they have too. My approach is not likely to compromise much information. Examples:
Rob (across street)
Aunt Sharon
Robert
Emma from school
Prescription Refills

Also...
If I got a text that started out as "Hi, this is Kenny" might delete the entire thing without opening as the only scam texts I have gotten were ones where someone identified themselves.
 
Good point TooPatient.

By choice I've always lived a relatively isolated life, even moreso with during this pandemic.
I started this thread to sample how others use this new technology.

The takeaway is, everyone uses and likes this feature.
I'm strongly considering starting to use it and am thankful for the nickname suggestions.

Thanks for all the responses, even the dick one.:wavey:
Something to think about.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever identified myself in a text (or expected the other person to do so), except for the very first time I message someone. But I also rarely text (as in, sms). I mostly use different messaging/social media apps, and for those even if you don’t have someone’s number saved you can either figure out who they are or the number is irrelevant to starting a convo.
 
I almost missed out on an extra day of work this week because i didn't answer a call from an unknown number
It was the owner asking if i wanted to work yesterday
Lucky he was getting desperate- 2 people sick - so he also texted and i read that
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top