‘Krebbing’ my way out of messaging overload

HAVE you ever been lost? I once got lost in a mall in Pretoria; many years ago, before Kimberley had any malls of its own, and way before I knew that mega malls have multiple levels and many, many access points.

I parked my car, walked in, and several hours later couldn’t remember which exit to take to get back to my car. I spent a good chunk of my life wandering on shiny ceramic tiled floors, past neon signs and merchandise-laden shop windows, all the time wondering if I would ever see my family again.

Now, sadly, having the unfortunate dual condition of being both an introvert and not being very bright, I didn’t want to ask someone to help me. What would I say? I didn’t take note of which entrance I used, so I didn’t know which exit I needed to get to!

I can testify to the fact that when you’re lost, you don’t think very clearly.

For example, recently, a good pal of mine shared a story that he’d come across online. A few years ago, a hiker – let’s call him Joshua Krebbs – got lost for 24 hours on a trail on Colorado’s Mount Elbert. The search and rescue team tried to call him, but he didn’t answer because, he said later, the calls came from an unknown number.

My friend, a seasoned and experienced hiker, was furious. “Is this ou stupid? How do you ignore your phone when you’re lost in the mountains?” he raged.

As for me, a seasoned and experienced introvert, knowing how overwhelming it could be to speak to a stranger, I sided with Krebbs. And here’s why: Talking to strangers while trying to find my way off a mountain? Not a chance.

Yep, sometimes personal preferences – like not wanting to answer calls from strangers under any circumstances – are perhaps not ideal. But one has to ask … why didn’t the search and rescue team think of sending a text?

Here’s the thing … They did, but he ignored all attempts to contact him. I’m guessing that maybe he just didn’t “lus” for anyone. Maybe he just needed some “me-time”. I can sympathise with that. Because let’s be honest — these days, communication is relentless. Phones beep, buzz and boink all day. It’s exhausting

Remember a few years ago, before WhatsApp, Signal, and the like? Back then, an SMS cost anywhere from 75c to R1 each – and you had to squeeze your entire message into 160 characters, or risk being charged for another text!

Now? People think nothing of sending a mini-encyclopedia in a single message, or a 20-minute video, or 3,000 pictures from Aunt Betty’s birthday. And then there’s the dreaded “Forwarded many times” clip, with no explanation of what it’s about.

And believe me, I get it. Like my friend and I disagreed about Joshua Krebbs’s choice not to answer his phone, opinions about texting protocols are divided. For instance, some people see daily texts, videos or pictures as cheerful gestures of connection, while others find them impersonal, repetitive, or even intrusive.

The thing is, texting etiquette – whether it’s daily text greetings or endlessly forwarded media files – varies widely depending on the sender’s and the recipient’s culture, age, and personal preferences. What one may see as polite or friendly, another may view as unnecessary, intrusive, or even overbearing.

Personally, I’m screen-bound all day, so I seldom open pictures, and I almost never watch videos, unless I am told what it’s about or why I would find it interesting … It’s just how I protect my sanity. It’s like me Krebbing around on a mountain trail, ignoring my beeping device. 

One more thing: sometimes texts can be pretty nasty.

Take my one friend who says that his ex-wife keeps on sending an upsetting text saying: “Wish you were here.”

He explained: “She does that every time she walks through a cemetery.”