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Edgar Aguilar-Lara

Profesor Granillo

English 101

18 October 2018

One Call to Long, One Text to Late

Calling emergency responders because you got into an accident due to texting and

driving just shows how one form of communication has a higher importance than the other in

various form of events. In the article, “No Need to Call” by Sherry Turkle, not only shows how

communication has evolved from each generation, but also states how calling is now shamed

upon us as well. Turkle is able to explain her reasonings through the various rhetorical devices

such as pathos and logos, which are big contributors in delivering her message to the audience.

Although her reasoning is very convincing, a much more advanced search would show opposing

results, which can be used against her claims. Despite there being flaws in her article, she still

manages to show the importance of her ideas and share a valid point of view.

Throughout Turkle’s article she connects to the readers directly as in she was raised in

the era of new technology and was in a way forced by society to make texting the main form of

communication. This is Turkle use of logos as she values the characteristics of humanity, she

connects to the thoughts around her and she takes everyone into consideration on how they are

affected by texting over calling. When it comes to talking to a friend, a phone call may be

suitable for getting information along, but when it comes to getting that same information to a

whole group in an orderly fashioned and a timely matter, text messaging is the way to go. She

states, “Eliene has strong ideas about how electronic media “levels the playing field” between

people like her -- outgoing, on the soccer team, and in drama club-- and the shy” (Turkle 505).
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Not only the she show value by finding a way to be communicating with everyone at the same

time but she also brings a topic about those being shy. One’s own value is put to the test when

one tries to make new friends and speak what they want to say but, sometimes that is hard to do

and, in this case, hiding behind a screen can actually be beneficial to those in society who have

trouble speaking to others. Those who need to be behind a screen to become more social can

eventually motivate them to go into the real world and meet people they have never met and strat

strong healthy relationships. In other words, you can be and say whatever you want behind your

technology but once you feel comfortable enough with your “texting buddy” you can reveal who

you are in reality.

Furthermore, as Turkel begins to achieve the attention of the readers through the use of

logos, she brings herself to a level where everyone at one point could connect which is being full

of emotion. To better explain the emotional connection, Turkles uses example of people hiding

behind a screen. One has, at least once, had been nervous to speak to someone new, someone

who is a complete stranger, someone you may find intimidating. Society has evolved where as

you are not comfortable unless you are in control and as Jeffrey Kluger, a CNN researcher,

states, “I get to say exactly what I want exactly when I want to say it. It consumes no more time

than I want it to and, to a much greater degree than is possible with a phone call, I get to decide if

it takes place at all.”.

Texting has become the new way people communicate because it is, in a way, neutral power over

one another to when one sends a message, the receiver decides to respond or not at all why the

sender was the one who decided whether the conversation was initiated or not. Turkle uses this

idea to emotional appeal her audience since being in control is what gives one's emotion in
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various ways. If one is in control he/she feels confident, if it were viceversa, he/she would feel

vulnerable. During a phone call, you feel obligated to respond right away unless you begin to

give the person on the other side of the phone a sense that something is wrong so instead we

leave phone calls exclusively to emergencies only. Although it is true that text messaging gives

more a sense of control to the individual but phone calls are important and this is where with a

bit more research, Turkle needed to introduce in her article.

Through these ideals, I understand Turkles point of view and realized how much

technology has connected with humans even at emotional levels and it has proven to work thus

having more antisocial citizens become more engaged with those around the world. Although her

arguments have valid reasons and ideals to support it, some deeper research would have shown

how the article can be heavily contoured given the opportunity. Society has turned deeply relient

of facts, these facts of course have to be credible and even then, countless studies done by

experts are still considered “unreliable”. For both of Turkle’s arguments whereas texting is a

better multi communication tool and a safe zone where people could be in control and be

themselves, there could be a strong set of statistics showing that yes it is true they are great tool

and a great way to network with people. For example, “According to a new

study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 31% of American adults prefer

text messages to phone calls” said by Amy Gahran, published in a CNN article. Studies likewise

would improve her article and credibility in ways that would show the reader the work put into

the research showing that Turkle does care about the situation. Studies like these increasing the

logos rhetorical section would increase in the numbers of her audience since studies also may

show if texting is more reliable in middle age citizens or is it proven to just be a phase of the new

generations being introduced to the new form of technology. Statistics could work both ways, at
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least in a situation of a counter argument, numbers versus numbers, plus pathos and ethos,

would eliminated the counter argument, get the point across, and inspire the reader to take a part

of what the author wants.

However, depending the different angle in which the counter argument may take place,

there are different forms of seeing Turkle’s perspectives. As it has been a known fact that today’s

main form of communication is text messaging, we shame upon the fact of calling over

telephone. Personally I have to manage numerous clients throughout one of my family own

business, but it is very rare to send a text message to a client because it is un-profesional. When

dealing with clients and with a wide spread of diversity, everyone is doing something and then I

call them on the cellphone and interrupt them from their day but how else will I get the

information across to them, information whereas i need a yes or no in seconds? A text message

does not insure me that my client has received or agrees or even disagree with the information I

have provided them. Now As Turkle stated earlier hoow calling is too much but I say texting is

to little.

When it becomes time to network especially when it is after a career of their dreams, one

has to get to know people and in my personal experience, a text message is to little. Yes wen

networking it can get rough some people might take you under their wing while others blow you

off and discourage you on following your dreams but in reality that is life. Phone calls motivate

the listening to want to hear what you have to say, to look forward to meeting you in person, to

give you a chance because you sound motivated t work and willing to take your time and make

the call. A text message is nearly impossible to show any emotion or motivation. Phone calls are

important and they are not only for emergencies, phone calls are not “to much” if anything they

are to little as well.

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To conclude, Sheryll Turkle uses rhetorical devices, such as logos and pathos, to explain

why she believes the importance and calling has become as well as demonstrate to us the growth

each generation has shown the development in communication. Even though more advanced

search would show opposing results to contradict her ideas, her reasoning is convincing to show

the importance of her ideas and share a valid point of view.

Works Cited

Sherry Turkle.No Need to Call. They Say I Say, 4E, Norton, 2018, pp 503-524.

Jeffrey Kluger. We never talk any more, CNN, August 2012, CNN, https://w

ww.cnn.com/2012/08/31/tech/mobile/problem-text-messaging-

oms/index.html
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Amy Graham. One-third of americans prefer texts to calls, Special to CNN, CNN,

September 2011,CNN ,

https://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/tech/mobile/americans-prefer-text-

messages/index.html