Since the first text message was sent in 1992, digital communication has affected our lives in both positive and negative ways. It has changed the way we manage our lives, making us more efficient and effective human beings. However, many argue that digital communication has had a purely negative impact on our civilization. They believe that the only product of digital communication is laziness. It is widely believed that the current generation is more lethargic than any previous generation, apparently due to digital communication. We have become lazier in two ways with our actions and our language. Both of these problems are apparently caused by digital communication, because we no longer have to leave the house because we can get everything we need from the Internet and as John Sutherland said in The New Statesman in 2008 “It masks dyslexia, spelling errors and mental problems. laziness. Texting is handwriting for the illiterate." This causes laziness, as people no longer have to try to write correctly or use correct grammar since spell check was invented. Others think that digital communication is the new and exciting way in which humans adapt to the ever-changing environment, for example Mallary Jean Tennore stated in Poynter in March 2013 that “Language is ever-evolving and technology is a healthy part of that evolution.” John Sutherland's statement that the Internet masks parts of ourselves can be interpreted in several ways and can be used to say that people are free on the Internet as they suffer no consequences due to anonymity or a "mask" , it may mean as John Sutherland intended it as a way to hide illiteracy or it may be a mask that blocks tone, facial expressions and body language which is essentia...... middle of paper.... .. using verbal elements in the text message. I also use hyperbole here by overusing exclamation points, this also portrays emotion as it could show excitement, anger or in this case laughter. Another way this text mirrors a conversation is the use of fillers, such as "ummmm..." This wasn't necessary in the text message and it's strange how I took the time to include it in the message. I might use it again to make the conversation flow more smoothly or seem more comfortable. This also shows how strong an effect digital communication has had on us as we can't help but write everything we think in a text message. However I think this filler doesn't fit this message perfectly and would be better suited as a reply to someone else's text message to give the sender more time to think while letting the person know it's still there.