New Delhi, August 7 :

Text messages and short message service (SMS) have become an easy mode of communication for everyone.

But sceptics argue that they are killing the creative side of people.

Madhu Gupta feels low-cost services like SMS (short message service) are doing away with creativity among the youngsters as her daughter wished her for her birthday by forwarding an SMS.

“We used to spend hours decorating a card for parents during their birthdays; today I just get an SMS from my daughter. I feel as if someone else is wishing me on her behalf,” Gupta said. However, Shalini, a university student disagrees with Gupta. “Well someone must have framed the initial message, how can it then kill creativity.” Argues 23-year-old Anupama, “It is a quick way of keeping in touch with near and dear ones. It is the best way out when you have nothing to say.”

“The readymade SMSs stops us from thinking, they make us believe that we are not good communicators,” says a Delhi-based psychology teacher. “However, there are no official data to prove that SMS forwards hinder creativity levels.”

The markets today are flooded with books having readymade text messages, available for Rs 10 Indian Currency (IC), and according to a vendor who is earning considerably well by selling them, his primary customers are youngsters.

A psychologist, said, “Due to physical distances day by day, there is a greater need for people to be in touch. And n-ot everyone has been good at expression and will never be.”