BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 » Why DOES Sherlock prefer to text?

42_and_221B · March 26, 2012 2:37 pm

Forgive me if this was mentioned in one of the episodes, I haven't watched them in a couple months and haven't gotten around to memorizing them yet.

But why does Sherlock prefer to text? Was this ever explained? I mean, it's not like it's important or anything, it may simply be because it's easier. But could it possibly be because of some sort of social phobia or something? Just interesting to think about.

Thoughts?

m0r1arty · March 26, 2012 3:18 pm

In the original ACD books Sherlock would send telegrams with short messages back and forth from wherever he was to Watson and others. These messages were cutting edge at the time and not too far off from text messaging. I think Sherlock texting is a homage to that era of Victorian telecommunications the original so favoured.

If I try to extrapolate more creative insights away from the nod to canon it may be that concise messages remove the nagging nuances of interplay exchange which so riddles common parlance. A short detailed message doesn't allow for superfluous minutia and is a way to promote facts (And control) very efficiently.

Case and point in everyday life - watch a man on the telephone to his male friend and watch a woman on the telephone to her female friend. Time how long each took and note what was said. There's an incredibly high chance the male to male conversation took less time and focussed on solutions or a personal meeting whereas the female to female conversation took longer and had more sympathetic opinion and socialising aspects to it. Sherlock just goes that one step further by focusing only upon gaining from niggardly language.

That's my thoughts upon it anyway.

-m0r

tobeornot221b · March 26, 2012 4:27 pm

Maybe it's just because of sibling rivalry, their "petty feud" that Sherlock wants to stand aloof from Mycroft whom he describes as someone who "never texts if he can talk"?

Sherlock Holmes · March 26, 2012 5:12 pm

I definitely think it might be something to do with social phobia as well. I too prefer to text and really hate talking on the phone. Texting is short and to the point, there's no room for ambiguity. It's also quicker than making a phone call if you're fast at typing.

42_and_221B · March 26, 2012 5:27 pm

Everybody's theories are very interesting! I think its probably a combination of all of them, actually.

Partly as a nod to canon, partly because it works well on screen. The sibling rivalry between Mycroft and Sherlock also definitely might have something to do with it. And I really do think that Sherlock may have some sort of social phobia.

Or maybe I just want to think that so I can have more ways to relate to his character, haha. I am... I suppose you could say, terrified of talking on the phone. In fact, I have to call someone in 5 minutes, I've been putting it off all morning. I wish I could text them... But the phone number they gave me wasn't for a cell phone.

Anyways, great theories guys! Thanks for responding!

Wholocked · March 27, 2012 12:55 am

I suspect it has more to do with the fact that if he calls them they'll want to chat and he doesn't want to take the time to do so. He even has John send the texts on more than one occassion. It could have something to do with canon; I doubt it's a social phobia since that would require him to care what people think of him. I think it's just about not taking any more time away from his other activities than necessary.

kazza474 · March 27, 2012 2:12 am

Wasn't it only in A Study in Pink that he actually said he preferred to text? And that was in regard to a message to a stranger (the killer).
Whilst yes he does text at other times, there is nothing to suggest that he always favours texts.
I think that is a huge assumption to make. But people keep making it.

We've certainly seen him talk on the phone. And I don't believe there is any social phobia involved here, that's just diagnosing a mental condition that he certainly does not have. However, that's what people do these days, apply some kind of phobia/mental illness to every characteristic trait a person has.

m0r1arty · March 27, 2012 2:36 am

It was 'A Study in Pink' where he says he prefers to text, he says it to Mike Stamford regarding Mike not having a mobile phone on him (Which Sherlock was looking to borrow - as he claims his had no signal) and Mike suggesting using the landline.

It was clearly a ruse to get to know more about John which thankfully worked furthering my idea that Sherlock prefers to have succinct, and controlling, communications.

-m0r

kazza474 · March 27, 2012 2:44 am

Ah yes, he sent a text to the police (possibly Lestrade?) about a solution to a case. Thanks.
Well he had nothing else to say about that did he? He gives an answer & it isn't up for discussion. Pretty straight forward way of doing business really.
I still don't think that he would go out of his way to text rather than to make a regular phone call. People made a big deal out of that Reichenbach. What did they want him to do? Hold his hand out towards John while texting with the other one? It's just silly; he used the most appropriate means in the situation.
Just as a preference for texts to send answers to the police would be the most appropriate.
I just think it is far fetched to think he avoids vocal interaction with others for any 'phobia'.

m0r1arty · March 27, 2012 2:50 am

I agree that 'phobia' is probably overplaying the mark with regards to what he does to communicate and why. I also agree that it's his way of using the most appropriate means in a situation - he'd never phoned John prior to the rooftop of St. Bart's that we're aware of - only texts.

So I reckon he texts almost exclusively due to the direct nature and lack of ambiguity which it offers, but happily drops that for phoning (Or indeed intercomming) when that is the best way to deliver his wishes.

-m0r

kazza474 · March 27, 2012 3:15 am

Texting is fast (unless you're a decrepit over 40 like me who hates those darn mobile phones!)
Texting is simple & to the point

Sherlock doesn't waste his time with frivolous things.

And the remark earlier about Mycroft being too lazy to text; that is traditional Mycroft. He's a lazy butted snob who won't lift a finger more than he has to! Heck, that's why little brothers were invented!

Sherlock Holmes · March 27, 2012 6:33 am

Hmm imagine the rooftop scene if Sherlock had texted John instead of called him...

"This is my note. I'm a fake. Tell everyone. Goodbye John. -SH"

Wholocked · March 27, 2012 8:00 am

m0r1arty wrote:
It's his way of using the most appropriate means in a situation

I think that's what Sherlock is always about. The most appropriate and direct communication.

Sherlock Holmes wrote:
"This is my note. I'm a fake. Tell everyone. Goodbye John. -SH"

I don't know why the writers chose not to go down this route really. There is clearly more dramatic potential in this text than all that dialogue!

Last edited by Wholocked (March 27, 2012 8:03 am)

kazza474 · March 27, 2012 8:31 am

Sherlock Holmes wrote:
"This is my note. I'm a fake. Tell everyone. Goodbye John. -SH"

I don't know why the writers chose not to go down this route really. There is clearly more dramatic potential in this text than all that dialogue!
Oh yes, the potentials there were certainly missed by the writers!!

Sherlock texts:

"this is my note. I am fale *backspace backspace* ke.

Tell everyone. Good Guys (Grrrr autocorrect!!!)

Familiar sound comes from the phone: **ahhhhhhhhh**

Sherlock curses: " Oh dammit, 'THE' has to text now doesn't she? It's hard enough inputting on a rooftop, one handed and now "THE" wants attention, or bloody dinner!

Sherlock Holmes · March 27, 2012 9:05 am

42_and_221B · March 27, 2012 12:27 pm

You guys have some good points! My first inclination was to assume that he did it because it was faster and simpler, but I just love analyzing things and attaching meanings to to them (even though half the time they're wrong). ;P Thanks for shedding some light on my jumbled thoughts. ;D

Sherlock Holmes · March 27, 2012 12:46 pm

I think maybe "social phobia" is the wrong phrase but he definitley does have some kind of social problem...just check out the way he sits on his computer with his back to everyone at the Christmas party. Social situations just aren't really his thing. And he never knows the socially accepted standards of things to say....

I think yeah it's far fetched and wrong to say that he is "scared" of using the phone because he's obviously not, just that he prefers texting. I will use the phone if I have to or if it's more convenient and makes more sense to do so at that given time and, but generally I will always text.

kazza474 · March 27, 2012 1:12 pm

See I don't see having his back turned to everyone while he is on the computer as anything more than:
- he is giving the major part of his attention to the computer
- the other people's social talk is just 'rubbish' that his mind doesn't need for any reason, it's not important. Put it in the same basket as the Solar System. He just doesn't care about it or what they would think of his actions.
- we've seen him 'charm the pants off' anyone when he needs to; he doesn't need to be polite/charming to those people. But if the need arose for him to interact with them, he'd be fine. It's just unnecessary at that time.

Again, think like Sherlock.

Irene Adler · March 27, 2012 2:06 pm

I think it's just that he thinks texting is faster and more useful in some cases. He says what he wants to say quickly and without superfluous chatter. In Study in Pink, he tells Molly that he needs to know what bruises form in the next 20 minutes after the hitting with the riding crop, and he says "text me". He only wants to know what's important for him, he doesn't need anymore. And the message he sends from John's phone is short, just telling Lestrade (well, I guess it was Lestrade) who he had to arrest.
So I think it's just because he is usually not interested in conversation, just in the facts he has to give someone or to get from someone.

drummerchickSH · March 27, 2012 3:04 pm