Texting vs Calling
Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family - Brains On Universe
A fun debate between texting and calling explores communication styles through humor and logic, with kids judging the best method. Ella from Oregon City crowns texting as Smash Boom Best.
Key takeaways
- Texting offers convenience and privacy
Transcript preview
Lemonado. Brains on Universe. Thinking critically is more important than ever. That's why we make Smash Boom Best. We want every kid to know how to spot a good argument and how to call out a logical fallacy. But none of it is possible without your support. Seriously, we could disappear if our listeners don't step up. But that part is easy. Just join Smarty Pass. You'll get access to add free versions of our shows, special online hangs with our crew, discounts on merch, and more. Plus you'll feel great knowing you're helping us pay our debaters, sound designers, writers, and more. Join now at Smarty Pass. Thank you. Now it's show time. From the brains behind Brainson, it's Smash Boom Best. The show for people with big opinions. Molly Bloom and this is Smash Boom Best. The show where we take two things, smash them together and ask you to decide which one is best. Today we've got two ways of reaching out. One starts with a ring, the other a ding, it's calling versus texting. Whether you like to type or talk, we're sure you'll have a lot to say about this one. Defending the tradition of talking on the phone, it's the host of the heavyweight podcast Jonathan Goldstein. How do you do. And here to hit send for the art. of the text, it's Kalela Holt, producer of the Heavyweight Podcast. Hello, or should I say hand wave emoji? And here to judge this clash of the communication styles is none other than Ella from Oregon City. Ella is on the swim team, plays flute and saxophone, loves to make art, and has lots of bracelets on both of her arms. Welcome Ella. Hi. Okay, Ella, since this is a podcast we cannot see your amazing bracelets, so can you can you give us a sense of the sense of the scope of your bracelets? I have probably like 25 on right now. Wow. Have you made all of them? I've probably made half of them. Incredible. What are we talking about like like string, beads all of the above? All of the above. Wow, do you have a favorite one? I recently made one with soda tabs and it's really cool and it's stretch. That's very impressive. Just soda tabs? Yes, well and string. What is the oldest bracelet that you have on? I have on? I have one that I have one. I have one that I have one that I have one that I got grade and it says kindness ambassador on it and I have worn it for three years. It's amazing so the ones on your arms right now are they like an everyday you wear each one every day or do you change it up? Sometimes I change it up but most of them I keep it on like all the time. Very cool. Okay so you also make other kinds of art besides bracelets what other kind of media do you use to make art? I love drawing and painting and stuff but I also like music. Oh yes you play saxophone. and flutes. So I'm wondering when you're playing flute versus when you're playing saxophone is there like a vibe shift that you feel or is it kind of the same? It's definitely different vibes because I play more like jazz music on the saxophone and then I do more like popular songs or like concert music on the flute. So when you're playing the saxophone if you said hello in your like saxophone playing voice like what would that sound like? Oh I don't know I'd probably be like Nice, and how about your flute playing voice? What would that hello sound like? Hello! Excellent! Well, well, well, Ella sighed with texting or phone calls. Let's see. First, the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds, the declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge Ella will award points to the team that impresses her the most, but she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. Mark down your points as you listen at the end of the show. Head to our website smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think one. Okay, Kalela, Ella and Jonathan, are you ready? Oh, I'm ready. I hope so. I'm ready too. Then it's time for the. Declaration of Greatness. in favor of their side, then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin, and Jonathan, you're up first. Tell us why we should answer the call of talking on the phone. What's the sound of being loved? A heartbeat? of being loved is a phone call it says hey I like hearing your voice I like the way you laugh your awkward pauses it says I want to spend my precious minutes in real time with you even if I can't be there in real life a text just says shoot I just remembered you asked me a question yesterday and I'm going to write you back while I finish up on the toilet Phone calls are efficient. Oh sure, texters will say a text is quick, to which I say, what are you rushing for? More scrolling to get to? But also, texts can be slow. How many times have you sent a question, then had to wait for a reply, like say you're planning a picnic. Hey, Chad, where should we meet? Come on, right back. You could be waiting minutes or hours. You have no idea. Finally, it's been three hours. Okay, Chad says, meet at Minnehaha Falls. Sure, but what time? Come on, just answer me. Meanwhile, the whole thing could have been settled in 15 seconds with a call. Six. Bring cheese and crackers? Nah, fruit and pizza. Okay, see ya. Later. That's efficient. Phone calls avoid confusion. You can hear someone's tone, whether it's playful, angry, grumpy, or snarky. Texts are so easy to get wrong. Is Chad being sarcastic or a jerk? Oh, he sent an emoji to clarify. Cool guy with shades. What a modicon can replace the sound of human laughter or that special silence that you know is a smile on the other end of the line? You can feel real feelings through a call. I've seen someone stand right next to me and text someone R-F-O-L. And let me tell you they were not rolling on the floor laughing. I'm not going to say texting is dishonest, but it does make it easy to lie. There's a famous story about the first phone call. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was inventing the phone. So far, he'd only managed to send snippets of speech. But then he spilled some acid on his hand in the lab. Mr. Watson, come here, I want you. He used the phone without realizing it to call his assistant, and it worked. Mr. Bell, I heard every word. You said distinctly. Is there even a story of the first text message? That's rhetorical. I don't care because it's definitely not as good. Phone calls are memorable, like a cousin telling you about a new baby joining the family,