Text messages and relationships...

I am bad at relationships. Anybody that knows me or has read my blog or my forum or even my website knows this. But it's not ALWAYS my fault. Sometimes things just don't "work out." And I understand that there are times where it's okay to cut your losses after a few dates. After all, if I'm dating someone that I don't see myself marrying, I will end it. And vice versa, believe me. A lot of times I will try to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you just have a gut instinct about it. In those cases, I will talk to the guy - at least on the phone and say, "Hey, I think it's better if we are friends..." I feel like if you've only gone on 2 or 3 dates with someone (and haven't been overtly physical) that it's okay to at least try to make the transition. But maybe that's just me.

So there you go. I will TALK to the guy and end it if I need to. I don't text. I don't email. I don't just fall off the face of the earth. I just do it. It's not that hard...

So why is it that recently I have heard and seen and read about all kinds of people dumping one another on email or via text? Why is it that everyone I know has a relationship that is dictated through text messages? Doesn't anyone talk on the phone any more? Does everyone hide behind their electronic devices to avoid intimacy?

And finally...how old do you think someone should be before they are required to break up with someone in person or on the phone? 25? 30? 35?

Or is it acceptable to tell someone in a text or email that "it won't work out...for xyz reason?" No matter what your age?

Thoughts?