8 replies to this topic

[dive_sail_etc]

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject: Cell phone number Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:19:02 -0400 From: Steven Morlock <smorloc@gmail.com> To: trips@singledivers.com CC: Kamala Shadduck <kamala@kamalashadduck.com>

Good afternoon,

 

My cell phone number is 781-820-4616.

 

FYI, my experience with using group text messaging is mixed.  A big problem with them is that every time you add or remove someone from the group, it is a new conversation. We have moved to using (gulp) Facebook Messenger.   We found that everyone had the application installed so it worked out well.  With Messenger, you can add & remove members without the conversation being interrupted.  Additionally, new members can see the existing conversation.  Messenger groups offers management to assigned admins, which you don't have when using text messages.  The group is named and the admins control that name.  Text messages don't really have a reliable equivalent.  I dislike almost all things Facebook/Meta, but after we sampled numerous alternatives to group text messages, Messenger proved to be the best option for my groups. 

 

Regards,

Steve

[WreckWench]

Thank you. This was sent by Steven aka Squishy when we said we'd do a group text for the FL trip.

 

He suggested the aforementioned option. I did not want to lose it nor forget about it so asked Brad to capture it for us.

 

2 other thoughts come to mind.

 

CON: 

• Not everyone uses messenger

 

PROS:

• For many people they can not TEXT when out of the US but they almost always can access Messenger if they are on FaceBook.
• You can easily create a fake facebook account using the SD screen name as your entire name if you wanted.
• There is no fee to receive a messenger message but if traveling texts may cost money

[Cmdr. Clownfish]

Steven is right about group texts and in theory about Facebook Messenger.  Problem is some people like myself would rather be left out than put Facebook on their phone since their privacy policy seems to be "undo every privacy setting you have set and open everything up to the world."

 

I suggest using the Telegram App

 

https://telegram.org

 

There is a version for web and for all mobile devices.  It's heavily used worldwide (Ubuntu even distributes it in their OS) and gives you essentially all the features of Facebook Messenger while also giving you privacy.  Works around the world for free and has a setting so when you add people they can see old posts.  In fact, this may be a better option than the Trip PM now that I think about it.  May be too close to Florida to use it there but is worth looking at and maybe you can test it out some there. 

[WreckWench]

Yes way too close to FL and with Telegram being so new it may be harder to get people to sign up for it. HOWEVER as time goes on it may be ok.

 

That being said you can close all your privacy options back up after installing Messenger. There are tons of videos and articles on how to do it.

[Cmdr. Clownfish]

my understanding of the Messenger app is it only reflects private chats you manually create and posts on your business page.  This may be ok for now but ideally you would want it to work with groups.    

[WreckWench]

my understanding of the Messenger app is it only reflects private chats you manually create and posts on your business page.  This may be ok for now but ideally you would want it to work with groups.    

I am part of several groups on Messenger where you add FB friends to a group you name. You can add more and people can opt out so I don't know if its tied to the page or not. I think if everyone had a FB account and they friended me as the group leader then we can set up the group.

 

But its another step to manage and we can't do it until right before the trip because the people who live in FB will blow us up with crap and I only want it as a DURING TRIP COMMUNICATION METHOD.

[WreckWench]

What's App appears to be a good solution. You can use what's app for free and can use it ONLY ON WIFI. You can talk and text and its very easy to use and very similar to texting.

 

In fact the trip that Butch is doing with his local dive club uses What' App to keep in touch with everyone. I think this is the best solution for international trip.

 

Oh and the dive shop who went with us in Oct to Dominica also used what's app to communicate with all its members. So it can do groups easily etc.

 

Let's try it for our Bonaire trip in Nov since Scott and I are both on it!

[little mermaid]

On my international trips that are not dive trips, we have used the What's App and anoher one called Group Me.  Both are easy to use and we have had no problems.  

[WreckWench]

On my international trips that are not dive trips, we have used the What's App and anoher one called Group Me.  Both are easy to use and we have had no problems.  

Thank you. Who makes 'group me'  I have never heard of it.