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By Tony Hallett, 22 May 2003 14:12

NEWS Earlier this week we brought you the latest story of someone who had been fired, somewhat controversially, via an SMS text message. After wondering what other tricky conversations have been avoided by using the humble text we received emails from readers suggesting the most common 'coward's way out' SMS involves the age old boy-girl break-up. One reader began a relationship which literally depended on him texting his partner every few hours. Towards the end of a trip abroad, where he couldn't use his phone, he received a text saying: "Right, it's over, you're dumped - won't put up with this kind of treatment." He told us: "As soon as I landed I sent a cutting message back saying how sad I thought she was. It was a shame because when we were together she was a great girl but turned into a high maintenance mobile-meltdowner when she was moody or on her own." Another reader also had a new man in her life, all was going well, but then after a few weeks she was sent a "smutty text" ending with: ""I love you, Jill & can't wait to see you again, X" - trouble is, she isn't Jill.* She said: "I thought for a moment and then sent a copy of the text back to him with 'Dear John' at the beginning." Another classic case of directory digital blundering must surely go this divorcé: "I thought I had sent a text to a girl I was sort of seeing, saying some fairly unpleasant things about my (recently) ex-wife. "You guessed it - I sent it to the ex-wife instead, who was understandably unimpressed and rang me as soon as she received it. I don't think it was mobile phone radiation that made my ear hot after that phone call." And finally, there is the plea from the woman whose boyfriend just wouldn't accept rejection until he saw it in writing, on his mobile. "Sometimes SMS is the only way to go," she wrote - and she may just be right. *Names have been changed to protect the innocent. If you have any other stories of SMS use - perhaps not about a past relationship - then let us know by emailing editorial@silicon.com.