(727): You kept yelling, "This bitch stole my phone" to the guy who found you passed out in the parking lot.
The popular website "Texts from last night" has hundreds of drunken text messages like this one, many from college students.
While most of these texts are good for a laugh, sometimes sending texts while inebriated can cause unwanted problems with the recipient.
Parker Dillard, bouncer at SkyBar Cafe, said he sees plenty of drunk texting while at work.
"Most people text mean things to their exes or try to hook up with someone they like," Dillard said. "What gets really bad is when I see people accidentally text their parents. I'm sure they regret that in the morning."
Chris Correia, associate professor of psychology, has done research on college students drinking and said many different factors affect someone's decision to text while drunk.
"Alcohol, as it affects different areas of the brain, eventually affects the part of your brain that is designed to inhibit you," Correia said. "We have a system in place to prevent us from making poor choices and alcohol dampens that system."
Dillard said some of the worst drunk texts he has seen are when people text their bosses at the bar.
"I've seen people who got yelled at at work leave really obscene messages for their boss," Dillard said. "I know how it feels to get mad at your boss, but that's a great way to not have a job when you wake up."
According to Correia, once someone becomes less inhibited, that person is more likely to talk to someone they would normally feel uncomfortable around and say things they know are inappropriate.
"There's a phrase called alcohol myopia," Correia said, "which means, for whatever reason, you really start focusing on the right-now and maybe what's going to feel good right now. You're not thinking about how this is going to affect me an hour from now or a week from now. You get caught up in 'right now, it would really feel good to text this person' or 'I'm really feeling I need to say some things that can't wait until tomorrow.'"
Correia said he doesn't necessarily go along with the belief people are more of their true selves while drunk, but said people are more likely to act on impulses.
"If those immediate impulses are angry in nature, they're more likely to be expressed," Correia said, "whether it be fighting, cursing someone out or sending a belligerent text. It may be that you've been carrying those feelings around and you finally feel assertive enough to act those out."
Correia said a good solution for students who do send out drunken text messages would be to leave the cellphone at home and find other means to get around.
"I know it seems impossible, but people survived without cellphones for a while, for most of my life," Correia said. "If you can arrange for a ride home or are with a big group of friends, just leave it a home."
Another option he gives is to give your cellphone to a good friend and only use it in case of an emergency situation.
"Friends don't let friends send angry texts," Correia said. "Make that your party slogan."
Correia said research is available to suggest that alcohol intensifies current emotions rather than changing them.
With this in mind, he recommends keeping drinking to a minimum when angry or frustrated.
Dillard said not texting is sometimes the best option while partying.
"You have to know when it's appropriate," Dillard said. "You can't really enjoy a night out if you have to rush to your phone in the morning to make sure you didn't make a fool of yourself. Just don't do it."
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