It’s a brave new world out there, especially when technology is involved. Things are moving faster and faster. And, the faster things move, the more abbreviated the steps become. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to communication. So, it’s no wonder that texting has become a major part of many people’s lives.

The evolution of sexting then should also come as no surprise – and I think it can be great fun for the adult set (and I mean strictly adults only).

It’s a clever way to keep things hot and an easy way to play even if you’re a little shy.

Why sext, you ask? Well, here are a few reasons to set fingers to keys:

1. A day-long tease can lead to a night-long in-person session.

2. The embarrassment factor is removed because you don’t have to see the person while you’re typing your naughty thoughts.

3. It brings the fun back to sex. It’s not supposed to be so serious after all.

4. If you are still in the flirting stage, it can help you to ease your way to the next step.

5. It keeps you on your toes, thinking of new things to say and new ways to respond.

Here are a few of the more common sexting acronyms:

GYPO: Get Your Pants Off

IAYM: I Am Your Master

IWSN: I Want Sex Now

K4Y: Kiss For You

LMIRL: Let's Meet In Real Life

MOOS: Member Of The Opposite Sex

MOSS: Member(s) Of The Same Sex

NALOPKT: Not A Lot Of People Know That

S2R: Send To Receive

TDTM: Talk Dirty To Me

WIN: Want It Now

OK, so they might not be the most creative sayings or abbreviations in the world. But at least they’re a start. The only true limit to what you can say and what characters you use to say those things is your own imagination.

Now, even though sexting is a relatively safe sport, it does have its dangers. Here are a few ways to stay safe.

1. Delete. Delete. Delete. When you’re done playing, delete your conversation. It may be fun to look back at your naughty repartee later, but it won’t be any fun at all to explain to your kids. Never use your work phone.

2. Ask before you text. Don’t surprise someone with a sext until you are sure he or she is into it. That is one mistake that you simply cannot undo. And when the game is over, it’s over. So, don’t push it.

3. Take it slowly. Sexting can quickly go from fun to creepy if you keep it up for too long or escalate too quickly. So, pace yourself and follow your partner’s lead. You’ll know what feels right and what doesn’t.

4. Remember that sexting is an 18 and over activity.

5. Send pictures at your own risk. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but once a photo is out there, you can’t get it back. It’s better to tell your partner to use his or imagination.

The thing is – sexting is really just another way to communicate with the person with whom you are intimate. It’s a fun, easy way to express yourself and to test the boundaries of how you talk to your partner and what you talk to him or her about. If you want to try something new in real life, testing the waters via sext can be just the trick.

So, stop balking and get sexting. If you can’t play with the one you love, who can you play with?

Jenny Block is a freelance writer based in Dallas. She is the author of "Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage." Her work appears in "One Big Happy Family," edited by Rebecca Walker and "It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters," edited by Andrea Buchanan. Visit her website at www.jennyonthepage.com or check out her blog at www.jennyonthepage.blogspot.com.