Why do people not respond to texts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because my phone is on silent or airplane mode 96% of the time. Because I'm not glued to my phone. Because I have a kid to take care of.

Ok mommy martyr of an only child

Some of us have to, you know, answer emails and be on calls and stuff. Or coordinate childcare logistics for the kids we aren't glued to.

Sure, and others of us don't. Or find ways to do it that don't involve a cell phone. It's ok for different people to do different things in different ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it some sort of passive-aggressive thing? A power thing?

I'm not talking about an inflammatory text. A very polite text. I think it's rude.

OP, you've gotten pages of valid reasons. It's not about you. People have other things to do and aren't all slaves to a device.

[Anonymous]

I'm usually very good about returning texts, but.... if I'm driving, I'm not looking at it and I might forget to look at it later if it disappears from my screen. If I'm working and in the zone, I'm not paying attention to my phone and it's turned over so I don't see things popping up on the screen.

Also, if you're someone who texts A LOT, I get text fatigue and don't answer every text. I have friends who could text one slightly long text but instead text 10 messages with a few words each. That makes me mildly homicidal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was not convenient for me to text back at that moment. Then, I've forgotten about your text and since it's not in my email I don't have anything to remind me about it.

This. I think it is rude to text when you are with other people. So if I am playing a game with my kids, out to dinner with my family, having drinks with a girlfriend, etc., I may look at your text, but unless it only requires a one word answer that I know off the top of my head, I probably won't respond, but then I forget about it.

[Anonymous]

The worst is, "you free? want to meet for lunch?" "Sure anytime. What time?" crickets .... time passes ... too much time passes "are we still on for lunch?" I hate when people initiated AND THEN don't follow-through, or respond to your text.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I honestly just forget. If I can't respond at that very moment, it can get buried amid all the other texts. I have 3 kids, 2 jobs and a lot of stuff to keep track of. I do get annoyed when people don't respond to me but also have to remember everyone seems to have a lot going on and I may not be the top priority at that time. It's not about me.

[Anonymous]

Intrusive modern communication has really highlighted the difference between social and less social people, the ones who multitask eagerly and those who prefer not to.

To those of you who expect a response all the time - please understand many of us don't want to communicate in that way. We have lots of other skills, so if you ditch us, it will probably be your loss. Just because you can text, it doesn't mean you need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who likes to text a lot, so sometimes I wait a while to text back just because I don't want to get into a long text conversation at the moment. I myself am an introvert, and if I have had a long day of talking to people at work, sometimes I don't want to engage with anyone except for my family, including texts. Believe me, I struggle with this side of myself all of the time and I often feel bad for not replying right away, but I need my time to recharge, and that includes taking a break from texting.

I am just like you, plus I hate typing on my phone. HATE IT. I may be "old" school now, but I miss my blackberry keyboard. Or send me an email so I can return your message by typing on a full size keyboard without autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

Why don't people call me and talk to me if they want something? I am not a robot, and if you can text me, clearly it is of no essence, and you are using me, while trying to have minimal personal connection with me. Texters are not your friends, just users.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am happy to be shed by people who expect me to be at ther beck and call. Who think tey are the most important priority at all times.

While technology has incredible benefits, I think this tendency towards instant gratification and this expectation that communication is instant. There are a thousand reasons why I choose not to answer texts immediately or when I read them. It isn't rude to not be 'on' 24/7 and anyone who thinks I am rude for not living on my phone is welcome to walk away. There is more to life than staring at a phone and texting nonstop.

Exactly. If you need a response right now, call me or talk to me in person.

Although it's 2017, people need to remember technology is changing quickly and not everyone uses it the same way. Not everyone can use it the same way, depending on their jobs, their finances, or their ability to multitask. Do you want your Dr or even your hairstylist to constantly pull out their phone and respond to texts? Do I want to pull out my phone and respond to texts on the street or metro, to make it more convenient to snatch out of my hands? No.

I am more than willing to meet people halfway. If someone informs me they only text and the expect immediate replies from me or else they will go away, they can go away. If it's not urgent, I don't hold them to an immediate response, and they are being unreasonable trying to "make" me deliver an immediate response. This sort of attitude tells me a lot about a person.

[Anonymous]

Someone calling me to ask a question is WAY more annoying and intrusive than them just texting it to me.

[Anonymous]

I think it's obnoxious to call or text regarding something that you could email. I'm not your servant, I have a life, and I don't appreciate the interruption so you can tell me about your day or unload whatever crap is on your mind at that instant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Intrusive modern communication has really highlighted the difference between social and less social people, the ones who multitask eagerly and those who prefer not to.

To those of you who expect a response all the time - please understand many of us don't want to communicate in that way. We have lots of other skills, so if you ditch us, it will probably be your loss. Just because you can text, it doesn't mean you need to.

So you are less social and don't prefer to multitask? Do you take the initiative to reach out to friends, or are you a recipient? In my experience, people with much more free time would greatly prefer voice to voice or in person interactions. Unfortunately, as a social multitasker, I will forget to mention quite a lot that happens, and you and I will not be as close as a result. If that's okay with you, I will find other friends to be closer to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't people call me and talk to me if they want something? I am not a robot, and if you can text me, clearly it is of no essence, and you are using me, while trying to have minimal personal connection with me. Texters are not your friends, just users.

Because I work 10 hours a day and am raising children? Are you okay with me calling you before 7 am while I'm exercising, or after 10 pm, just before I go to bed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't people call me and talk to me if they want something? I am not a robot, and if you can text me, clearly it is of no essence, and you are using me, while trying to have minimal personal connection with me. Texters are not your friends, just users.

Because I work 10 hours a day and am raising children? Are you okay with me calling you before 7 am while I'm exercising, or after 10 pm, just before I go to bed?

No, I am definitely not ok with calls or texts at 7am nor am I ok with texts before 10am and past 9pm. There is proper etiquette that was used and a common sense for phone calls, with texts this has gone out of the window. If you are working 10 hours and raising children, why do you need to text me/anybody? What possible reason do you have to text at 7am, or while exercising, or going to bed? What is wrong with you, that you think people are ok with your text since you text because it is convenient for you, disregarding your friend or family due to your convenience? No text at 7am will be answered not will any phone call be answered, unless I know it is an emergency. Plus, if you had any brain cells, you might realize that typing your texts might take longer than a simple phone call, without 20 back and forth. Why are you texting while you are working??? Have you no work ethic either, since you clearly lack any manners?