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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here is what I do, a simple cost/benefit analysis:  How much does it matter to them and how much does it cost me?

Factors that go into this equation are how much I care about this person, what their life circumstances may be, what my life circumstances are, etc.

But bottom line, if me taking 45 seconds to send one text a day makes someone I care about happier or less lonely, I'm likely going to chose to send the text.[/quote]

The cost of sending that text is you reinforce it and open the door to a barrage of texts. The cost is you let the frustration build until you want to explode instead of simply nipping it in the bud so you can still be polite to the person.The cost is that the mad texter does find more effective ways to connect with the world like going out and making real friends. The cost is you are enabling inappropriate behavior.[/quote]

Everybody has their own analysis.

But a couple things:
1. You don't have to "let frustration build."  You can simply decide that you'll send one text a day and get on with your life.
2. As yo your characterization of the "mad texter", that seems extremely harsh and not at all objective.  Norms around texting are still evolving and many people do text frequently throughout the day about mundane things, and it works for them and their relationships.  
3.  Do you really think that one person telling the texter to stop texting so frequently is really going to prompt that texter to "go out and make real friends"?  Let's not pretend you would be doing this person some type of life-changing service.
3. You don't have to view it as a "barrage of texts".  It isn't invasive.  You can mute the chat and check and respond once a day.[/quote]

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