Ask them?

Because laziness

DH doesn't text anyone. He's 42 with a smartphone but thinks texting is a pain for many of the reasons others listed. He also says the tone is always misunderstood. He turned off all notifications years ago and will occasionally go in and see if he has any from business contacts. He tells everyone to him to pick up a phone or email him if they want to tell him something. I've gotten used to emailing him if I need to quickly tell him something and can't make a call. I text others all of the time and don't understand but he feels strongly.

My millennial son is learning how to be an adult. Sometimes he texts people at work, adult people with lives and responsibilities. He sits looking at his phone waiting for a response.

I told him older wiser people have people calling,texting, emailing, meeting with them.

You are not that important ... If you really need to talk then... Follow up, call them (gasp) or wait for it, set up a time to... Talk in person... It's this crazy way of communicating.... Talking.

Because we don't care and are avoiding you. Or we have, you know, lives?

Texting is more efficient than email

Most of the time I forget.

Because I'm reading it in a meeting where inappropriate to respond...then forgot because super hectic at work. I'm sorry. Don't take it personally in my case.

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.

Most of the time, I have the sound off on my phone. It's not considered polite in our shared office to have the ringers on for your phone. Also, if I go to meetings, it's embarrassing to have your phone go off. Off hours, I am involved in some activities where you are not allowed to have audible phones go off. So, 90% of the time, my ringer is off. Often, I read messages when I'm out and about and don't want to take time while walking, running errands, with the kids somewhere to respond, but I'll read. I mean to respond later, but often forget. I usually respond, but sometimes it can be a day or two later.

If you want a return message from me, send email. I check email at all of my computers and I usually respond there. I check the computer at home and I'm on the computer much of the day at work, so I respond regularly to email because I'm tied to a keyboard.

Anonymous wrote:If someone texts me instead of emailing for something not time sensitive, I'll delay response. I don't want to encourage non-urgent texting.

+1
I find texts to be very intrusive so they better be necessary. Otherwise I take my time replying, if ever. Feel free to dump me as a friend over it, especially if you send a ridiculous amount of unnecessary texts.

If someone texts me instead of emailing for something not time sensitive, I'll delay response. I don't want to encourage non-urgent texting.

Anonymous wrote:Just because it was a convenient moment for you to text doesn't mean it's a convenient moment for the other person to respond.

Yep, and sometimes I forget.

I'm really bad at responding to texts. I'm usually busy when it comes in or don't have all the info I need to respond. I then forget about it until either something reminds me or I go to text the person and see a text I never responded to. Other times I type a response and mistakenly forget to press send. And sometimes life is just crazy and I just don't have the energy to engage. I do this with everyone, so definitely don't intend any disrespect.

I'm talking about people who never respond. I don't expect people to respond immediately.

In some instances, I know the person keeps the phone on and has read the text.

I think people are just rude. I agree with the PP about shedding these people.

Two strikes and their out. That's my new philosophy, especially with people who expect me to respond to their texts, emails, et cetera, but can't return that same courtesy.