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We're the generation that is scared of answering phone calls. Anxiety seems to creep up on us during virtual interactions, not just in real life. Studies show that young adults feel anxiety during digital communication, so, the conundrum of "What should I text them back?" may be more common than we think.
If you've ever received a text that has left you speechless, the subreddit "How Do I Respond To This?" might be the perfect place to find inspiration for a snappy reply. Members of the community share messages that have left them stumped, and other netizens offer the best ways to respond in creative, funny, and casual ways. Check out the funniest and strangest examples below, and share in the comments how you would've responded!
More info: Reddit
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#2
A Girl Messaging First Is A Rare Sight But That Is Just Too Lame
#3
I Was Asking My Friends If They Wanted To See Endgame With Me
Texting seems like a pretty simple ordeal: you type something, send it, and reply once you get a response. Yet people make it quite complicated: how do you write a text with the right vibe? How do you leave a good impression with a text on a potential future partner? And how do you deal with the other person opting to reply with only a "seen?"
If you've ever pondered any of these questions, you might have texting anxiety. Luckily, you're not the only one. According to a 2018 study by Viber, one in three people stress about texting daily. This includes things beyond just what to reply: unanswered messages and the sheer volume they receive add to the stress, too.
#4
My Best Friend Sent Me This. I’ve Been Realizing We’ve Been Talking Less And I Didn’t Know What To Do
Upstaged75 21 hours ago
I did the same thing. It was over 2 years before I heard from them again. 😥
#5
Am I Just Destined To Never Have A Good Conversation With Someone
LakotaWolf (she/her) 23 hours ago
Memes aren't conversations. They can be deployed during conversations, but they are not a replacement for using your own actual words XD This is coming from someone who has a "Memes" folder on her computer desktop AND one on her phone, too...
#6
Friend Who’s Into Me Got Word Of Me Liking Someone. Idk How To Respond To This, I Can’t Tell If This Is Satire Or She’s Serious. What Do I Say?
When we text, we communicate in more complicated ways than just saying "Yes" or "No." We use emojis, GIFs, pop culture references, abbreviations, soundbites, and other means of expression we wouldn't use in face-to-face communication. Different groups also have different texting etiquette.
A 75-year-old gentleman from France probably wouldn't know what "idk," "ahh," or "chopped" means. But to a young American, these words and abbreviations are part of their everyday texting lingo. This is part of where our texting anxiety comes from: we're afraid to break the rules of a certain group's texting etiquette and seem like outsiders: uncool, othered, and misunderstood.
#7
Good
#8
An Old Friend Was Jealous And Hurtful. I Got This A Few Days Ago
Details: we were super close for about a year. He admitted to being in love with me while I was still in a relationship but he said he would never try to break up a happy relationship. He was fine until I broke up with that guy and was single. I had a huge crush on our mutual friend and that really bugged him. Me and that guy started like pseudo dating. In that time, he convinced me that the guy I liked was going on dates with other girls, still on tinder, hooking up without telling me etc. None of those things were true. He also ended up completely unprompted sending me videos of himself jacking off and stuff and admitting to sexually assaulting a friend of his when she rejected him because she is a lesbian. So yeah we left on bad terms and the fact that he acknowledged none of those things is what makes this hard.
Edit: I didnt think about it till now but I'm still in a relationship with that mutual friend after 3 years and we live together and I dont think he knows that.
Update: I took the middle ground approach and thanked him for reaching out and good luck on his recovery and his response was also very short and respectful. Thanks for all the advice, it really helped understand how to keep reactions and contact at a minimum. I feel safe and I'm mostly happy that nothing negative came from it.
#9
Met Two Cute Missionaries Some Time Ago
Elladine DesIsles 1 day ago
I really, really can't imagine missionizing going over very well in Montreal.
Experts note that how we react to texting depends on our attachment styles. This is especially true when we're waiting for a reply, and it doesn't come as quickly as we expected. Research shows that a person's attachment style can predict how they will react to an unanswered text. For example, if they have an anxious attachment style, they're more likely to interpret a lack of response as threatening.
#10
I (30f) Gave My Number To Someone (25m) Who Works In My Building. We've Had A Couple Of Brief Conversations In The Break Area So I Thought We Could Be Friends, But Now I'm Questioning It?
#11
So, Here’s What My Boss Said To Me Today. Conversation Was Fine Until This
She’s from the Philippines so I think there’s a cultural element (I’m in Midwest USA), and I’ve known her for quite some time & she’s pretty much always abrasive
#12
Ummm
Nikki Sevven 10 hours ago
Serial texters send me into a blind rage. Learn how to use paragraphs in text, please, so I don't have to listen to a dozen notifications for what's essentially one message.
An unanswered text is a socially ambiguous situation. Those with anxious attachment style often have trouble interpreting them correctly. This applies to people who have heightened social rejection sensitivity as well. Psychologists explain that people who are sensitive to rejection often anticipate rejection and expect to be ghosted, told "No," or to be left on read. So, they find it harder to reply to ambiguous texts or interpret silence from the other end as anger, disappointment, or avoidance.
#13
If There Even Is A Response To This
Roxy222uk 7 hours ago
I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do, think, or say, with half of these. If the OP is trying to ask them out on a date then effing speak to them face-to-face. Then you get all the other communication methods that are so vital to being a human: facial expressions, gestures, posture, non-word sounds (forgotten what they’re called), and so on. It would be much easier to try and judge whether they were interested in you but nervous and socially awkward, or didn’t fancy you but were too anxious about the response to state it straight out. Clearly they know them to speak to from the way they leapt into asking them out.
#14
Now I Am Overthinking. She Set The Bar High With That Reply
Crystalwitch60 10 hours ago
Ace of base song springs to mind here , All that she wants ,(is another baby ) 🤣
#15
I Have Talked To This Person Like 3 Times, They're Online Idk Them In Real Life
How long does it take for you to feel anxiety about the "seen" prompt on a message app? Or how long are you able to stand seeing the three dots indicating that the other person is replying, but the reply never comes? One study with Japanese college-age women found that people are very quick to assume the worst. The first emotions that the participants reported feeling once seeing the word "seen" were anxiety and sadness. We're much more likely to jump to conclusions that someone is ignoring us on purpose rather than thinking they're just busy.
#16
I Could Be Miss Interpreting Things But I Felt Like There Was A Lot Of Unnecessary Passive Aggressiveness Here. How Should I Go About It?
NightOwlPanda 20 hours ago
"Miss Interpreting" is a beauty pageant category for bilingual contestants.
#17
Not The First Time I've Had This Kind Of Response
LakotaWolf (she/her) 23 hours ago
If it's not the first time you've had that type of response, perhaps it's time to change your engagement method/wording XD
#18
My Coworker Sent This Out Of The Blue. I Want To Say Thanks But Also Wanna Ask What Her Reason Was For Sending This If There Is One?
What about you, Pandas? Have you ever needed help with drafting a text? Did you ever ask someone to help you compose a witty, impressive text? Tell us all about it in the comments below! And if you're in the mood for scrolling through some more funny text conversations, check out some of our previous publications here and here!
#19
I've Had A *rough* 24 Hours And I Just Can't Handle Being At My Job
#20
Just Got This Message On Reddit. What?
#21
I Got Tinder Gold And Im Going To Be In Her Country In A Week, What Should I Say?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 23 hours ago
So when people use cringe pick-up/opening lines, and then get an actual interested response, they freak out and don't know how to handle it or how to respond after that? XD You'd think that the interested response would be what they were hoping for!
#22
I Had A Life Changing Event, My ‘Friend’ Didn’t Have The Time Of Day
LakotaWolf (she/her) 23 hours ago
Unfortunately life-changing events change YOUR life and not your friends' lives. It does súck, but they don't always know how to respond, because the event isn't affecting them, and they have no idea what you are feeling or going through. Though I do think a true friend could at least say things like "Wow, how do you feel about that?" or similar small-ish talk, even if they don't honestly care about your life-changing event.
#23
Showing Empathy
Roxy222uk 7 hours ago (edited)
Why is this here? The OP knows them well enough to ask how they are, do they know them well enough to offer to go round? Take them out for tea and cake? Send them a surprise via Amazon? Reply “that’s tough, life is hard. I won’t tell you to feel differently, but want you to know that I’ve always liked you because of XYZ”. I've think people just need advice on how to interact with other humans.
#24
Matched With Cute Girl From Class On Tinder, Hang Out After Class With Her And A Dude Called Jamie, Afterwards She Sends Me This. I'm Straight
#25
I Made It Pretty Clear From The Get Go About 2 Weeks Ago That I’m Interested In Her... Not Sure How To Respond To This
#26
They Haven't Texted Me In Months And Open With This
Luuta 4 hours ago (edited)
Really lame. I can only think they wanted to say something profound and warm, but just didn't know how to break the ice again. And Sometimes i think people only miss you when they need comforting, so this is like, "i don't give a toss about you, but now i need help, can you help me?"
#27
How Do I Imply I Don’t Want To Talk To Him
#28
I Told Her I Liked Her And I’m Pretty Sure This Means She Doesn’t Like Me Back I’m Not Sure What To Say
Panda McPandaface 11 hours ago
Yeah, no. If it takes that much thought then it really ain't worth the mental effort.
#29
I Need To Get Past Interesting One Liners
#30
Girl Messaged Me This On Tinder And I Ain't Got A Witty Reply. Help Pls
#31
My Mother Often Cries To Me About How She's A Bad Parent And Failed As A Mother, It Always Makes Me Very Uncomfortable But I Just Say "No No, It's Fine" When In Person
#32
Recently Reached Out To Bio Father, He Wants To Meet. Told Him I Need Time And He's Respectful Of It. This Is His Wife, Potential Mother Of My Half-Brother... She Just Keeps Messaging Me
Roxy222uk 6 hours ago
Aww, she’s in a tricky situation and probably emotionally all over the place herself. Yes, she’s the ‘adult’ in this situation but no one gave her a manual either. Thank her for being so kind and welcoming and explain that you’re processing all the information so far and taking your time to make your next step. Say you’ll reach out when you’re ready and in the meantime you feel blessed because you know she’ll be patient. If she still ‘good afternoon’s you then you can in all good conscience ignore her.
#33
Girl Helped Me (F26) Get Home After Getting My Knee Injured During Volleyball Last Night And Is Willing To Help Me Now
We’ve talked at volleyball but weren’t super close. These were the last text we went. She might of meant “hit” instead of “hot”. Not sure how to respond now
#34
When Unfamiliar Person Says They’re Not Ok, Should I Ask Why?
#35
What Do I Say?
#36
How Do I Get Out Of This Terrible Conversation And Start A New One? I'm Bad At Texting
#37
Glad He 22m Took It Back But What Do I 21f Say Back (We’re Just Friends)
#38
I Think Pasta Is “Okayish”
#39
Dad Wants Nothing To Do With The Baby
#40
I Want To Be Friends With This Girl, But This Happened After She Hadn't Responded For A Few Days. What Do I Say?
#41
Friend Has Chronic Depression But Idk How To Respond And I Really Want To Help
Panda McPandaface 11 hours ago
It seems - from my experience - that for those rare people that have never suffered from depression, it is an impossible mindset to grasp effectively, which I guess I can understand.
#42
Friend Has Texted Me A Lot About Ben Platt. I’m Out Of Replies About Him. Please Help
#43
I Guess The Girl I Like Has Autism And I Guess My Comment (Which Was Meant As A Compliment) Offended Her. Is There Something Good I Can Say?
Luuta 3 hours ago
Although you meant it as a compliment, you did belittle the condition in the process.. All you can do is say "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to belittle you or anyone else with autism." You could add, but the more you say, the more ammunition they might use against you: "I was simply trying to say that i don't see labels when i meet people, everyone is an individual and we all have stuff others like about us and we all have our faults. I wanted to tell you that i like you as you are"
#44
How To Recover Lads, Maybe I Offended Her
Luuta 3 hours ago
Ouch. Your assumptions that all vampire dramas are of the same (low) value and that all fantasy fans would love all vampire dramas are so judgemental that there might not be any recovering from this. I mean, you wouldn't say it, if you didn't think it, after all. Hopefully, it will be a lesson to you not to be so judgemental
#45
Matched On Tinder Yesterday. What Do I Say?
#46
My Buddy Confessed His Feelings For A Girl, Both Me And Him Are Lost
#47
I Need Help
Luke || Kira (he/she) 14 hours ago
Fun fact: some languages have an expression that basically means "We (but not you)"
#48
I Accidentally Ghosted This Guy 2 Days Ago And He Sent A Long And Thoughtful Message But I Don’t Want To See Him Again
#49
I Asked For It But I Have No Clue How To Respond
#50
Although I Don’t Recall Doing It, It’s Definitely Something An Idiot Like Me Would Do. What Can I Reply To Sound As Sorry As I Can Possibly Be Without Making It Sound Like It Wasn't A Big Deal?
#51
I've...ive Got No Idea. Hdirtt?
#52
My Father Is A Real Estate Agent And Wants Me To Buy A House. He Is Being Manipulative
#53
My Friends Reply To Why She Called Me
#54
Military Recruiter Trying To Get Me. Don’t Know How To Respond To This
General Anaesthesia 16 hours ago
Response: "Since Hegseth became SecDéàth the only disqualification is bone spurs, right?"
#55
I Wanna Just Say Thank You But That Feels Small
#56
Unless?
#57
This Girl I Matched With Works At An Airline. I Asked If She Was A Flight Attendant After Some Back And Forth. Wasn’t My Intention To Assume So How Do I Bounce Back?
#58
I Got A Bit Drunk And Sent A Girl This
#59
Not Sure How To Respond. This Is My Mother, And She Just Kicked Me Out For Not Ordering Food In Time
We’ve fought for the past year over things she seems horrible, and I do not want to see her right now because tension is high. Do I just suck it up and set up a time and let her win? What do I do
Luuta 3 hours ago
Win? If you think this is competition, you need to grow up. Yep, be an adult. Leave off responding for a few months, then meekly arrange for a time that is suitable for your mum for you to pick up your stuff. This might be a very hard lesson, but you are now in the adult world of responsibility. However, if you can show you understand where your mum is coming from, you might be able to repair your relationship as adults.
#60
Pretty Sure Im On The Wrong Track
#61
Received This Text From An Unknown Number And I Have No Idea Why They'd Give The Police My Number. Not Sure If It's A Mistake Or A Joke Or What But I Don't Know Where To Go From Here
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What do you think ?
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