why do we bother to send text messages to people who never reply?!

IPhone keyboard - Photo of IPhone keyboard that one uses when texting or sending email
United States
December 31, 2011 5:50pm CST
I understand why my husband can't always reply to my text messages while he's at work. Sometimes his store gets very busy & he can't stop & text me back. I get that, but what I don't get is why my sister hardly ever replies to ANY of my text messages. I used to complain that she never calls me & that every time I called her she would always answer the phone like she was in a bad mood, so I stopped calling her altogether. When I told her that's why I don't call her anymore her excuse was that she hates to talk on the phone & she would much rather send text messages back & forth then to talk on the phone. So that's what I started doing. I started to send her text messages. Most of the time she doesn't bother to reply at all & when she does it's like days later. When I asked her why she never replies to any of my text messages she said it's because she is always busy with her kids & doesn't have a moment to spare. Now I could understand that even though I don't have any kids of my own. I know my niece & nephews can be a handful, but then I see her posting or playing games on Facebook. I mean I'm glad that she is taking some time out for herself to relax & everything, but couldn't she just spare a minute or two of her time to reply to at least one of my text messages? I mean we live almost 4 hours away from each other & we hardly ever get to visit one another so is it so wrong that I ask her to at least take just a few moments out of her day to reply to some of my text messages? Am I wrong here? Do you have anyone like this in your family or among your friends who never reply to any of your text messages? How does this make you feel?
2 people like this
4 responses
• India
1 Jan 12
we do it because somewhere and somehow we love the person and always want to remain in contact of that person o whom we are messaging. that what our pure heart say whenever we are in love with someone. if they do not reply its hurts but keep reply guys once in a while they will understands the importance of your text..
2 people like this
• United States
1 Jan 12
True. I think I will. Thank you.
@kay2aT (73)
1 Jan 12
That is really sad. I can understand why sometimes people don't feel like being on the phone sometimes, cause when I don't feel good I don't feel like talking on the sometimes. So I like texting or IM on the computer or e-mail. Kids can keep you busy, but if she has time to play games, etc., she should try to take a couple of mins. to text you. I know how that can feel. If I text my oldest son or my daughter-in-law, they text back to me right away, and if they don't I know it's because they must be in the middle of something, but I know when they are done they will text back to me as soon as they can. But when I text my youngest son, sometimes he text back, but then so much of the time he doesn't text be back at all. So I understand how you feel. It's always nice to hear back from our family when we text to them. I hope she will start making time to text you.
• United States
1 Jan 12
I doubt it, but that's the way it is I guess. Some people just get so caught up in their lives that they just don't make time for their family or friends anymore. I used to be like that with my Mom when she was still alive, now I live with the regret of never having called her more. Some day they will have to live with the same regrets too.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
1 Jan 12
My daughter sends me dozens of texts a day. There is absolutely no way I can reply to them all. I have a girlfriend in Canada and she has a 6 year old and we both have the same illnesses. Sometimes she texts me and I am on the run and sometimes she is on the run also. So if we don't catch each other on texts we wind up calling each other once a week and have a girls chat. I think people have put their life into their multiple devices. Sometimes I don't get to check my email for a day and when I call one of my friends that her and I talk daily so when I ask her a question she might have talked about in her email, She will say "you didn't read my email." So you can't take it personally. I turn my phone off or leave it in the car when going to dr offices. Sometimes I forget to even check my phone for messages. I just think its how each person puts the importance on electronic devices. I want mine to be fun not a burden. Probably when your sister is sitting down in front of facebook that is her time to unwind. Don't take it seriously and maybe text things that are important. or text a beautiful picture you can share that she would want to show your neices and nephews. Then if you are texting so much maybe you need to ask yourself if you should be doing something else too to pass your time. I love crafting and unless I am out and about and can catch a really neat picture (I live by the ocean) I would rather craft than text. Maybe if you talk to your sister and can agree on a number of texts a day she would reply to them. But I know if I still had my five children to raise today if I got multiple texts I would probably have thrown the phone up against the wall and hoping it would never work again. My life was enveloped around 5. Thank God we did not know what texting was then.
• United States
1 Jan 12
But that's the funny thing I will send her maybe one or two text messages a week. That's it. I understand she's busy & might now be able to get to her phone right away, but it would be nice if she just took a moment or two to let me know how she & the kids are doing. Most especially since I don't get to see any of them all that much.
• India
1 Jan 12
because loving and caring is the nature we are having. if they are having the same nature then they will surely replay with text, they are not doing so that means they are self centred.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Jan 12
No she's not self centered she just doesn't know what her priorities are. I know she's tired from being with her kids all day & I can understand that, but one or two words just to let me know she at least got my text is not asking too much I don't think.
• United States
4 Jan 12
It's okay. It's my fault. I didn't make myself clear & after re-reading my discussion I realized that I did make it sound like I was just speaking in general. So no worries. The fault was my own, not yours.
• India
3 Jan 12
oh! your discussion is pointing towards someone, i thought your discussion is pointing towards whole. for those who do not reply, inspite of our texting.
1 person likes this