To not understand why people turn off read receipts on WhatsApp

You say this, but I have a friend who literally bombards me with messages the minute she sees I’m on WhatsApp, like clockwork. It’s almost as though she sits there waiting for me. Then she wants to have a full on, inane conversation, but won’t call. It does my head in, so I’ve switched off Last Seen and read receipts.

It is when you’re making plans with people.

Not true.

@Spaghetti201 you can't if it's turned off with individuals. Only on group chats can you see if they're read it even if it's turned off.

This is why I do it, but I’d always confirm plans - and expect anyone else to, whether they appear to have read it or not.

"You don't pay its all included in your phone package.
Unlimited Calls and Texts."

I was pay as you go and did have to pay.
In any case, it's the time as well. Why should I chase after people? Either switch on the blue ticks or answer (no answer required for those who haven't switched off the blue ticks and I'm just passing on information).

I also have a couple of friends who are stingy and switch off their data so they'll start a conversation on WA and then go off it to save data and I have to guess that they're not online and switch to texting. I find that pretty selfish as well. If you're going to use WA, leave it on when you're meeting friends.

I'd actually like the option to turn off read receipts on other people's messages. I'm not a particularly anxious person, but one thing I do sometimes get irrationally worried about is whether I've upset or annoyed someone somehow. I've always done this to some extent but its definitely worse in the age of blue ticks and other message read notifications. I know a couple of other people who say the same thing about it. I don't think it's good for our mental health to have such a constant line into other people's lives and heads - or for other people to have one into ours.

Other types of phone contract are available you know, amazing as it may seem not everyone in the world has unlimited calls 😁

Yes you can. Swipe right and you will see 2 green ticks and “seen”

@Spaghetti201 I think you can’t if it’s switched off.

Because it makes me much less anxious having it turned off so I'm not saying waiting to see if someone has read my message and is ignoring me. It also means I don't feel obliged to rush a reply/make a decision just because they know it's been read.
Seeing something's been read does not actually mean it's been read either, the amount of times I swipe and accidentally open a message and don't actually read it, equally if I'm reading it on my Home Screen it won't show it's been read even though it has.
For example, If my boss was to WhatsApp me about a shift change and I read the message it doesn't mean I'm agreeing until I've replied yes or no.
Read is not the same as them agreeing with you and you being fragile about it is more of a reflection. It's a bit controlling to expect everyone to have read receipts on IMO.

I could be wrong but you can only turn them off for everyone or have them on for everyone. It could be someone else in their life gives them grief if they don’t respond immediately after reading so they turned them off, nothing to do with you!

So they asked if date/time was ok with aunt. You went back and said yes it was. I don’t see that they need to reply to that. You haven’t asked them to confirm anything in your update. If you want confirmation of a reply or that it still suits them then ask for it. Otherwise I’d assume it’s all ok and going ahead at the date/time they suggested.

Well it is other people's business if they need to know you're aware of the plans isn't it? It's not for the other person to have to start texting and calling you to check.

Yeah doesn’t make sense because you can just swipe right on their msg and see if they have read it anyways!

"As for the plans being firm just because they read a message, that's mad."

No, it's not mad. If you've agreed to go somewhere then you get the exact time, blue tick means the person knows the time. There's no need to reply in that case.

Why should they have to message them again?

Mine are off and so is my Last Seen time. I don't like that people expect me to respond just because I've read a message and will message me again because they can see I've read the message and haven't replied.
As for the plans being firm just because they read a message, that's mad. Unless I tell someone yes then I'm not going.
It might be frustrating for you, but not some people don't like being tied to their phone. I use mine for work so I have to be on it, it doesn't mean I have the time to respond to messages just because I clicked them.

Just message the person again and say “Can you please confirm you are visiting Aunt on that day and time?”.

I turn off read receipts, online status and last seen status and - shock horror - I also archive all chats bar three people so I'll respond when I see it/when it suits me. Not confirming plans is rude - but for everything else... I'll do it in my own time. Instant messaging has made people so demanding. If I walked into your kitchen and started talking at you and then getting irate that you're not immediately responding it would be bizarre behaviour. Same diff in my book.

Hahahahahahahah outlandish!

It doesn't matter whether or not you know they've read the message.

If you're arranging something, then you need positive confirmation from them that they're agreeing to something or attending, or whatever.

It's annoying for them if you just assume they're agreeing because they've read the message - if you've been doing that, then I can see why they've turned off the read messages!

You need to ask them outright if they agree or are attending etc, not just "assume" they are because you think they've read the message!

This

So people don't get obsessed about when they've read a message & not replied.

It’s because of reply-nazis