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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why it takes my mum so long to type?

36 replies

Shatteredremnants · 21/09/2026 23:02

If I text my mum on WhatsApp, it’ll tell me that she’s typing a response. Five minutes later, she’s still typing the response. Then the message comes through and it’s “Yes”.

AIBU to wonder why it takes so long to type a single word text? Is she unique in this respect?

OP posts:
BibbityBoppityTwo · 21/09/2026 23:04

No. My mum does this too. Do you ever watch her while she’s replying to messages from others?

Original poster
Shatteredremnants · 21/09/2026 23:07

No, never watched her do that. I sometimes wonder if she’s not sure what to answer but it’s usually something very straightforward.

OP posts:
Ceffton · 21/09/2026 23:10

Is she retired, finding herself rambling, then corrects herself (as I do 🤣)?

Original poster
Shatteredremnants · 21/09/2026 23:11

Ceffton · 21/09/2026 23:10

Is she retired, finding herself rambling, then corrects herself (as I do 🤣)?

She is retired but not old or frail and relatively tech savvy.

OP posts:
Cornetto98 · 21/09/2026 23:12

Does she type with just one finger or both thumbs? I find people over 60 usually use one index finger only.

Apsidistra · 21/09/2026 23:12

My mum does this. She also responds with inappropriate emojis accidentally which can be quite amusing.

Ceffton · 21/09/2026 23:14

Shatteredremnants · 21/09/2026 23:11

She is retired but not old or frail and relatively tech savvy.

Show quote history

Me too!
It could well be an issue of too much time on her hands, too much to tell you and then awareness that you only want a direct answer.

oviraptor21 · 21/09/2026 23:16

Could be easily distracted. As soon as you start typing, that "she's typing" message comes up and stays there till you hit send. It can often be a while after I start typing a message that I get around to finishing it and sending.

Agoddessonamountaintop · 21/09/2026 23:21

My DD sniggers when she sees me texting. Yes I use one finger as my hands are stiff and I can’t hold the phone whilst using that hand to type.
I also often hit the wrong character and I don’t use auto correct as I’m a pedant and I don’t want Apple’s often incorrect spelling and punctuation to ruin my bon mots.
The eyesight isn’t what it was (cataracts) so that doesn’t help.
I’m reasonably tech savvy too. ‘s age innit? 🤷‍♀️

BarrShandy · 21/09/2026 23:24

Maybe she wrote a longer message and then had second thoughts?

Chaarlene · 21/09/2026 23:24

Do you have different phones (eg Android to iphone)? This can cause a time lag signal. Equally, a low battery/weak internet connection can also cause this. It's likely signal rather than slow typing.

Unless you have slighty spiky relationship and she is Choosing Her Words.

Original poster
Shatteredremnants · 21/09/2026 23:26

Chaarlene · 21/09/2026 23:24

Do you have different phones (eg Android to iphone)? This can cause a time lag signal. Equally, a low battery/weak internet connection can also cause this. It's likely signal rather than slow typing.

Unless you have slighty spiky relationship and she is Choosing Her Words.

Edited

No relationship issue, all good. I suspect she’s just thinking what to right and concludes “yes” is sufficient 😂

OP posts:
chattyness · 21/09/2026 23:35

I can't stand texting , I start off trying to write a normal reply then get fed up scrub it and make it as short as possible. My phone isn't a smartphone either no predictive text and sometimes it takes a minute or so to send

FFSItsTooHot · 22/09/2026 03:36

I have a friend like this. Having a chat with her on WhatsApp is like wading through treacle. She takes about 5 minutes to type something that would take me 30 seconds. I really don't understand why she is so slow. She's an extremely intelligent person,in a high powered job, and spends at least a couple of hours a day typing reports etc,so it's not as if she can't type.

FinanceLPlates · 22/09/2026 03:47

Some of us like to think before writing

sandwalk · 22/09/2026 03:57

She probably writes something, changes her mind, writes something else, then sends. I doubt she is taking 5 minutes typing yes. You sound like you are mocking her a bit.

Motnight · 22/09/2026 04:15

FinanceLPlates · 22/09/2026 03:47

Some of us like to think before writing

Clearly that's going to be considered old fashioned 😬

MyManinCaracas · 22/09/2026 04:48

This is so funny. I’m an oldie and I text using my forefinger. Takes forever. I’ve never tried the two thumbs technique, which makes no sense to me.

Millytante · 22/09/2026 04:50

MyManinCaracas · 22/09/2026 04:48

This is so funny. I’m an oldie and I text using my forefinger. Takes forever. I’ve never tried the two thumbs technique, which makes no sense to me.

Oh me too. Forefinger only on my iPad and phone, though I’m very fast at it. The two thumbs method frankly boggles me!

Mydogisagentleman · 22/09/2026 04:51

My poor old mum has parkinsons and is starting the related dementia that goes with it.
I've watched her typing, it's painful to see.
We often say that she's sending coded messages to her spy contacts

Millytante · 22/09/2026 04:52

Cornetto98 · 21/09/2026 23:12

Does she type with just one finger or both thumbs? I find people over 60 usually use one index finger only.

Guilty!

Jellybean23 · 22/09/2026 04:58

She’s forgetting to press send. Then looks at her phone to see if you responded to her reply and realises. Then she presses send. 😂

Bjorkdidit · 22/09/2026 05:12

Millytante · 22/09/2026 04:50

Oh me too. Forefinger only on my iPad and phone, though I’m very fast at it. The two thumbs method frankly boggles me!

Show quote history

The output is usually crap too and you look like a wanker when doing it.

Any message that includes a load of spelling mistakes, missing letters and uncorrected predictions is likely done by someone using their thumbs.

But to answer the OPs question, she's probably thinking about her reply, trying to make sure it's unambiguous and gets her point across, then she thinks it would be better to phone you as it's much easier to discuss than messaging back and forth but then you'd moan about that instead.

So she gives up and just replies yes, even though she really means 'yes, but X, Y, Z'.

Littlegreywolfcub · 22/09/2026 05:16

@Bjorkdidit 😅

Mornin' !

Original poster
Shatteredremnants · 22/09/2026 06:06

sandwalk · 22/09/2026 03:57

She probably writes something, changes her mind, writes something else, then sends. I doubt she is taking 5 minutes typing yes. You sound like you are mocking her a bit.

Yes, I am mocking her. It’s a lighthearted thread about how long it takes her to write a text. And I’ve said it to her face.

OP posts:
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