Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I've been messing with everyone by text

199 replies

Stiles · 02/02/2021 17:38

By not putting an X at the end of messages. Sometimes I go the full hog and put a full stop.

So far my dad wants to know if he's upset me and my teen came down to ask if he's in trouble. 😂

I usually chat online to mainly Americans and it's not the done thing with them so thought I'd drop it completely as it's a bit daft. British people are not ready for this. Grin

OP posts:
magicstar1 · 02/02/2021 20:14

I was in a group and the leader put a x at the end of every sentence, and sometimes in the middle.

It would be like this x It used to wreck my head x I had to block her from texting me x as I couldn’t take it at more x

oddworld · 02/02/2021 20:15

Wow, I happened across this thread by chance and it's opened a whole new world of worry for me.

Original poster
Stiles · 02/02/2021 20:16

I couldn’t give up emojis Shock
I have freed myself from the shackles of the x but am held hostage by the laughing face emoji (with or without tears of laughter)

I remember writing long letters to my friends, in my youth, with no lols or emojis in use but I can't remember how we'd show sarcasm etc without writing 'just kidding, being sarcastic, ha ha'. Is that what we did? It's too long ago to remember!

OP posts:
CorianderBee · 02/02/2021 20:18

It's secret British code. We know what it all means, but no one else does. I quite like it as a tone modifier.

Naillig222 · 02/02/2021 20:23

I never knew this was a thing. I'm in ROI though so maybe it's not done here as much? I'm shocked that people put it in work emails though. That would be very unusual here.
When we were booking our honeymoon the travel agent would put an x on the end of her messages/emails to my husband. We had never experienced that from a stranger before and thought it was so funny/odd.

OrangeBananaFish · 02/02/2021 20:24

@Heathcliff27

If I was texting and forth with my DM and she replied with just OK, I knew not to bother texting anymore as she had finished the conversation and wouldn't reply again 😂
The conversations over sign. I usually send a thumbs up if I feel like I have nothing more to say, but I feel like I should say something

Never end texts with x though. I may start Grin

OutComeTheWolves · 02/02/2021 20:27

Gah I just can't do it.

I have a few friends from another country who end texts with 'bjs '- an abbreviation of the word kisses.

If I do the same, I feel like I'm being really short with them so end up ending every message with 'bjs xxx'

Ihatesandwiches · 02/02/2021 20:28

DP, DC and DParents always get xxx. Close friends xx unless going through something when they get xx plus emoji. Work always gets a smiley face
DMiL drives me bonkers. Something xxx, sometimes nothing. I never know where I stand with her!

AlwaysLatte · 02/02/2021 20:30

Only a couple of my friends don't use xxs and I never know what to put, so I end up using daft emojis instead. But I do sometimes smile to myself thinking how ridiculous it would be in real life - eg I go into the dog groomers and ask the girl if they can fit in my spaniel for a full groom and facial (leap over the counter, couple of pecks on the cheek). Yes, they say, we can fit her in next Thursday. Would you like a blueberry facial or almond? (Leaps over counter, kiss kiss).
😂😂

MrsKoala · 02/02/2021 20:35

I have never used the x at the end. My friends know and purposely stop themselves when messaging me. I’m not a gushy demonstrative person. It’s all a bit fake and pointless if everyone does it all the time.

SeasonFinale · 02/02/2021 20:37

I must have missed the if you are British you end with a x because I never do but then again neither do my friends.

WrongKindOfFace · 02/02/2021 20:37

I’m the opposite. I always end with a full stop and never use kisses.

If I started sending kisses my family would probably stage an intervention,

Cherrysoup · 02/02/2021 20:40

Omg, I use punctuation in texts. I also like emojis instead of full stops. A member of staff at the yard always messages with xx at the end, so ‘Your horse was lame today xx’ Bizarre. I feel guilty if I don’t send her back xx, so I end up with responses like ‘Fuck, do I need the vet? xx’ Ridiculous.

MrsMop1964 · 02/02/2021 20:40

There was a university study about this.. www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2015/dec/09/science-has-spoken-ending-a-text-with-a-full-stop-makes-you-a-monster
(I know this because I have a teenager and we have discussed the issue before!)

OTTYrevolution · 02/02/2021 20:47

I waa talking about this with a friend earlier!!! How many x’s our an acceptable amount. This has maded me lol so much. . .X

waterlego · 02/02/2021 20:58

I use full punctuation in texts but also add an x at the end when texting DH/kids/family/friends.

Fuckityfucksake · 02/02/2021 21:09

@Shinyletsbebadguys

Grin I would try the experiment too but to be honest I only really put x's on the end of DP texts. Everyone else it's only really when it's something that it fits with. DP has had to fly to scotland this week for work so to do it this well would probably give the poor man a heart attack because we often discuss the concept of behaviour pattern changes being a warning sign something is wrong. He would be petitioning Sturgeon for a mercy flight in the next 15 minutes. Grin (Not literally for those who want to claim he is insecure or needy but he would be quite HmmConfused)
:) :) My dh would feel like I'd fell out with him and question it if I gave him none or even 1 - He gets multiples others only get 1 haha

I am a guilty text kiss giver, I can't help it so don't really try not to anymore unless it's my work bosses but even then I have accidently given them.
My ex was eastern European and he didn't understand at first....neither did his parents until he explained why I done it then they started doing it back but often they'd write out their native word for kiss at the end of a message to me :) :) Started something there didn't I

Haffiana · 02/02/2021 21:10

This thread is an eye-opener for me. I always assumed people I barely know who put an x at the end of texts are just very insecure and are being sort of fawning. Trying to get on the right side of me or something.

I sold a car recently and the buyer was texting me questions all ending in x. I felt he was trying to soften me up in order to make a lower offer (he didn't as it happens!).

Haffiana · 02/02/2021 21:11

And people who put lol in any text or even any post on here just sound as if they are giggling nervously and are also insecure.

Wroxie · 02/02/2021 21:14

What about two question marks instead of one?? Adds a delicate soupçon of bewildered rage to the simplest of queries.

WillowSummerSloth · 02/02/2021 21:15

This is hilarious! I just checked and ALL my text chats, WhatsApp chats and fb chats have kisses at the end. I hadn't even noticed. Although, when I post on mumsnet, I make a conscious effort not to do kisses. Anyway, I like it and it's friendly so here goes.... Good thread OP xxx

Wroxie · 02/02/2021 21:16

@AlwaysLatte sorry but... your dog gets almond and blueberry facials?? Tell me more xx

Staffy1 · 02/02/2021 21:32

I always feel silly putting an x at the end but have done quite a few times just to stop texts sounding abrupt.

Staffy1 · 02/02/2021 21:35

I would never use one in emails to work colleagues. It was bad enough when something I wrote translated into an emoji of a grinning face with tongue out.

RuggeryBuggery · 02/02/2021 21:36

I never knew it wasn’t an American thing until recently! Was messaging with someone in the US and they asked me what it stood for 😂