to ask what's the effing deal with people who send UNREQUITED texts too much

[VaseOfFlowersPink]

friend (we get on well but not close, live some way apart) who will text about several times a day

normally really "stream of consciousness" stuff, like someone updating a Twitter?

I'm sick of my phone beeping and some random "I'm doing X" thing popping up.

I'm not even replying to them, so wonder why don't they have any awareness that maybe they should ease back a bit?

this is the fourth friend I've had to do this (the other three are ex friends. I was happy enough spending face-face time with them but it actually used to creep me out getting five/six messages a day, none of which I could be bothered to reply to.

and then after a while the messages slowly started creeping up, so I was waking to a message and just receiving loads of irrelevant stuff during the day as well).

Is it me? I try to be compassionate and responsible and interested and a good listener if I get on with someone(within limits).

but surely that isn't a green light to then bombard me with contact.

I actually find texting "I'm bored at work and I hate my job" (subtext: sympathise with me and amuse me) frequently a bit rude (it makes me think "you've been complaining about this job for years now, you don't have any good reasons not to apply for a new one, I've advised you to apply for a new one, why are you expecting me to enable you emotionally?")

I think when I switch my mobile number I might just say "I only use it for emergency or for actually arranging something".

That's sounds great Aunty as you have an understanding.

This is why I am glad I have hardly any friends.
I especially hate it when they text big long paragraphs and I feel like my reply should be an essay as well!

My mum does this, but she also seems to think she pays by the letter for texts. So I get an hourly update, but they're all so succinct they're bordering on rude.

ha! sounds like my mother's texting style used to be shatners. arrived safe. weather good. room bit shabby. hope well.

reminded me of telegrams.

My friend and I also have a stream of conversation running on fb. We are 35 and have been 'best' friends since we were 11. We live a long way apart but messages go back an forwards every day and we usually have a 'live' conversation at least once a day. There is no expectation of an instant reply though. If somebody messages it just sits there until the other one is around. Neither of us like to talk on the phone so it suits us pretty well.

I don't have that arrangement with anyone else though and do try to judge texts with 'new' friends very carefully.

Definitely a new thing, only people that text me is my mum and my phone service provider.