People too 'busy' to text back

[BerriTerri]

A simple question is either

• read instantly then takes hours for a reasonably urgent response such a response to ‘do you still need me or pick A up from school today was the car fixed?’ (and whenever you see them they are on their phone...)

Or

Those that just don’t bloody reply and then waft around with the ‘sorry I was sooooo busy this weekend’. Like anyone is that busy they can’t text inside 48hrs (I have 5 kids, work, home Educate and like them I still manage to waste time online let alone text)

I’ve seen it tbh as reason to pretty much drop contact/ friends when it’s repeated. But then they raise it like I’m funny???

Are people just really odd or rude nowadays. Are all these people on Mumsnet and can explain...?

" I check my texts once a week "

What? Don't they make a sound? Don't you see a mark showing you there's an unread text?

@HappilyHarridan - yes. That would be a busy day though, but not out of the question.

Quite often I'll read a text then get distracted by something or someone and forget to reply.

Even if there a symbol,indicating unread text, it doesn't Mean that you have to read it. It’s only an invitation to read the text, not compulsory.

If the text is a ‘do you want me to pick up,your child.’, then why didn't You phone?

Often I'm guilty of not rpelying to messages for days. I almost never have my phone switched on. Most of the time it's not even charged or within earshot, let alone nearby. But it would be if I'd asked someone to do me a favour.

When I ask one of my sons a question on text he often just replies 👁
This drives me mad I told him so one day he just replied 👁 know it does!!

I've got a smart watch. I can see incoming messages but can't reply. It often then marks them as read, even though I may have been driving, in a meeting or any other situation where I can't immediately get my phone out and respond. I often then forget to reply as my phone is no longer notifying me of a new message.
It's not that I'm ignoring anyone or think I'm more important or too busy.

OP, just don’t text me when I am at work.

Text goes on phone.
Is it school/police/some other type of emergency?!
Read Text
No, it is invite to do coffee
Return to urgent report I am writing
Forget coffee invite until day later

It's not that I'm busier than other people, I'm just quite disorganised with my time. I don't mean to be hurtful and I actually love getting and sending texts. I just often don't reply for ages.

I’ve accepted I think differently to most!

I’m not talking though about the long lists of reasons people are creating. Just when you know someone is not working etc, uses their phone constantly and is probably posting on fb at the same time. It people like my mum who I know never look. Soon it’s going to be ‘but I work in Mexico and my sim doesn’t work here so I can only reply every other weekend when I’m home’. I’m not talking about when people are at work etc.

And btw, they DID then ask me to pick up said child and knew they’d need it from fiilrat thing in the morning

Sorry op but yabu. Youve no idea if the person read the message and tbh my phone is downstairs well away from the bedroom.. Im on my ipad now which will be turned off shortly. Ive not been anywhere near my phone since 7pm. Im not the only one who does this. I sometimes go all day without my phone. If you want a response asap phone and talk to someone

I’m very sorry pankate for your loss and how it affected you, but you must realise that’s reasonably unique? I’m trying to say it kindly, but I’m sure your friends are aware you’re not a text person. It’s kind of a different thread to the glued to their phone types who then cba

But you do know if some reads a text or WhatsApp nowadays, it says read or shows two blue ticks...

My mum rarely looks at her phone and you can tell as it takes ages to show

I wish I didn't have to have a mobile but i think if you have kids/elderly parents you just have to. There's no peace anymore.

If I wanted to know whether I was meant to pick up someone else's child, I would expect a prompt response to my text!

Btw, I have accepted I think differently it seems! The obvious solution mainly is for me to just cut the text offers of help or checking meet up times and do my own thing as seems to be the norm more. I honestly saw it as helpful for things like lifts or I found xxx’s hat in the park, but it clearly irritates the majority. I don’t get it, but fair enough.

I usually do a quick skim read if I’m busy, if it requires an urgent reply then I text straight back, if not I get back to them ASAP. Like some require more longer answers than a quick yes or no.

Thigh....go out without it...we do...its like being a child again in the 80s..free!

Before anyone thinks I’m a crazy text person though, had a check. Apart from someone I sent 4 to I’ve not actually sent anyone I know more than 1/2 texts in the last week or two.

I much prefer texting or emailing to making a phone call, as I always expect people won't hear the phone (I seldom hear mine) or won't be able to take a call.

I think the problem here is that the specific thing of not answering your question if a person knew you asked it is obviously bad, it was something you needed to know.

The general thing of not responding to a text even though you glanced at your phone and saw it - not inherently bad.

I’m like you Bridget. Calls are always when driving/ the second the Pan boils/ as a toddler sits on the loo etc
I don’t like the ‘right now’ aspect