To ignore these absolutely inane text messages?

[FeliciaFancybottom]

My friend seems to have gotten into the habit of texting every thought that pops into her head and almost giving a running commentary on her life. I'll get the same messages every day: 'I've just been for a walk, I've been for lunch, it's cold here today, work is busy, I'm going to hit class'. On and on it goes, and I'm running out of things to reply with. How many times can I say "oh that's nice/good/interesting/whatever"?
I don't need this level of info about her life, and it's getting on my last nerve. I'm starting to expect her to text me that she's just had a pee!
How can I tell her that I won't be answering these kinds of messages, or do I just ignore them? I'm not massively fussed about texting; other friends get in touch maybe once or twice a week, and that's plenty for me.
I know I sound mean btw but who has the time and the interest for this!!

Some people just have no idea how to start a conversation but they desperately want one. I appreciate this is incredibly annoying, I have a lot of friends and family who do this to me, but sometimes it is someone trying to reach out for a bit of human contact but not being the best at doing so.

It's fine, don't worry.

Send her a message telling her you're really concerned about her toilet habits. When she asks why, say "Well, I've known you for X years and you obviously haven't been to the loo in all that time."

ETA: "As obviously you would have told me if you had."

My close friend suddenly change from normal messaging to this kind of messaging, I would be concerned.

No wonder so many threads on mumsnet about OP’s with no friends

Sounds like loneliness to me.

I'd check that they're actually ok first.
If they are, then I'd not even reply. Or with a "great" or thumbs up.

Maybe you could reply but shift the conversation on to something you are interested in, or leave them, say you're not very good at chatting by texting but would she like to meet up and suggest some times?

They sound desperate for connection. Maybe organise meeting them for a cuppa

If you like her and she’s a friend can’t you just send a response sharing a bit about your day. “enjoy - I did yoga this morning” or “fab i’m off to the park”

it’s just a bit of connection. I’m generally interested in the lives of friends and people I
like, so it seems a bit weird to be irritated by it. If it’s the texting you find bothersome just call occasionally at a time that is convenient to you

This made me really sad. You know your brother’s lonely and is reaching out to you and you ignore him?
Have you never been close and genuinely don’t get along? The pictures from the toilet is weird I’ll give you that.

My guess is she is lonely too. I went through a phase of my life where I was intensely lonely and it’ was awful. Loneliness has worst health effects to than smoking. Having no one to tell the small details of your life to was dreadful. I felt like I didn’t exist. I used to wish that when I was out someone would say, ‘excuse me are you ok? You look sad’ just because I was so desperate to be seen.

So I’d check if she was ok. And I’d also keep saying ‘Cool!’ Or ‘Enjoy’ to her texts. It’s very little effort from you and clearly means something to her.

Are you not a bit worried about her?

Ignore it. If she asks why, say the messages didn't seem to call for any response. If she persists, let her know that you don't really need the running commentary on her life.

If she’s a good friend, be one back and check if she’s ok.

Doesn’t look like it.

Instead just prefers to start a thread whinging about her friend

I'm afraid I'm one of these annoying people, desperate to hold on to the friend I have, craving her attention, asking her to meet up, sending her a photo of my massive colourful salad I have for my tea, or asking her what she's got for tea or asking her if she's having a nice time on holiday, just trying to chat and keep a connection up. Its actually heartbreaking when I don't get a response or I'm told "I'll chat when I'm back from holiday". Or just see she's read my message but can't be asked to reply.

I long for a friend to drop in on me for a coffee or to go swimming with, or to the cinema or go for a dog walk. My life is fairly empty. I'm depressed and in a state of anxiety and mask quite well so i don't think people realise. You can't make people spend time with you or go out with you. Its hard.

She's generally a good friend in other ways, when she does interact. She helps me out with my hobby (as her job interacts with my hobby), when I injured myself she helped me with her expert knowledge and skills, she asks me how I am and lends me her stuff, but on the downside we can go weeks without any communication or I'll suggest going out for a night on a day i know suits her and she'll say she can't make it but then suggest that because its not mutually convenient its 'my way or the highway' which if course is not my intention. I find it very hard to navigate. Its harder when I remember a time when we were so much closer and used to spend lots of time together.

I find it hard to gravitate relationships at times, I'm on the spectrum so maybe that's why I'm clingy, I don't know. I certainly don't try to be. If anything I'm a very independent person but I'm just very lonely I guess...

@HangryBrickShark have you told your friend that you are depressed and lonely?

Ignore some, send a heart to some. Maybe reply with a more meaningful update yourself once a week on what you're doing

I have a full time job! I can’t be responding to his inane messages all day. He needs to get off his phone and live his life rather than lying in bed spamming people with drivel and TikTok memes.

I have four other siblings and he’s doing the same to them, and probably a lot of other people too.

Send me a direct message. Happy to talk about massive colourful salads and whatever else. Also on the spectrum so I get it.

Just heart a few, or send her a catch up once a day or every other day of your life. She’s lonely.

I know someone who posts like that on Facebook eg I’ve just had an amazing brew !!!!

Oh my god. Is the thumbs up emoji passive aggressive? I use it all the time 😳

She obviously means HIIT!

Yes it’s really passive aggressive.