61 Hilarious Messages People Didn't Have A Reply For Until This Online Group Stepped In

Texting seems like a pretty simple ordeal: you type something, send it, and reply once you get a response. Yet people make it quite complicated: how do you write a text with the right vibe? How do you leave a good impression with a text on a potential future partner? And how do you deal with the other person opting to reply with only a "seen?"

If you've ever pondered any of these questions, you might have texting anxiety. Luckily, you're not the only one. According to a 2018 study by Viber, one in three people stress about texting daily. This includes things beyond just what to reply: unanswered messages and the sheer volume they receive add to the stress, too.

When we text, we communicate in more complicated ways than just saying "Yes" or "No." We use emojis, GIFs, pop culture references, abbreviations, soundbites, and other means of expression we wouldn't use in face-to-face communication. Different groups also have different texting etiquette. 

A 75-year-old gentleman from France probably wouldn't know what "idk," "ahh," or "chopped" means. But to a young American, these words and abbreviations are part of their everyday texting lingo. This is part of where our texting anxiety comes from: we're afraid to break the rules of a certain group's texting etiquette and seem like outsiders: uncool, othered, and misunderstood.

Experts note that how we react to texting depends on our attachment styles. This is especially true when we're waiting for a reply, and it doesn't come as quickly as we expected. Research shows that a person's attachment style can predict how they will react to an unanswered text. For example, if they have an anxious attachment style, they're more likely to interpret a lack of response as threatening.

An unanswered text is a socially ambiguous situation. Those with anxious attachment style often have trouble interpreting them correctly. This applies to people who have heightened social rejection sensitivity as well. Psychologists explain that people who are sensitive to rejection often anticipate rejection and expect to be ghosted, told "No," or to be left on read. So, they find it harder to reply to ambiguous texts or interpret silence from the other end as anger, disappointment, or avoidance.

How long does it take for you to feel anxiety about the "seen" prompt on a message app? Or how long are you able to stand seeing the three dots indicating that the other person is replying, but the reply never comes? One study with Japanese college-age women found that people are very quick to assume the worst. The first emotions that the participants reported feeling once seeing the word "seen" were anxiety and sadness. We're much more likely to jump to conclusions that someone is ignoring us on purpose rather than thinking they're just busy.

What about you, Pandas? Have you ever needed help with drafting a text? Did you ever ask someone to help you compose a witty, impressive text? Tell us all about it in the comments below! And if you're in the mood for scrolling through some more funny text conversations, check out some of our previous publications here and here!