You have probably sent a message to someone you care about and did not get a response.
The dead air that came afterward wrenched your heart more than the three tiny dots of an impending response could. But would the non-response be considered a type of response?
Different scenarios may already be floating in your brain:
- Did they get into an accident? Are they dead?
- Did they no longer care?
- Is there a change in the relationship? Are we no longer close?
- Are they with someone else?
If it’s a business type of communication, you may think?
- Did I fail to impress the employers?
- Am I fired?
- Are they doing everything without me? Don’t they need me?
No matter who the other person is, knowingly sending a non-response is a strong message in itself.
It can mean some of these things:
- They are having fun without you.
- They don’t care much about what you think or feel.
- You have not been chosen for the job.
- You are no longer needed.
These are some powerful and painful possibilities. Of course, you should not jump to conclusions.
Here are a few things that you must consider:
What Message Did You Send?
One of the first things to consider when you receive silence is the type of message you sent.
Is it something that you send all the time? Was there anything special about it? Is it personal?
So, if you have been texting with a friend or lover, you expect some response. A little emoji or reaction is better than nothing at all.
It is especially true if you have sent the message to the right person. Yes, you do have to consider whether you have sent it to the wrong number or not. However, it may not be the case if their number is recorded on your phone, anyway.
Once you have confirmed that the right person was sent the message, assuming they got it, think about your last conversation. Was there anything monumental that you had discussed? Is the chat still going on as usual, at the same pace?
Think about an intense conversation. Your loved one may be seeking some reprieve and may want you to give them a little space. So, in this case, the non-response is a sort of response.
However, dead silence from a person who usually sends a quick reply may be a little off. If they were not in an accident or did not have technical issues, something about their feelings has changed.
If you were sending a message to customer service, you might not always get a quick response. Everyone may be busy dealing with other customers.
Unfortunately, the customer experience you will get from some companies is not always stellar. There will be days when you will not get a delayed response.
What Method of Communication Did You Use?
When using some methods of communication, it may be harder for you to know if your message has been read or not.
For example, if you sent a text message, you may have to wait for a bit to find out why there was a delayed response – or even a non-response.
Your call going into voicemail can mean so many different things, as well. The phone could have been lost or destroyed. It could have been shoved at the bottom of a bag, or perhaps your loved one is in a no-phones type of meeting.
What if you sent an email? Again, here you may be at the receiving end of silence. The poor response time can mean so many things. It feels even worse when you are waiting for a critical response.
For example, you just had a job interview. You are waiting for some good news – or even bad news if it will end your suffering. Time will feel even slower than if you expected some random, casual email.
You do have to craft your emails carefully. Make sure the email has the appropriate subject line, for example. Perhaps the company may be prioritizing certain emails for the day. Maybe there was a template you had to follow, and you did not. So, the non-response can be a hint of disapproval.
It is normal to feel like you are entitled to immediate response. You want answers. In this case, canned replies cannot give you the comfort you need. They do not provide you with the information that you need. It is still critical to getting a response from a human being.
Canned replies, however, may work well for texts. Your loved one may just click on one of the possible replies while busy. This way, you don’t have to worry.
Because no matter how you look at it, a person who cares about your reaction and feelings will try to respond as soon as possible. For them, a delayed response can only happen when there is an accident or a massive technical issue.
Did you send One or More Messages?
Sometimes, you can clarify the non-response by sending another message.
Perhaps, they did not get the first one.
Yes, it is possible!
Perhaps, the first message got stuck in network traffic. It has happened to me before. I waited a lot for a response. Then, when I was about to send my second message, it pushed the first one.
For emails, you can forward your original email. This way, your contact will see that you had already attempted earlier.
With Messenger, Whatsapp, and other online chat apps, your recipient cannot even deny that they got the message. It will be marked as read.
So, if they are not replying to you despite that, you are being sent a clear and powerful message.
Were there Any Technical Issues Encountered?
Another consideration we must look at is the possibility of a technical issue.
It can, however, be checked through the follow-up message or even by checking the news for any network or power outage in the person’s area.
Is Not Getting a Response a Powerful Response in Itself?
Yes, it is. You may be waiting for words or emojis, but the absence of either may be the answer you have been waiting for.
Of course, you must take the response against the context of your relationship together. Some people just don’t reply right away. So, a non-response from time to time is usual. But when you see each other again, they may put all your fears at ease.
On the other hand, a person who used to be so warm and quick to reply tells you something with that silence. They want you to know that not everything is the same.
It may be a response to what you have done or simply a decision they must take. If they have been too quiet for too long, they are not brave enough to face you. They need to give you at least some closure. On the other hand, others just want a little bit of time.
A non-response does not always mean goodbye. It may mean disappointment, pain, or any other temporary feeling. They may have been hurt by something you said.
It is also possible that it is just as simple as the person forgetting their phone or being too busy. You may just need to wait a little for a delayed response.
Conclusion
No response is a response. But just like any other type of language or communication, it needs context. It requires you to examine the relationship you have with the person.
You must also know the type of personality you are dealing with. Is the non-response a consistent part of them, or is it an anomaly? If you are looking for a solution to this problem, you can try Text Chemistry.
If you are dealing with businesses, it may just be a matter of them being too busy. Sadly, it could also mean they are not managing their operations well enough.
