Texting Dos and Don'ts

Posted by Shealyn Johnson on 10 February 2010 | 1 Comments

Tags: L.A. Dating, Los Angeles

So you used the bar guide, found a new spot in your area and had a fun night out with the girls. To top it off, you met a handsome guy and exchanged numbers and now you’re texting. Talking to a new person is exciting and awkward all at the same time, but here are some hopefully helpful Dos and Don’ts to have in mind before you press send.

DO initiate the conversation. You don’t have to wait for him to text you. Go ahead send him a “Hi”, “How’s your day going”, or “’Sup?” Whatever works for you. Just something to let him know you’re interested.

DON’T initiate every conversation. Of course don’t wait for him, because waiting is never fun. But you shouldn’t be the only person putting in the effort and getting conversations started. Let him show you he’s interested as well.

DO beware of a guy who uses ‘lol’ or ‘lmao’…at all. Why you say? Just picture it, you’re out and about talking to this guy and within your conversation he laughs and says, “Lol”. That’s minus cool points right there. It’s just not cute. A guy shouldn’t say it in person, so he shouldn’t say it in a text. It’s barely acceptable for us ladies.

DON’T riddle your text with ‘lol’s and ‘lmao’s. Really? Really? Are you laughing out loud? Doubt it. And doubt it even more so if it begins and/or ends each text you send. Now I know they’ve become embedded in the texting vernacular so I’m just suggesting cutting down the use to one or two times a day. Plus, whatever happened to the good old ‘haha’. It’s fine when talking to friends but try to cut back when talking to the cute guy you’re interested in.

DO wait before you reply to his text. Reread the text. Think about what you’re going to say. You don’t want to text back the same minute, it seems too eager. Plus, it’s good to make him wait a little. Hopefully he’s as anxious for his phone to buzz as you might be. But don’t wait too long. A minute or so before you press reply.

DON’T send pictures. Face pics or otherwise. Solicited or otherwise. It’s just awkward. What if you don’t continue talking to this person? Now they have random pics of you on their phone to do with what they please. WEIRD. In a flirty way tell him he’ll just have to wait until he sees you again, or he can take a pic of the two of you the next time you hang out.

DO pay close attention to who you’re sending that text to. Especially if you start texting your friends about the guy you’re texting, while you’re texting him. Those 3 seconds your heart stops while you check to see if you forward his cute text back to him instead of to your friend can be scary.

DON’T have a text only relationship. Of course it’s easier and more comfortable in the beginning to text because you can take your time, think about what you’re going to say, but talk on the phone too. See if the connection goes past the flirty text banter. At the least, if plans are made for a date, call to confirm and to let him know you’re looking forward to seeing him.

So those are some Dos and Don’ts to think about before sending that text to the possible new guy in your life. And as much effort as it might seem you’d be putting in to chatting up this the new guy, be sure that he’s thinking about it all just as you are. Whether you agree or disagree, I bet you will think twice before you press that send button.