100 Reasons Why He Hasn't Responded To Your Text
You make the decision to send him a text. You find the perfect witty excuse. You re-write it…twice. You spend three minutes deciding if an exclamation point is too eager. You erase and re-enter a smiley face—too desperate? You consult with a girlfriend. You take a deep breath. You press 'send.' And then he doesn't respond.
There's nothing worse than an unreciprocated text, it's the modern-day equivalent of getting stood up (but worse, because it remains in your phone as a constant reminder of your failed flirting). Before you beat yourself up and vow to cancel your unlimited texting plan, read this list of the of the 100 reasons—the good, the bad, the far-fetched, the fun, and the really depressing—why he hasn't responded to your text.
- His phone died
- There was a family emergency
- He was just eating something sticky and hasn't gotten around to washing his hands
- He's in jail
- His phone was stolen
- He realized his friend likes you, so bro code says he shouldn't text you back
- He's driving
- He has mono
- You texted the wrong guy
- He's worried his phone is being wiretapped and he doesn't want to incriminate himself
- He saved your number as something funny ("Candy the Stripper") and forgot who it was
- He forgot to get your number so he doesn't know who texted him
- He read the text in his sleep and then thought it was a dream
- He didn't get the joke you just made and feels stupid
- He forgot to pay his phone bill and his account has been cancelled
- He was really angry and threw his phone against the wall
- He has the iPhone "drunk dialer app" and he can't figure out how to unlock his phone
- He's not a big texter, he prefers talking on the phone
- He's trying to think of something funny to say
- He is taking a (really long) nap
- He's worried you only texted him as a joke or to win a bet (circa every teen movie from the '90s)
- He's gay
- He talked to one of your ex-boyfriends who told him you're a psycho
- He's watching a sports game
- He thought the pimple on your lip was herpes
- He broke all of his fingers in an arm wrestle
- He has a girlfriend
- His jealous ex-girlfriend deleted the text before he saw it
- He is under the Imperius Curse and has been instructed by Voldemort to ignore you
- His Mom cancelled the account because he never calls her
- He left his phone in a public bathroom
- He's waiting another hour so he doesn't look desperate
- His phone fell out of his pocket in his car and he can't reach the spot under the seat
- He heard a rumor about you and is trying to figure out if it's true before he texts you back
- He's bummed you stole his thunder and texted him first
- He dropped his phone in the toilet
- He knows you have friends who write for Her Campus and doesn't want to be on the next Asshole-O-Meter
- He has an STD…he's doing you a favor.
- He decided texting is ruining his social skills so only wants to talk to you in person
- He's in class and actually puts his phone on silent
- He is on a plane to Australia
- He still can't figure out how to use T9
- He's at the gym
- His childhood pet just died and he's too sad to flirt
- He thought the outfit you wore to the mixer was supposed to be serious
- He doesn't like you. (Sorry)
- He's stoned
- He's stoned and involved in a serious round of Mario Kart
- He thinks that he texted you back, but he's currently sexting one of the other 23 Sarah's in his phone by mistake
- He lost a bet and isn't allowed to talk to hot girls for 30 days
- He doesn't get service on campus
- He can't read
- He doesn't speak English
- He's still drunk
- He left his phone in the pocket of his pants, which are now in the laundry
- He got diagnosed with a particularly painful case of carpel tunnel syndrome
- He's a concert pianist who needs to rest his fingers before a big concert
- He stalked you on Facebook and thought your joke relationship status was real
- You're his TA
- He realized he once hooked up with your sister
- He's waiting until 2am so he doesn't have to talk to you sober
- He forgot that girls like to text even if we have nothing to say
- He's an Orthodox Jew who observes Shabbat—and you texted him on Friday night
- He's madly in love with you and doesn't think he'll be able to engage in small talk without passionately declaring his feelings. And that would be weird.
- You used an obscure emoticon or said "lol", "u 2," or "g2g" in your text to him, so he knew it wouldn't work out
- He works for the CIA
- He's pledging a frat...enough said
- He doesn't want you to find out that he's really 35 and married
- Because you also emailed, skyped, g-chatted, tweeted, Facebooked, called, and faxed him
- He's in love with your best friend
- He gave up technology for Lent
- He just got a manicure and doesn't want to mess it up* (*SEE NUMBER 22)
- He's busy
- He caught you Facebook stalking him in the library
- He's texting his sister at the same time and doesn't want to send the wrong text to the wrong girl (disaster!)
- He has decided to become Amish since you last spoke
- He's broke and assumes texting you will lead to spending money on you
- He's taking a vow of silence
- He heard you're texting half of his fraternity as well
- He sobered up
- He's at work
- He's running a marathon
- He's at a movie marathon
- His phone died and he can't find the charger
- He's considering joining the priesthood
- He heard you're actually a classy, nice girl, and he's not into that
- He doesn't want to lead you on
- He's with his bros and doesn't want to be caught "cute" texting
- He's involved in an intense game of World of Warcraft (this is not your loss)
- He's on the phone with his Mom
- He doesn't have a texting plan?
- His phone is buried under the mountain of laundry he's waiting to take home over break
- He's too busy analyzing the new Kanye West album
- He thinks you're out of his league
- He prefers high school girls
- Your text didn't warrant a response
- He's in shock
- He's having a "guy's night"
- He forgot
- Because it's only been, like, twenty minutes. Calm the eff down, girl