Why does he always read my messages right after I send them, but then reply later? Why not just hold off on opening them until he has time to reply?

[FloydieL]

So personally, I don’t have concerns over how long someone takes to reply if it’s still within a day, because I take a while myself. But this guy I’m currently talking to/seeing, he always reads my messages within a few mins of me sending them, but then takes 1-2 hrs to reply to them. I’m wondering why doesn’t he just hold off opening the messages until he has time to reply? He didn’t do this until more recently. I am quite busy with things daily so I only open messages & reply when I have time to do so. At the same time, I also understand if someone’s busy and take a few hours to reply, I just don’t really understand why he needs to open them so quickly everyy single time but replies later. It almost makes me think he does it because I take a few hours to reply but I always tell him what I’m up to for the days and why I can’t reply quickly (being at work mostly). I’m not frustrated, I just want to know. Is he just trying to match my pace by not responding so eagerly all the time, yet he’s eager to read my messages once I send them? Or is there something else I should be concerned about?

[_Maya_]

Well maybe if he is at work then he can quickly glance at them but doesn't want to be caught responding. That would be my guess. It is easy to quickly read them. I guess what does it really matter though? If he reads and replies later or just doesn't open them until later. You are getting the reply at the same time either way aren't you? I wouldn't take it to mean anything to be honest. This wouldn't even be a thing for me.

[FloydieL]

You’re right! I’m looking into it a bit too deeply. I take a long time to reply generally and I didn’t want that to be something that bothered him & in turn, do what he’s doing ‘because she doesn’t reply quickly’, since he didn’t do that before. But we’re both busy people and I can’t help with my slow responses either- I’ll look at the bigger picture & focus out of the reading vs response time! Thanks!

[_Maya_]

Hey you are welcome! And don't even sweat it... we all are prone to overthinking things. I do lol.

[Tamera952]

Maybe he wants to formulate a response? Maybe he’s preoccupied? Maybe he thinks you need to chill out & if he replies right away, you won’t stop texting so it’s way of carving out some space? - There’s no way to tell, & you fixating on it is absurd. Don’t put any energy into ‘figuring it out’ …it most likely doesn’t “mean” anything at all.

[strateguy632]

he is checking if you wrote a short question or something urgent. then delay because busy.

[FloydieL]

This makes a lot of sense, if he didn’t want to miss anything if I said something important/urgent. I think it just threw me off a little because I typically just don’t check messages until I have time and count on people to just call me if it’s urgent. But everyone’s different & works in different ways! Thank you!

[spartan55]

Concerned about? You are making an issue where there is none.

[FloydieL]

You couldn’t be more right, with all the other answers I’ve received! I’ll look at the whole picture instead of the little details (being too analytical has its downsides). Thank you!

[provokeesmokee]

Sometimes I like to know who texted and what about, but can't take time to reply right then.

Or I want to think over what to say.

Or I don't have the energy to engage with the sort of presence of mind the message requires.

It's not a big deal, personally, if someone takes a while to respond. It happens.

[boobliker]

how do you know when he reads them, and does it realy matter if you do get a reply I sometimes done

[In_Trance]

Maybe he's checking for urgency but then has to formulate an answer