8 texts men with poor social skills send without realizing how they come across

If he sends you a one-word text, you know he’s not much of a talker; if he texts you at odd hours, you know he’s got no sense of timing.

Texting has become a major part of how we communicate, but not everyone has mastered the art of conveying the right tone through their messages.

Yet, it’s not always simple to decode—especially when it comes to men with poor social skills.

Men with poor social skills might send texts that come across in unintended ways, making interactions awkward or misunderstood.

Without further ado, here are 8 common types of texts men with poor social skills might send—without realizing how they actually come across to others:

1) The one-word reply

When a person sends a well-thought-out text, maybe even a paragraph, to a man and all they get in return is a “k” or a “cool” is like tossing a ball and having it drop dead in the middle of the field.

For men with poor social skills, this is often their go-to move.

They’re not trying to be dismissive or rude; they just don’t know any better.

They think they’re doing the receiver a favor by keeping it short and sweet, not realizing that they come across as uninterested or even rude.

It’s a classic text faux pas, the kind that makes the receiver question whether they even read their message in the first place—if only he knew how much more engaging a conversation could be with just a bit more effort.

2) The unsolicited advice

Now, this one’s a personal pet peeve of mine.

I remember chatting with a guy who had a knack for offering advice when I didn’t ask for it.

I’d mention having a rough day, and instead of a simple “I’m sorry to hear that” or “hope things get better”, I’d get a full-blown lecture on how to manage my time better or how to stay positive.

He thought he was being helpful, but it came across as him trying to fix me when all I wanted was someone to listen—it was as if my feelings were problems to be solved, not experiences to be acknowledged.

And that’s the thing with men who lack social skills: They often mistake empathy for problem-solving, not realizing that sometimes, all we need is a listening ear, not an unsolicited advice column.

3) The late-night text

Late-night texts are a common habit among men with poor social skills.

These men might think it’s a casual gesture, but it can disrupt sleep and invade personal boundaries.

Research from the Washington and Lee University even shows that irregular texting patterns, like late-night messages, can create stress and anxiety—it’s about the content of the message and its timing.

Not only does late-night texting cause stress and anxiety but, rather, it also stems from its root effect—it highlights that stressed people tend to text more in the middle of the night, potentially disrupting sleep and exacerbating feelings of exhaustion, thinking that texting will alleviate their stress for the time being (but, quite frankly, it only makes it worse).

4) The constant texter

Some men with poor social skills just don’t understand the concept of giving space.

People can expect these men to flood their inbox with a barrage of texts, one after the other, not realizing that it can be overwhelming—they’re keeping the conversation alive or showing their interest, but in reality, they’re crossing a line of personal space and time.

The key to good communication isn’t how much a person says, but how well they say it.

And, sometimes, less truly is more.

5) The emoji overload

To shed more light into this topic, let me share another experience of mine: I once received a text that looked more like a hieroglyphic puzzle than a message.

It was from a guy who had a habit of using emojis, lots of them, to express himself; a single sentence would be followed by a parade of smileys, hearts, and thumbs-up.

While he probably thought it was fun and expressive, to me, it felt juvenile and confusing—I spent more time deciphering the emojis than understanding the message.

I learned the hard way that too many emojis can muddle the message and make serious conversations seem trivial.

It’s important to strike a balance between words and emojis for clear communication.

6) The non-responder

I’ve been talking about men who text too much, but what about those who don’t text back at all?

Yes, men with poor social skills can sometimes be the ones who leave their receivers hanging.

The receiver send a question, or share something exciting, and… silence—it feels like you’re talking to a wall.

These men might think they’re playing it cool or keeping the person they’re talking to intrigued but, in reality, it just comes across as disinterest or disrespect.

Communication is a two-way street, after all—for a conversation to flow naturally, responses are just as important as initiating messages.

7) The vague texter

Men with poor social skills are the type to send messages that leave the receiver scratching their head, wondering what on earth they’re trying to say.

Whether it’s an ambiguous “maybe” or a noncommittal “we’ll see”, their messages often leave anyone in a limbo of confusion.

This creates unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding, and not at all mysterious as they’d want it to be.

Clear and direct communication is the way to go.

8) The unsolicited picture sender

This is a big no-no in text communication, yet some men with poor social skills seem to miss the memo.

They might think they’re being flirty or forward, but sending unsolicited pictures, especially of a personal or intimate nature, can be invasive and inappropriate.

It’s vital to respect boundaries and ensure the other person is comfortable with the type and level of sharing in a conversation.

Consent is key in all forms of communication, and texting is no exception.

Wrapping it all up

If you’ve made it this far, you know that navigating text communication can be tricky, especially with men who have poor social skills.

Communication is a skill that can be learned and improved, and—ultimately—understanding requires patience and empathy.

So, when you get one of these texts, remember that everyone is on their own journey of learning and growth.

As the great Maya Angelou once said, “We do the best we can with what we know, and when we know better, we do better.”

It’s a thought worth holding onto as we navigate through the complex web of human interaction.