The 'Dry Texter' Epidemic: How to Keep a Conversation Going (When They Just Say 'lol')

Few things can kill your excitement faster than sending a thoughtful message and getting “lol”, “okay”, or “😂” back. It makes you start wondering if they’re bored, shy, uninterested, or just terrible at texting.

The frustrating part is that some people genuinely like you and still text like expired bread. So before you assume the worst, it helps to know how to handle dry conversations without carrying the entire chat on your head like Lagos traffic stress.

“Am I talking to a wall?” Why dry texting feels so annoying

Good conversations feel balanced. One person says something, the other builds on it. There’s curiosity, energy, small teasing, personality.

Dry texting breaks that rhythm.

When someone keeps replying with:

• “lol”
• “nice”
• “true”
• “okayyy”
• “haha”
• emojis only

…it starts feeling like you’re performing instead of connecting.

And honestly, after a while, it becomes emotionally tiring. Nobody wants to feel like they’re begging a conversation to survive.

First, don’t match dry energy with frustration

A lot of people make this mistake immediately.

They respond with passive-aggressive comments like:

Wow, your replies are so detailed 😭

Or:

You’re such a dry texter abeg

Even if you’re joking, it can create awkwardness fast. Some people become even more withdrawn when they feel judged.

Instead of reacting emotionally, focus on changing the flow of the conversation.

Stop asking questions that lead to dead replies

This is the biggest fix most people miss.

Dry texters often struggle with conversations that feel repetitive or interview-like. If every message is:

• “How was your day?”
• “What are you doing?”
• “Have you eaten?”
• “What’s up?”

…you’re giving them very little to work with emotionally.

Better conversations come from statements, observations, playful opinions, or specific moments.

Instead of:

How was work today?

Try:

I know Lagos traffic probably tested your patience today 😭

Or:

You look like the type that secretly judges people’s music taste.

Now there’s personality in the conversation. There’s something they can react to beyond “fine” or “lol”.

If this is something you struggle with regularly, Sabitok’s dating conversation tools can help you turn dry chats into conversations that actually flow naturally.

Sometimes they’re not dry. They’re just guarded.

This part matters.

Not everyone opens up quickly over text. Some people are more expressive in person, on calls, or after they feel comfortable. Especially if they’ve dealt with weird experiences before.

So instead of assuming “they’re boring”, pay attention to effort in other ways.

Do they:

• reply consistently?
• laugh at your jokes?
• remember things you said?
• continue conversations sometimes?
• respond better to voice notes or memes?

A person can be a weak texter and still genuinely enjoy talking to you.

Give them something easier to respond to

One-word replies often happen because the message itself doesn’t create momentum.

Conversations move better when there’s:

• emotion
• humour
• curiosity
• mild tension
• imagination
• playfulness

For example:

Instead of:

What are you doing?

Try:

Quick question. If somebody gave you a free ticket out of Nigeria tomorrow, are you going or staying?

Or:

You definitely look like somebody that would fight over jollof rankings.

These kinds of messages invite opinions, stories, teasing, and personality.

Dry conversations usually improve when the other person feels something while replying.

Don’t become a full-time entertainer

This is important.

A conversation should not feel like a one-man content creation agency. If you’re constantly carrying the energy while they barely engage, you’ll eventually feel drained.

There’s a difference between helping a shy conversation warm up and forcing chemistry that isn’t there.

If every attempt still leads to:

• delayed replies
• zero curiosity
• no effort back
• constant one-word answers

…then it may not be a texting problem. The interest might simply be low.

And honestly? That’s useful information too.

Voice notes can save a dying chat sometimes

Some people text terribly but come alive through voice notes.

Tone, laughter, timing, and personality come through differently when someone hears your voice. It feels more human and less performative.

A short voice note saying:

I refuse to believe “lol” is the full reaction you had to what I said 😭

…can sometimes shift the entire energy of the conversation.

Just don’t send a 7-minute podcast episode to someone who already struggles to reply. Small and light works better.

The goal is flow, not perfection

You do not need to sound like a comedian, motivational speaker, or relationship guru to keep a conversation alive.

Most people just want interactions that feel easy, engaging, and emotionally safe. That’s it.

And if you keep running into dry chats where you don’t know how to revive the energy, you can explore more real-life conversation help through Sabitok’s relationship communication features. Sometimes the right wording changes everything.