This Guy Stopped Responding to My Emails. Did I Insult Him?

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Written by: Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Known as America's Relationship Expert, Dr. Wendy Walsh is an award-winning television journalist, radio host & podcaster, and the author of three books on relationships and thousands of print and digital articles. More than 1.5 million people follow her sage advice on social media. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and teaches in the Psychology Department at California State University Channel Islands and has been the host of "The Dr. Wendy Walsh Show" on iHeart Radio's KFI AM 640 since 2015. Walsh is also a former Emmy-nominated co-host of "The Doctors," as well as former host of the nationally syndicated show "EXTRA." She was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2017 after speaking out about harassment at a major news network.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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Reader Question:

I like this guy in one of my classes and began to email him after the semester ended. In his last email to me, he stated that he didn’t have a job. I, just making small talk to make the email longer, wrote that he should find a job to keep busy for the summer. I didn’t mean anything by that, honest.

He stopped emailing me after that email. I sent him another email with my number a couple of days later, saying we can talk on the phone, hoping he could get a hint that I was into him, job or no job. He still did not respond. I just want to know if I insulted him in anyway so I will not make the same mistake next time. But honestly, I do not think I did or said anything wrong.

-Ann C. (New York)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

This is the problem with digital communication. It is devoid of body language, vocal tone, eye contact, facial expressions and even smells. Text and email communication is like listening to your favorite band without the drummer or vocalist. You can recognize the song but you miss the passion.

Yes, guys are sensitive about not having gainful employment. Maybe he did feel judged. If you don’t have his phone number, you might email an explanation email, an apology and one more suggestion to call you directly. If he doesn’t do that, he’s not the one for you.


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