Shanli Liu offers three ways to stop a text argument: quit texting and admit it's the wrong medium, switch to a call or voice message so tone comes through, and ask how someone meant something before you assume. Text kills nuance.
How to stop an argument over text. Number 1, stop texting. Don't make passive-aggressive comments like, "K," or, "Fine," or write paragraphs and paragraphs that only make it worse. Drop it and say, "I don't feel like text is the best way to communicate this." Number 2, let them hear your voice. Pick up the phone and call them or leave them an audio message or meet them face-to-face. They have to hear your voice to hear the tone for you to say, "Hey, I just want to make sure my text wasn't being misconstrued. I actually meant that in a positive way." Clear the air by letting them hear your tone. And number 3, that goes for you too. Before you assume somebody else's tone or decide how they said something, take a pause to get clarification. The best way to do that is to ask to hear how they said it. So try that and follow me.
