When I start talking to someone, the number one thing I look for is chemistry. Can they keep up with banter? Can they make me laugh? How easily do they open up? All these traits are crucial to the beginning of any type of relationship, be it platonic or romantic.

As social media has made it easier for people to get in touch, and Snapchat has convinced the world that a conversation can be a slew of ceiling photos, the emergence of a dry texter has posed a new complication to getting to know a person.

The plight of any digital conversation is the dry texter. The grandparents, upset friends or oblivious DMs. A person who brings good conversation to a crashing halt. When someone is dry texting, junior Carmen Cruz remarks, she “Just stops texting. Period.”

Texting has its own language when it comes to conversation. Different spellings of ‘okay’ can mean different things, as can periods and capitalization; everything posing subtle signals of how the person on the other end is feeling. These tone indicators are the body language of digital conversation.

Sometimes, a one-word text or a period can mean they are mad at you or just not feeling good that day. “They want to be asked what’s wrong…it’s the whole purpose of being dry,” said senior Ella Ridgeway.

When it comes to dry texters, Ridgeway has experienced her share; but within that cluster of intentional dry texters, there are some of her closest friends who are ignorant of texting habits in general.

“I cope with either responding back with dryness to give them a taste of their own medicine,” said Ridgeway. In most instances, this can help the dry texter realize what they are doing and self-correct to become more engaged.

In other instances, sitting down and talking with that person or even calling them can allow that human interaction they can’t convey over text.

Conversation is evolving, and although many might say for the worst, I would like to believe it is giving us a better opportunity to convey what we need in a conversation. If you are faced with a dry texter, be honest with them if you aren’t enjoying the conversation. A multi syllable response is never too much to ask.