Asking Eric: How to deal with friend who has communication issues

Dear Eric: A childhood friend and I communicate every few months or so via email – brief messages of a few lines. We live across the country from each other. He’s not a techie so we can’t use FaceTime, etc.

In his emails, he wants my thoughts on issues then after I spend considerable time answering and providing my thoughts, I hear nothing back. Crickets.

After not hearing back I asked if he received my email. His response? Nothing.

Recently we were in Europe for five weeks and he emailed wanting to know all about what we saw, the food and the people. I am not going to reply to the latest inquiry as I’m sure I won’t hear back.

He’s a college grad, was a school administrator and seems social. I have decided not to send any details of our most recent trip or any other inquiries that require more than a few, very brief lines. Honestly, I’m totally fed up with putting considerable time and effort into an email only to hear nothing in response. Why do people do this?

– No More

Dear No More: Time to pick up the phone. Even if he doesn’t FaceTime, if he has a computer, it stands to reason he also has a device that will receive phone calls.

If you enjoy communicating with him but hate his bad email etiquette, a quick catch-up phone call takes away the strife. It also creates a great opportunity for you to ask, “If you’re so interested in my thoughts, why don’t you ever write back?”

• Asking Eric: Dying brother won’t apologize for childhood mistreatment
• Asking Eric: Wealthy family member spends cheaply on Christmas gifts
• Asking Eric: Family fixer reaches breaking point but can’t let go
• Asking Eric: How to voice concerns to mentally ill friend
• Asking Eric: Attention paid to new cellphone divides long-married couple

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.