Better boilerplate for text default replies?
October 26, 2015 10:20 AM   Subscribe

Both Messages and Mail for the Apple Watch have customizable lists of default replies that you can use to insta-reply to incoming messages. Especially for texting, I'm finding that the pre-provided replies beyond "okay" are pretty useless. What are better, handier ideas for a useful quick pre-written text message?

Mostly so far I've ended up using this for making and changing meet-up arrangements while moving around, but there are probably a lot of other use cases that I just haven't thought of yet, so there's no need to limit suggestions to that scenario.

Example ideas (feedback welcome):
* "See you there!"
* "I'm here now." and "Where are you?"
* "I'll be there in [5/10/30] minutes" (but what times would work best? and how many options?)
* "Where?" or "When?" for clarifying a future plan — but maybe it's better for this to be a little more detailed/less curt; what's the best wording?
* "You can pick where and when, just let me know."

(Handy, common pre-written text messages seem like something that there ought to be a list of somewhere on the Internet by now, but I haven't turned one up; feel free to link if you know of a resource. Most of the how-to articles I've seen about this specific feature just say something useless like "fill in replies that sound more like yourself," or have placeholder dumb jokes instead of suggestions. And if you're going to be autoreplying with a single joke all the time, it had better be a really good one.)
posted by RogerB to Computers & Internet (10 answers total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I'd do "I'd be there in five" but I could see that changing on what transit is like where you live. I also use "en route" constantly as an, on my way sort of thing.

I'd just use where/when. I don't find it curt.

I also use "I'm flexible" a lot
posted by KernalM at 10:40 AM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: On my way.
Running late.
posted by jaguar at 10:47 AM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: I use:
"Cool! Do you have a ballpark ETA?"
"En route, looking forward to seeing you"
"I'm flex, just let me know where/when"

I leave off exclamation marks as I find they get a little chirpy, but I do use very friendly/enthusiastic wording.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: I love this question and can't wait to see the replies because I struggle with the same thing. I've added "Hang on one sec..." to my watch for times when I have to bail in the middle of a conversation (driving, I get a phone call, etc). As I scroll though my replies right now, it looks like "Hang on one sec." is on the default list so I guess I'm not as clever as I thought.

I also added, "Leaving now!" which, yes, is a variation of the default "On my way!" but I feel like it's more personal. Beyond that, I have a couple of responses that are specific to my husband. Do you find yourself saying the same things to specific friends? You could toss those on the list too.
posted by _Mona_ at 10:49 AM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: I recently added one that says, "I'm tied up, but definitely want to talk about this soon."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:33 AM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: I'm driving so I can't reply right now.
posted by soelo at 11:59 AM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I use shortcode xx for

-- [my name] [my phone number]

which I find handy to append to texts being sent to people I don't know well or who are not in my contact list

and ddd for

I’m driving right now and will reply as soon as I can do safely. If it’s urgent, call me at [my number]

obviously, I don't check texts while driving, and send that after pulling over momentarily, and use that one when someone pulls the "I'll reply to your attempt to call me with a text because I'm in a meeting" trick.
posted by randomkeystrike at 12:16 PM on October 26, 2015


Best answer: I added 'Dude.'


Covers just about anything and everything.
posted by culfinglin at 1:15 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer:
  • Headed your way.
  • Sounds Good!
  • Looking forward to it!

posted by gregr at 1:27 PM on October 26, 2015


Can't talk, in the can.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:04 AM on June 23, 2016


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