I can’t tell you how often I receive an email like this,

“Chris, I am trying your text message strategies out on my ex but I’m only getting “neutral responses” back. How can I keep him engaged while texting me?”

That is certainly what Becky thought when she sent me a voicemail.

You see, Becky is in a really difficult situation.

Her boyfriend broke up with her and didn’t speak to her for a few weeks. In a moment of panic she penned a letter to him (which I never recommend) and followed up with a few text messages. He has received both the letter and the messages but has only replied in a neutral way which is far from ideal.

This of course leads her to wonder if neutral responses are a good thing or a bad thing?