The message keeps getting longer
If each response requires more explanation than the one before it, the conversation is probably losing context. More words do not necessarily create more understanding.
You are discussing how the last message sounded
Once the exchange shifts from the issue to tone, punctuation, intent, or what someone “really meant,” the medium has become part of the problem.
Emotion is driving the timing
A fast response can feel productive while making the situation worse. Pause long enough to decide whether the message needs to be sent, rewritten, or moved to a conversation.
Use the face-to-face test
Ask whether you would say the same thing, in the same way, if the person were standing in front of you. If the answer is no, stop typing. A direct conversation may be harder in the moment, but it often prevents a longer and more damaging exchange.