Is it rude to use haha or lol just to keep a chat moving?

[JerryLH]

I’ve noticed that when I’m texting with someone, I’ll sometimes send a quick “haha” or “lol” just to keep the exchange moving, even if I didn’t actually find something funny. It feels like a social lubricant, but I’m starting to wonder if it makes my digital communication feel less genuine over time.

[Samuel_D]

Yep, I did that too. It felt like a reflex to keep the convo moving, especially after a long day. I’d send a laugh even when nothing actually struck me.

[Kenneth51]

I started pausing before hitting send, or swapping it for a simple 'sounds good' when I didn’t mean it as a joke. Sometimes that felt weird, but I noticed the convo felt more honest.

[MatthewT]

Do you think the other person actually notices, or is it more about the way you feel about the flow of the chat?

[Mia_T]

One time I watched a thread stretch on and realized the laughs were doing most of the lifting. Then I tried to skip them and the pace slowed, and I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. Maybe the real issue isn’t the joke itself but how we read the vibe of the other person in real time.