On instant messaging.

[stephmog]

Oh, look. This chat window is not a telephone conversation. That is the BEAUTY of these things. It's a *window*. I like a window on a friend, to glance through it occasionally to check in, but some other people seem to like to press up against the window and howl like a rain-drenched sad cat. I didn't fire up my laptop to speak to just you. Sorry,

Comments

[softfruit]

"It's an asynchronous communication medium"

I find I have to say this to just about every single person I ever add to MSN type things*. And then explain it. And then be told I'm WRONG.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrumble.

* must learn to stop saying this now it's being abolished

[minnesattva]

It's being abolished?

[softfruit]

Merged with skype, if I have the right end of the stick

[stephmog]

MSN is being swallowed up into Skype.

[erjholton]

In terms of immediacy, I place instant messaging between email and telephone calls. I feel IMs obligate me to respond to a conversation starter in a far more timely manner than the former, and I feel neglectful if I've missed one completely.

Past the start it starts depending somewhat on the conversation's tempo. If it has been quite lively, I'll make sure to excuse myself if I need to break it off; conversely, if it has tapered to nothing then I won't feel bad doing so without warning; and if I need to be away for an extended period, or be undisturbed, I'll generally shutdown the program or set my status to something appropriate.

On the flipside, if I try to open a conversation with someone who has an IM status of "Online", "Available", or similar and get no reply, I might try again 5 - 10 minutes later (we all have distractions), but then I'll give up. Any other status, I likely won't even try to start a conversation unless there is a specific need to get in touch.