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March 16, 2004
The Instant Instant

Instant Messanging is a strange little world. All day, most days, I'm signed in. I often forget and just never log off, even if I go out or go to bed. Usually, though, sadly, when you see me on IM, I'm sitting right here. Sigh.

There's a small group of people in my Buddy List, maybe 8 or so, who seem to be online as much as I am. I say seem to be because like me, they may not often turn it off, even if they're not actually there. It's a popular rationalization. Truth is, I don't know because most days I don't talk to them.

That's the weird part. It's like being in the same room as my friends -- some ex-coworkers, minor aquantances and people I haven't talked to in years -- and not talking to them. We both know we're there (despite pretending to ourselves that we "do other stuff"), but neither wants to be the first to write and be saddled with resposibility for the conversation. If you write first, it's understood that you have something important to share, like this.

Other times I have two friends online who I know are talking to each other, but not to me. Sometimes I'm talking to one of them, but I know they're talking to the other one. Then they'll both sign off at the same time, so I know they're going to do something together. This is when I wish I lived closer to my friends. It doesn't make me bitter, very much.

In conclusion, it's a strange, new type of communication. It's old in many ways, and shares similarities with various other kinds of communication, on several levels. Still, it's a unique combination and has some original aspects. It is yet to be seen what the effect on society, or on me, will be.

I'm signing off. American Idol's on.

Comments

Previous Comments

IMettique !!

grr

i meant IMetiquette

guess the first rule might have something to do with spelling.