This page is the metaphorical sign I point at when people ask me about why I do instant messaging the way I do. Call it a FAQ, if you like. And in case the term isn't as pervasive as I think it is, from this point forward, I use "IM" as shorthand for "instant messenger" or "instant message" (interchangeably, as verb or noun, as the situation sees fit). - I'm only signed-on to IM services grudgingly. It's either (a) so I can be reached by co-workers on work-related matters, or (b) so I can have an IM "presence" to get people off my back about it.
- I'm not interested in signing-up for more IM accounts than I already have (that's AIM and Google Jabber, for those keeping track). I'm trying to reduce the number of accounts and passwords I need to keep track of, and making more does not help that goal (try getting hacked sometime and you'll probably feel as I do). I also don't like being signed-into more than one IM service at the same time. I disabled Facebook's chat feature. Why would I need it when I already have two IM accounts I can be reached at?
- I generally don't like being interrupted. I already have an aversion to telephones, so IM is not something I'm crazy about either. Though one thing it has going for it over telephones is the fact that it's not as "in the now". In a phone conversation, there's pressure to keep talking, to avoid awkward silences and keep the discussion going (more so than in a live conversation, where there's visual stuff going on too). With an IM conversation, I can ignore someone for hours, and reply to them when I feel like it. Can you tell I'm an introvert? (Paradoxically, I actually prefer the phone for casual social interaction.)
- I usually set my status as "away", even when I'm not. This has the side benefit of deflecting most casual social-calls. But the main reason I do it is because I can't be bothered to change it to reflect reality. I don't need to tell the world I went to lunch. I also don't need to keep telling them I'm at lunch at 5pm, because I forgot to change it back. If you IM me and I don't answer, chances are that I'm either not there, or I'm ignoring you. If it's urgent, pick up a phone. If I'm really going to be "away", I'll sign-off.
My apologies if the tone of this is a bit snarky, but I got tired of explaining the above points every time someone had issues with the way I use IM. |
|
