Drupal and IM

[giza]

Yes, I know about The Drupal Association. 3 different people have told me in the last 24 hours. Y'all can stop telling me now. [Edit: But I appreciate folks thinking of me, though!]

Anyway, while I'm rambling, I wanted to briefly mention IM. No, I'm not in IM much anymore. I found it to be too distracting during the evenings while I'm trying to work on a website or just want to chill in front of the TV for a bit.

And what is it with people who I do not know, that keep trying to get my attention via IM, and then flip out when I don't give them 100% of my attention and reply instantly? I have no idea who you are -- which means I'm not likely to start up a conversation with you, okay? Is there any particular reason why you are unable to use email to communicate with me?

I'll shut up now.

Comments

[baconcoyote.livejournal.com]

I hear ya about the IM situation! While I love to chat.. ever since I became a fur and started posting on message boards I've gained a lot of furiends on my YIM list. While I'm one who enjoys chatting online, a lot of the time I just can't give full attention to conversations because Im doing something else, then I feel like I'm ignoring people who want to chat ^^ It can be a pain sometimes, especially when you're trying to get something done on the comp!

I need to use invisible more often ^^

[omnibahumut.livejournal.com]

Hey by the way, thought I'd let you know about the Drupal... erm, nevermind.

[giza.livejournal.com]

[omnibahumut.livejournal.com]

lmao *screams like a raving rabbid*

[omnibahumut.livejournal.com]

[giza.livejournal.com]

Good guess, but I wasn't referring to Rayman. Wanna try again? :-)

[simbab.livejournal.com]

Too bad Jabber in Gaim doesn't support invisible mode. At least you have pretty explicit control over who is subscribed to your presence, but I'd still like to have some people see me some times and not others.

[particle-mann.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine who's lived on both coasts has a theory about this that seems to make a lot of sense. Culturally, for reasons unknown, people on the east and west coasts tend to view the nature of im differently. For east coasters im is, as you say, like email, and so response times are expected to be slow as the window is just a background task. For west coasters like myself im is supposed to be real time, basically like a phone call. And if it takes 5 minutes between replies on a phone call, well, that's kind of rude :) I'm curious if the people that are bugging you most about this fit that breakdown.

Also, much like a phonecall, it would seem the most polite way to handle things if you can't devote your full attention (or a reasonable portion thereof) to the conversation would be to say that you're busy and you'll buzz them later, or put up an away message.

This was entirely too serious and reasoned a reply for the question :P

[elfasi.livejournal.com]

I've tried chatting to you on IM but gave up after you wandered off for hours between replies ;). Email isn't the same though, I see email as communicating with a specific purpose in mind, a specific thing wanting to be said. IM is mainly chat, wanting to get to know someone or talk about things in common. I would like to chat to you :)

[giza.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's my fault and I apologize. The problem is that I really DO have a tendency to wander off in real life, and you're not the only person I've "wandered away from".

I can understand your point of topicality in email vs IM, though.

[delphi-of-clf.livejournal.com]

IM's are easier, and most people are always looking for instant gratification.

But no, I've not IM'ed you. I generally just contact people I hardly see via Livejournal. :)

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Yes, IM can be very distracting. I consider IM just like voicemail...If I get up from the PC for awhile, I'll answer it when I get back.

I don't know why anyone treats IM as an instant reply. If they wanted that, they'd call you...