instant messenger
 

hey cd community

just wanted to ask a ? to y'all and get u'r opinions--the great ? is--what do u all think about instant messenger affecting the world of communication--pros and cons about instant messenger--

plz put u'r comments-- i know we use it a lot between buddies and friends--but like what about the business world


thanks


happy trails

-tiff

Re: instant messenger
 

Someone I know once said that instant messaging is "the most bloodless form of communication" and I agree 100%. Now with that said, I use it a lot. It's just convienient, maybe almost too much, I find myself on my computer a lot talking to people and doing other things at the same time.

Anyone else find themselves almost addicted to AIM? Maybe I need to get out of the house more... :]

Re: instant messenger
 

It's capitalization that suffers the most... ;)

Re: instant messenger
 

I never really got into the whole IM thing and I'm proud to say I am doing just fine without it. And I absolutely love how fast and smooth my computer runs. :cool: :)

Re: instant messenger
 

For me, without instant messaging, there would be no me. We have had internet service in our very rural area since 1997, however just this year we are now sporadicaly seeing cell towers being constructed. In addition, MANY of us due to the extreme ruralness can remember party lines, and know that phones are not always a secure connection due to scanners (highway, police, fire) picking up on same frequencies as phones. Without my abilities to have instant messengers over the past 7 years, I would probably not even be 25% as social as I am today. From the early days of ICQ to my current days of Trillian Pro, I see it keeping me in touch with my very high tech life.

...... the newest thing I have seen, is individuals not having enough time to search for their new homes, and making real estate purchases in their busy lives. The alternative - the family, couple, individual - chats online with the real estate agent during the day or whenever convenient for all parties, and does all business transactions etc. and setting up viewings of houses through IM's. I know I greatly look forward to this.

Re: instant messenger
 

I love my IMer (Trillian on AIM w/Microscopic skin). You can do so much more with an IM than PMs or posts on a wiki or e-mail. it's the I: instant. Like a long-distance phone call w/o $$$$$$. I'm running it on a pentium 2, and I'm doing fine. (@ the same time as a firewall, print monitor, sys monitor, and what ever else I have open)

BTW, get Trillian. It runs AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN, and Yahoo. The shareware version has more features than I need, not to mention Smilies galore! (i)(l)(Trillian)!

Re: instant messenger
 

Cons:
A message such as this is becoming more commonly viewed as "an acceptable form of communication".
*shudder*

Though there are varying degrees of "AIM speak" I draw my line very early.


We've seen this debate a thousand times... still a pet peeve of mine.

Re: instant messenger
 

I was secretly hoping that the syntax and formatting of that post was, somehow, an ironic jab at what instant messaging has done to language.

Re: instant messenger
 

Quote:

hey cd community just wanted to ask a ? to y'all and get u'r opinions--the great ? is--what do u all think about instant messenger affecting the world of communication--pros and cons about instant messenger-- plz put u'r comments-- i know we use it a lot between buddies and friends--but like what about the business world

As I do at work, mark Post #1 "Exhibit A".

Point made.

Re: instant messenger
 

IANAL. 'nuf said

Re: instant messenger
 

<confused> :confused:


In all seriousness now, I think that instant messaging has made communication so much more available to more and more people. While the "impersonal-ness" becomes a factor, we as a high-tech society have found a way to overcome that barrier with things such as "Talk", "Direct Connect", and webcams.

Also, chit-chat and work meetings are more possible because instant messaging makes it possible for people to converse without setting aside time in their schedules to talk over lunch or to discuss financial matters, for example.

Instant messaging is just like the telephone a century ago. Many people had strong feelings for or against it, but ultimately, it became just a part of our progress as humans. It is inevitable that instant messaging will also come to be viewed as a part of our progress.

Re: instant messenger
 

Pros:
1) Mass communication within minutes
2) Easier to contact
3) Less time to discuss plans and easier to get things done

Cons:
1) Addictive
2) Could lose connection on your service
3) Viruses (maybe)

Re: instant messenger
 

Viruses? I have yet to be able to Direct Connect with anyone, or send them a file. Not that trillian lacks the capability; it just doesn't work

Re: instant messenger
 

Pros:
Well, its instant.

Cons:
People now write like this:
http://foxweb.marist.edu/users/kbnty/unbelievable.php

Re: instant messenger
 

Hmm... interesting question.

I will agree that the English language has been butchered by some, er, most. However, I really think there are some pros to instant messaging. For me personally, I am entirely way more sociable than I think I ever was capable of. Instant messaging allows you to say something, sometimes even experiment with saying something, without having to worry about your facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. I guess you could say, if you are someone who was terribly shy, and petrified of voicing an opinion or asking a question, instant messaging has been a wonderful thing. In addition, the fact that I can speak to every person in a group of six in a project at once in a chat room makes things very easy.

Another pro is the fact that I can type at nearly 70 - 120 wpm, depending on the situation, and yes, that is in non-abbreviated, grammatically correct English. That speed has certainly helped my schoolwork.

On the con side, I don't think we people specifically are suffering too much from IM. We were little kids without IM, and if you are like me, may not have gotten IM until junior high school. So, I'm proficient at spelling. I can speak in nearly proper english. However, people like my little brother, who on average reads one chapter book a month, watches 7 to 10 hours of television a day, and feels more comfortable on IM than in person, he will suffer.

You know someone is to dependent on IM, when instead of laughing, they say LOL. Sadly, I hear this all the time. I'm sure others do too.

So is IM good or bad? Depends on the situation. There is a balance.

~ Jill