Should We Apply Etiquette to IM Conversations?
Well of course, we can’t be rude when interacting with anyone, even if it’s through IM. The etiquette I’m talking about deals with how you should end IM conversations. It’s interesting how some people take non-replies and sudden log-outs as personal insults.
I mean, why would anyone find that rude? Especially if they’re the ones who started the conversation in the first place, even if you set your status to “busy” or made yourself invisible—even if you’ve tried to make it clear that you’re too busy to converse.
My point is this: we should definitely apply normal conversational etiquette to IM conversations. But when it comes to abrupt ends, no one should really mind that. After all, aside from simply being too busy to say goodbye properly, the internet connection can give out without warning.
It’s that potential issue alone that should make people more open to sudden ends to IM conversations. Let’s be more understanding that the person on the other end if probably working on something!
By now you’re probably wondering, why did that person log on to his IM service in the first place, if he wanted to be free from interruptions? The way I see it, IM allows us to be accessible, and not miss any potentially crucial messages. Yet at the same time, it allows the freedom to ignore certain people. Out of genuine need at best, and simple unwillingness at worst.
What’s your take on IM etiquette?
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POSTED IN: Communication
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